Packed with ham and veggies, this Mexican Macaroni Ham Salad is perfect for picnics, get-togethers and summer dinners. Candied jalapenos add just the right amount of heat to the creamy dressing.
Easy Mexican Macaroni Ham Salad
When it comes to a light and refreshing pasta salad, this Mexican macaroni ham salad is perfect. A twist on classic macaroni salad, it’s made with chunks of ham and veggies. Candied jalapenos add a Mexican flare and a bit of heat.
I love to make this salad in the summer as a side dish or, honestly, even a light lunch. The ham and veggies add enough substance that it can work as a meal too.
Why You’ll Love This Ham Macaroni Salad
Here are a few reasons why I love this salad.
- Quick and easy. All you need to do is boil the noodles and toss everything together. I used canned veggies to keep the prep to an absolute minimum.
- Only a few ingredients. All you need is the basics here – ham, macaroni, veggies, and a few staples for the dressing.
- Just the right amount of heat. Candied jalapenos add a wonderful sweet but spicy flavor to this ham macaroni salad, giving it just a bit of heat but not too much.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this ham macaroni salad. You can find the exact measurements in the recipe card below.
- Macaroni noodles- While traditionally you use macaroni noodles in macaroni salad, you can use any style of noodles you want.
- Mayonnaise- You can use a full fat or low fat mayonnaise. Miracle Whip works too but will give it a different flavor.
- Mexican sour cream – You can also use crème fraiche.
- Salt & pepper
- Ham- I love using leftover ham but thick slices of deli ham work too.
- Mixed vegetables – To keep things simple, we’re using canned mixed veggies with peas, carrots, and corn. Be sure to drain them before adding them to the salad.
- Pickled jalapenos – Optional but they do add some heat and flavor.
How to Make Mexican Macaroni Ham Salad
This macaroni ham salad comes together in a few quick, easy steps. You can find full printable instructions in the recipe card below.
- Cook the pasta. Cook the macaroni according to package instructions then drain and cool.
- Combine the ingredients. Combine the mayo, sour cream, and spices then mix in the drained pasta. Stir to coat then add in the drained veggies, jalapenos, and ham. Taste test and add more salt and pepper as needed.
- Enjoy! Cover and refrigerate or enjoy right away.
Tips & Variations
Here are a few helpful things to keep in mind when making this salad.
- Don’t overcook the pasta. Cook the macaroni to just al dente to avoid mushy salad. I recommend rinsing it with cold water to prevent it from continuing to cook after you drain it.
- Drain the veggies. If using canned veggies, be sure to drain them completely to avoid thinning the dressing too much. It can also make the pasta mushy.
- Chill before serving. I recommend popping your ham and macaroni salad into the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor.
- Adjust the heat level. For spicier macaroni ham salad, add more pickled jalapenos or even fresh jalapenos. You could even add a pinch of cayenne pepper. For no spice, you can omit the jalapenos completely.
Serving Suggestions
Ham macaroni salad is a fun dish to take to summer potlucks and picnics. We make it a lot in the summer as a casual weeknight dinner, next to burgers and hot dogs, grilled chicken, steak, and more.
Proper Storage
Ham and macaroni salad should be kept in the fridge, either covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
More Pasta Salad Recipes
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Doritos Taco Pasta Salad
- The Best Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe
- Tortellini Pasta Salad
Mexican Macaroni Ham Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups small macaroni noodles 8 oz dried
- ¼ c + 1 Tablespoons cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup + 1 Tablespoon cup Mexican sour cream or sub with crème fraiche
- large pinch of salt
- large pinch ground black pepper
- 6 oz sliced ham or more if desired*
- 15 oz mixed vegetable mix drained**
- optional: pickled jalapenos drained and roughly chopped (according to spiciness level)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool to room temperature, alternatively you can rinse under cool water and drain thoroughly.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayo, sour cream, salt and pepper, until well combined. Then mix in the cooked and drained pasta, stir until the sauce is coating the noodles as best as possible. Next, mix in the drained canned vegetables until well combined. Then mix in the jalapenos and then lastly mix in the ham bits and stir until all ingredients are well incorporated. Taste and if needed adjust the salt and or pepper.
- This pasta salad can be served right away or store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. It makes a great lunch or an excellent side dish. Enjoy!
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1 thought on “Mexican Macaroni Ham Salad”
I don’t have mexican sour cream,should I use regular sour cream? This is the second time I’ve used this recipe of yours,it’s so tasty the kids actually LOVED it!