Hawaiian Pasta Salad Ham Pineapple (Printer Friendly)

Tropical pasta with ham, pineapple, crisp veggies, and creamy dressing—perfect for a fresh, vibrant side.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz rotini or bow tie pasta
02 - 1 teaspoon salt for boiling water

→ Salad Mix-ins

03 - 7 oz cooked ham, diced
04 - 8 oz canned pineapple tidbits, drained
05 - 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
06 - ½ cup celery, finely chopped
07 - ½ cup red onion, finely diced
08 - ½ cup frozen peas, thawed

→ Dressing

09 - ½ cup ranch dressing
10 - ⅓ cup mayonnaise
11 - 1 tablespoon pineapple juice reserved from can
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
13 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
14 - ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Allow to cool completely.
02 - Transfer cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add diced ham, drained pineapple tidbits, red bell pepper, celery, red onion, and thawed peas. Mix gently to combine.
03 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, mayonnaise, reserved pineapple juice, lime juice, black pepper, and salt until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
04 - Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently until all components are evenly coated with dressing.
05 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.
06 - Remove from refrigerator and garnish with chopped fresh parsley or cilantro if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes even better the next day once the flavors have gotten cozy with each other in the fridge.
  • You can throw it together in under an hour, which means less stress when you're already running late to a gathering.
  • Everyone eats it, from picky kids to adventurous adults, because the tropical sweetness wins people over every time.
02 -
  • Don't add the dressing until your pasta is completely cool, or it'll absorb unevenly and some pieces will be dry while others are drenched.
  • If you make this more than a few hours ahead, the pasta will keep drinking the dressing and it might seem dry by serving time—keep extra dressing on hand to thin it out just before guests arrive.
03 -
  • Toast your pasta for sixty seconds in a hot skillet before boiling—it adds subtle nuttiness that grounds all the sweetness.
  • Use a mix of both white and red onion if you want the sweetness mellowed out but the sharpness preserved, creating more balance in every bite.
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