Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad

Looking for a super simple, super tasty macaroni salad? Give Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad a try!  Made with just a few basic ingredients, this simple macaroni salad is easy to pull together and loaded with flavor, too.  Not to mention, it's a great dish for enjoying that leftover ham.
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Truth be told, when I cook a ham I'm not sure if I'm more excited to eat the ham as a main dish on the day it's cooked or to enjoy the leftovers in all kinds of tasty dishes afterwards.  I actually think I may lean toward liking the leftovers most.

There are just so many ways to enjoy leftover ham -- In tasty soups like slow cooker ham & corn chowder or classic ham & kidney bean soup, or creamy casseroles like leftover ham & noodle casserole and my Mom's "famous" ham & cheese lasagna.  Or, how about as the ever-popular, ever-classic ham salad that's one of the tastiest sandwich fillings around?

Made with just a few basic ingredients, this simple macaroni salad is easy to pull together and loaded with flavor.  

Or, chop that leftover ham up and enjoy it in one of the simplest and tastiest pasta salads around -- This super easy Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad.

Made with just a few basic ingredients, this simple macaroni salad is easy to pull together and loaded with flavor.  

But hey, you don't need to have ham leftovers to whip up a batch.  It's a perfect macaroni salad for potlucks or all those summer cookouts when you might not have just cooked a ham -- Just buy a ham steak to chop up, or ask the deli to cut you some extra-thick deli ham.  Either way works great, too.

Once the ham is covered, the other base ingredients of this macaroni salad are things many people tend to have on hand:

• Macaroni noodles (of course)
• An onion
• A block of cheddar cheese, and
• A bag of frozen peas

These ingredients are then tossed together in a very basic dressing of mayonnaise and white vinegar, seasoned with a touch of salt, pepper, and sugar.

Pretty simple, right?

Once everything is well combined, you just chill the macaroni salad for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.  I actually prefer to chill the salad overnight to allow the flavors to more fully meld together.

While the salad chills, the texture will change a little as well as the macaroni noodles absorb some of the dressing.

If too much dressing is absorbed and the salad seems "dry" at the time of serving, just stir in a couple tablespoons of mayonnaise to moisten it back up to your liking.

And that's all there is to whipping up a batch of Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad.  Made with just a few basic ingredients, it's easy to pull together and loaded with flavor, too.

A perfect hearty side dish for enjoying that leftover ham, or a perfect simple macaroni salad for potlucks and all those summer cookouts.

Check out these other super tasty pasta salad recipes:

• Amish Macaroni Salad
• Loaded Baked Potato Macaroni Salad
• Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
• Copycat KFC Macaroni Salad
• Greek Macaroni Salad
• Antipasto Pasta Salad
• Ma's Picnic Pasta Salad
• Summer Vegetable Tortellini Salad
• Pineapple Shrimp Macaroni Salad
• Dill Pickle Macaroni Salad
• More salad recipes

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macaroni salad, macaroni salad recipe, ham cheese macaroni salad recipe, recipes with leftover ham, ham leftovers

Salads

American

Yield: about 10-12 servings

Author: Tracey | The Kitchen is My Playground

Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad

Looking for a super simple, super tasty macaroni salad? Give Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad a try! Made with just a few basic ingredients, this simple macaroni salad is easy to pull together and loaded with flavor, too. Not to mention, it's a great dish for enjoying that leftover ham.

Prep time: 20 MCook time: 20 MTotal time: 40 M

Ingredients:

• 2 c. uncooked elbow macaroni
• 2. T. white vinegar
• 2 c. chopped cooked ham
• 1 (12 oz.) package frozen peas, thawed
• 1 (8 oz.) block mild or medium cheddar cheese, cut in small cubes
• 1/2 c. very finely chopped onion

Dressing:

• 1 c. mayonnaise
• 1 T. white vinegar
• 1 tsp. granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Instructions:

How to make Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad

1. Cook macaroni in boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain well.
2. Place warm macaroni in a large bowl; toss with 2 tablespoons vinegar.  
3. Stir in cubed cheese, ham, peas, and onion.  Set aside to let noodles absorb the vinegar.
4. Prepare dressing in a separate smaller bowl:  Whisk together mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. 
5. Pour over the macaroni mixture and stir until well combined.
6. Cover and chill for at least an hour before serving. Or, chill overnight to allow the flavors to fully meld.

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You might also like these other tasty salads:

Ma's Classic Potato Salad

Amish Macaroni Salad

Classic 3-Bean Salad

Marinated Summer Vegetable Salad

Cucumber, Tomato & Avocado Salad

Ma's Picnic Pasta Salad

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