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Creamy Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad: A Classic Cold Pasta Side Dish

Creamy Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad is a rich, colorful, and satisfying cold pasta salad made with tender elbow macaroni, diced ham, cheese cubes, crunchy vegetables, and a smooth creamy dressing. It is the kind of recipe that works for almost every occasion: family dinners, picnics, potlucks, lunch boxes, barbecues, holidays, or quick make-ahead meals.

This salad is simple, but it has a beautiful balance of flavors and textures. The macaroni is soft but not mushy, the ham adds a savory bite, the cheese brings richness, the vegetables add freshness and crunch, and the creamy dressing ties everything together.

Why This Recipe Works

The secret to a good macaroni salad is balance. If the pasta is overcooked, the salad becomes heavy. If the dressing is too thin, it becomes watery. If there is not enough seasoning, the salad tastes flat.

In this recipe, the dressing is creamy but still bright because it uses mayonnaise, a little sour cream, mustard, vinegar or pickle juice, and simple seasonings. The ham and cheese make it filling enough to serve as a light meal, while the vegetables keep it fresh.

Ingredients

For the Salad

2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
1 ½ cups cooked ham, diced
1 cup cheddar cheese, cubed or shredded
½ cup celery, finely chopped
½ cup red bell pepper, diced
½ cup green peas, cooked and cooled
¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
¼ cup pickles or sweet relish, optional
2 boiled eggs, chopped, optional
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

For the Creamy Dressing

¾ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon yellow mustard or Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or pickle juice
1 teaspoon sugar, optional
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika

Step 1: Cook the Macaroni

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous amount of salt to the water, then add the elbow macaroni.

Cook the pasta according to the package directions until it is just tender. Do not overcook it. The macaroni should be soft enough to eat but still firm enough to hold its shape after mixing with the dressing.

Once cooked, drain the pasta immediately.

Step 2: Rinse and Cool the Pasta

After draining, rinse the macaroni under cold water. This stops the cooking process and cools the pasta quickly.

Rinsing also removes extra starch from the surface, which helps prevent the salad from becoming sticky.

Drain the pasta very well. If too much water remains, the dressing can become thin and watery.

Step 3: Prepare the Ham and Cheese

Dice the cooked ham into small cubes. The pieces should be bite-sized so they mix evenly through the salad.

Cut the cheddar cheese into small cubes, or use shredded cheese if you prefer a softer texture. Cubed cheese gives the salad a classic deli-style feel, while shredded cheese blends more into the dressing.

You can use sharp cheddar for stronger flavor, mild cheddar for a softer taste, or a mix of cheddar and mozzarella for extra creaminess.