Loaded Pasta Salad
This loaded pasta salad is packed with plenty of flavor and fresh ingredients that add the perfect pop of color that will be irresistible.
Servings: 8
Calories: 501kcal
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
Salad
- 1 pound rotini pasta, cooked al dente
- 1 cup small diced cheddar cheese
- 1 cup fully cooked chunk ham, diced
- ½ cup finely diced sweet yellow onion
- ½ cup frozen sweet peas, thawed
- 1 seeded and diced red bell pepper
Instructions
Dressing
- Using a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Cover and keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Salad
- Using a large mixing bowl, stir together the cooked pasta, diced ham, diced onion, thawed peas, and diced red bell pepper. Stir to completely combine.
- Pour the dressing over the top of the salad and stir to incorporate the dressing and the salad. Cover tightly and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving.
Notes
- Make sure you don’t overcook the pasta, or it will fall apart in your salad if it is too soft.
- Rinsing the cooked pasta in cold water after draining is best when making a cold pasta salad recipe. It stops the pasta from cooking, and it keeps the pasta loose for the salad.
- Don’t skip the chilling time. This will allow all of the flavors to mingle together for the best flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 501kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 759mg | Potassium: 211mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 696IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 1mg