↑
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • MY COOKBOOK
  • FAVORITE PRODUCTS

What Great Grandma Ate

because the food you love should love you back!

Don't miss the latest Recipes, tips and more!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

What Great Grandma Ate / Recipes / 30 Minutes or Less / Ham and Pea Pasta Salad (Paleo Option)

Ham and Pea Pasta Salad (Paleo Option)

Last Updated on April 7, 2022 by Jean Choi 5 Comments

30
NF
P
453 shares
  • Share
Jump to Recipe

Need a cold and refreshing side salad to serve as an appetizer? Prepare this tasty and simple Ham and Pea Pasta Salad that’s a perfect way to use up leftover ham. So great for Easter too!

Close up of creamy ham and pea pasta salad

I created a new favorite paleo pasta salad recipe, and my whole family has been loving it. Even my 18-month-old daughter has been cleaning her plate when I serve her this creamy ham and pea pasta salad, and it’s soft enough for her now 8 whole teeth. It’s easy, refreshing, and so flavorful, and it’s the perfect way to use up leftover ham. My husband started calling it Easter pasta salad, because it’s so springy and the colors are so gorgeous and pastel.

Watch a Short Video of This Recipe

Ham and Pea Pasta Salad Recipe

This recipe is a tasty and creamy side dish to welcome warmer weather, and even kids will love it. It consists of green peas, chunks of ham, and various other refreshing ingredients that bring it all together to create the perfect spring or summer salad. It goes with just about everything and while it is a great side dish for Easter, you can make it whenever you want. It’s also delicious when you are barbecuing food and hanging out with family outside.

Ingredients for easy paleo pasta salad

Ingredients

When preparing the Ham and Pea Pasta Salad, these are the ingredients you will need:

  • Penne pasta: Use Jovial Foods cassava flour pasta if you want to make a paleo pasta salad. If you are gluten free, there are so many options these days!
  • Ham:
  • Mayo: If you are making a paleo version, you can make your own mayo or this is my favorite brand.
  • Lemon juice:
  • Celery:
  • Peas: Either frozen or fresh peas will work

The only other ingredients needed include chopped fresh parsley, chopped fresh mint, dried chives, salt, and pepper.

ham and pea pasta salad in a bowl

How to Make Ham and Pea Pasta Salad

  1. Cook your pasta according to package directions in salted water. Add and boil the peas at the last minute.
  2. Drain and run under cold water to cool. Add to a large bowl.
  3. Add ham, celery, parsley, mint, mayo, lemon juice, and dried chives to the pasta and peas, and mix together. Mix in salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Serve cold or at room temperature.
a scoop of paleo pasta salad

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of ham is best to use?

You can use any type of ham for this macaroni salad. If you prepared ham in advance and have some leftovers from that, you can chop the pieces into small cubes and then toss them into the bowl with your pasta to make the salad. However, you can also use ham steaks that you can just buy at grocery stores.

Is it better to use fresh or frozen peas?

It really doesn’t matter if you use fresh or frozen. Both kinds offer the light sweetness that goes great with the ingredients in this paleo pasta salad.

What should I serve with ham and pasta salad?

You can enjoy this Easter pasta salad alone, but it also tastes great with grilled chicken, pork, salmon, and homemade burgers.

How do you store this pasta salad?

After you make the salad, be sure to put it in a food storage container with an airtight lid up to a week in the fridge!

Tossing all the ingredients together

If you enjoyed this paleo pasta salad, you might also like…

  • Bacon Jalapeño Mac and Cheese (Paleo, Dairy Free)
  • Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)
  • Whole30 Dill Pickle Potato Salad (Instant Pot or Stove Top)
  • Whole30 Ham and Potato Soup (Paleo, Dairy Free)
  • Egg Free Cauliflower Potato Salad (Paleo, Vegan, Whole30, Keto)

Ham and Pea Pasta Salad

Need a cold and refreshing side salad to serve as an appetizer? Prepare this tasty and simple Ham and Pea Pasta Salad that's a perfect way to use up leftover ham. So great for Easter too!
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easter Pasta Salad, Macaroni salad, paleo easter recipes, paleo pasta salad, pasta salad for Easter
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 390kcal

Video

Ingredients

  • 8 oz penne pasta Use Jovial Foods, for paleo
  • 1½ cup peas fresh or frozen
  • 1½ cup ham cubed
  • 1/2 cup celery chopped
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh mint chopped
  • 1/2 cup paleo mayonnaise
  • Juice from 1 lemon
  • 2 tsp dried chives
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to package instructions in salted water. Add peas to the boiling water at the last minute.
  • Drain the pasta and peas, and run under cold water to cool. Add to a large mixing bowl.
  • Add ham, celery, parsley, mint, mayo, lemon juice, and dried chives to the pasta and peas, and mix together. Mix in salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Ham and Pea Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving (1 serving – makes 6)
Calories 390 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 30mg10%
Sodium 548mg24%
Potassium 375mg11%
Carbohydrates 35g12%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 1801IU36%
Vitamin C 31mg38%
Calcium 46mg5%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
What Great Grandma Ate / Jean Choi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Regarding other affiliate links and affiliate relationships: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Thank you for your support and understanding.

453 shares
  • Share

By Jean Choi | April 1, 2021

Comments

  1. Susan Dubose says

    April 2, 2021 at 3:33 am

    5 stars
    This recipe really does taste. I totally agree that you have to wait for it to chill. Tastes so much better after chilling. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • DoorDash says

      February 25, 2022 at 6:38 pm

      5 stars
      The Easter pasta is so cute..!! I wish I could buy it here too 🙁

      Reply
  2. Erika says

    July 30, 2021 at 4:38 am

    5 stars
    Yum! I food-prepped this for lunches this week. I decided to add the lemon juice right before serving, because I was afraid it would make the pasta mushy after a couple of days. This worked really well. Great recipe and easy to make.

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      July 30, 2021 at 7:57 am

      Thank you so much! What a great idea with the lemon juice. I have to try that.

      Reply
  3. Axell says

    April 11, 2022 at 7:45 pm

    5 stars
    This was a super easy and quick meal to make!
    The mint and parsley add such a great flavor to it! I omitted it for my two year old son for now.
    I also love the use of Banza pasta for added protein and fiber!
    Thanks for sharing this, Jean!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome!

headshot of Jean Choi - blogger of What Great Grandma Ate

I’m Jean and I’m a food lover and content creator living in Southern California with my husband, 2 young daughters, and a French bulldog. Here, you’ll find simple and easy mostly gluten-free and nutrient dense recipes that focus on quality ingredients, and of course, never sacrifice on taste. I believe that the food you love should love you back, making you feel amazing inside and out. Whatever your health or cooking journey may be, I hope you find something delicious on my site!

More About Jean

Recipe Key

  • 3030 Min or Less
  • AIPAIP
  • EFEgg Free
  • LCLow Carb
  • NFNut Free
  • PPaleo
  • VVegan
  • W3Whole 30

Instant Pot Favorites

Instant Pot Butter Chicken served with rice and naan

Quick & Easy Instant Pot Butter Chicken Recipe (Keto & Dairy Free)

The BEST Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (Paleo, Whole30) + Stove Top Option

Instant Pot Meatballs in Tomato Sauce (Paleo, Whole30)

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)

Don't miss the latest Recipes, tips and more!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

©2025, What Great Grandma Ate. Privacy and Disclosure Policy/ Site by Pixel Me Designs