Ham Pasta Salad with Corn

5 from 3 votes

Ham pasta salad is the perfect summer side dish for bbq, potlucks, picnics, and tailgating. This crowd-pleaser combines flavorful diced ham, pasta, sweet corn, and a homemade ranch dressing for a pasta salad recipe that's both tasty and filling.

Prep Time20

Chill1

Course: Pasta Recipes, salad, side dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: corn, ham, pasta, pasta salad, side dish

Servings: people

Calories: 283kcal

Author: Trisha Haas - Salty Side Dish

Equipment

mixing bowl

Ingredients

Pasta Salad Dressing

½ cup sour cream
½ cup real mayo
1 oz. dry ranch seasoning typically this is 1 packet.

Ham Pasta Salad

Ground black pepper
15.25 oz corn canned, drained well
2 cups diced ham
12 oz. cooked pasta cooked according to package directions, well drained, and completely cooled. Use cavatappi or macaroni noodles.

Instructions

Before assembling pasta salad, the pasta itself needs to be cooked according to package instructions. As shown, we used cavatappi noodles; however, macaroni noodles are fine as well. Pasta should be rinsed in cold water and drained and cooled completely before making salad. If the pasta is still hot, it will melt the dressing.
Grab a big mixing bowl and dump in the sour cream, mayonnaise, and ranch seasoning. Give it a good mix until it's all blended together.
Generously add in cracked black pepper.
Fold in drained corn and diced ham, making sure to mix it up.
Toss in cooked and cooled pasta and stir until everything's coated nicely in ranch dressing.
Pop a lid on the bowl and stick it in the fridge until you're ready to dig in. Best served chilled - enjoy!

Notes

Does this dish have to be chilled before eating?

No, it doesn't HAVE to be; however, it does taste better if chilled for at least an hour. This allows time for the ingredients to blend together, and pasta salads also taste the best cold.

Storing Ham Salad:

Use an Airtight Container: Place the pasta salad in an airtight container. This helps to preserve moisture and prevent the salad from absorbing other odors in the refrigerator.

It's generally best consumed within 3 to 5 days, especially when it contains perishable items like mayonnaise and ham.

Avoid Freezing: Ham pasta salad, especially dressed with mayonnaise or sour cream, may not freeze well. The texture of the pasta and the creaminess of the dressing can change upon thawing, becoming mushy or separated.

Nutrition