Hawaiian Pasta Salad Ham Pineapple (Printable)

A tropical pasta mix with ham, pineapple, crunchy veggies, and creamy dressing for a refreshing dish.

# 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 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

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain through a colander and rinse with cold water to halt cooking. 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 distribute ingredients evenly.
03 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, mayonnaise, reserved pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, black pepper, and salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
04 - Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss gently and thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with dressing.
05 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning as needed with additional salt and pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.
06 - Just before serving, top with freshly chopped parsley or cilantro if desired. Stir gently and transfer to serving dish.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, which means you can make it morning-of without stress.
  • The pineapple and ham create this unexpectedly perfect sweet-savory balance that keeps people reaching for seconds.
  • It tastes even better the next day, so it's ideal for meal prep or bringing to gatherings.
02 -
  • The pasta must be completely cool before mixing with the dressing, or you'll end up with a warm, separated mess instead of something cohesive.
  • Don't skip the pineapple juice in the dressing—that little bit of sweetness and acidity is what transforms it from basic ranch pasta salad into something special.
03 -
  • Make the dressing in a separate bowl before combining everything, as it lets you adjust the seasoning to your taste without having to fish ingredients out of a full pot.
  • If you're taking this somewhere warm like a picnic, underdress it slightly and bring extra dressing on the side so people can add more if needed and it won't get watery by the time they eat.
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