Description
This Creamy Pasta Salad is a delightful combination of tender bowtie pasta, smoked ham, cheddar-monterey jack cheese, crisp vegetables, and a creamy ranch dressing. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a side dish for any meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Dressing
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning (from a 1 oz. packet)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Pasta Salad
- 12 oz box bowtie pasta (cooked and drained according to box instructions)
- 7 oz smoked uncured ham steak diced
- 1 cup cheddar-monterey jack cheese block diced
- 1 cup cucumber seeds removed and diced
- 1 cup red onion diced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes that have been cut in half
Instructions
- To make the dressing: Whisk together in a medium bowl the mayonnaise, whole milk, white vinegar, ranch seasoning, granulated sugar, salt, and pepper. Transfer ½ cup of the dressing to a separate bowl to reserve. Set aside the dressing to thicken up while you make the rest of the recipe.
- In a large mixing bowl: Add the cooked and drained bowtie pasta and allow it to cool for 10 minutes while you dice all your other ingredients.
- To the cooled bowtie pasta: Add the remaining 1 cup dressing and toss it to coat all the pasta with the dressing.
- To the bowl of pasta and dressing: Add the diced ham, diced cheddar-monterey jack cheese, diced cucumber, diced red onion, and grape tomatoes halves.
- Toss: All the diced vegetables, diced ham, and diced cheese with the dressing-coated bowtie pasta until everything is evenly distributed.
- Transfer: To a large serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
