During a recent spring rainstorm, I found myself daydreaming about a tropical island getaway. A luxurious Hawaiian Island getaway to be exact. But as it is not yet summer break, those sandy beaches and ocean breezes will just have to wait. But in the meantime, I will be making this Easy Hawaiian Pasta Salad whenever I feel the urge to enjoy a taste of the tropics.
Yeap, this is a cold pasta salad bursting with authentic Hawaiian flavors that you can serve up all year long. Hawaiian Pasta Salad is sooooo easy to make since it requires just a handful of everyday frugal ingredients.
Rich, creamy and totally kid-approved, this Hawaiian pasta salad recipe is just the thing for weekly meal prep and packing in lunchboxes. Plus, it is full of all sorts of great flavor combinations and textures. You get comforting pasta and creamy dressing. And the salty ham and sweet pineapple that contrasts nicely with the crunchy carrots and bright red peppers.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad really is a little one-dish wonder. Perfect for serving up at your next potluck, packing on picnics or enjoying at outdoor concerts. And it is especially well suited for a fun summertime backyard luau. Or, why not hold you very own Kuhio Day celebration on March 26th?
So, are you ready to learn how to make this Hawaiian Pasta Salad Recipe? Then gather up your ingredients and I will show you…..
How to Make Hawaiian Pasta Salad with Pineapple
Cold Pasta Salad Ingredients:
- uncooked elbow macaroni (or other pasta shapes of your choice)
- olive oil
- cubed ham
- pineapple chunks
- red bell peppers
- carrots
- green onions
- salt
- black pepper
Pineapple Dressing Ingredients:
Hawaiian Pasta Salad Recipe Instructions:
- Cook pasta according to packet instructions (you will want it to be al dente).
- Drain the pasta and add in a couple of teaspoons of olive oil to keep it from sticking. Allow pasta to cool.
- Meanwhile, make the Hawaiian pasta salad pineapple dressing by adding all ingredients together and whisk till smooth. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, ham, pineapple bits, red pepper, carrots, green onions, salt and pepper. Then add in the dressing and mix the Hawaiian mac salad till combined.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
- Cover the Hawaiian macaroni salad and chill until you are ready to serve your cold pasta salad.
Hawaiian Pasta Salad Tips
- When waiting for the pasta to cool, add 1- 2 teaspoons of olive oil and toss to prevent the pasta from sticking.
- This recipe typically calls for smooth Dijon mustard, but I love the bite that whole grain mustard provides.
- You can use the traditional elbow macaroni, but any pasta shape works well. Or make this Hawaiian Pasta Salad with whole wheat pasta or gluten-free pasta instead.
- To make this Hawaiian mac salad a bit healthier, I used half fat mayo. But you can make it with full-fat mayonnaise if you prefer.
Why is Macaroni Salad Popular in Hawaii?
The popularity of macaroni pasta salad in Hawaii comes from the traditional Hawaii plate lunch.
The plate lunch origins can be traced back as far as the 1880’s, when pineapple and sugar plantation workers would bring their lunches to work with them in bento boxes. These bento box lunches were comprised of leftover meat from the previous night’s dinner, a portion of macaroni salad, and 2 scoops of inexpensive white rice.
During the 1930s, lunch wagons began serving up midday meals to laborers featuring meat, rice and macaroni salad portioned into separate compartments on divided paper plates. It is from this that the name “plate lunch” was born.
Hawaiian plate lunches featuring macaroni salad continue to be as popular as ever and can be found on restaurant menus all over the world.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad for Meal Prep
I happen to think that cold pasta salad is one of the best meal prep solutions there is. And this Hawaiian Mac Salad is sooooo easy to make. Just whip up a batch at the beginning of the week and keep it chilled in the fridge for 3 days.
And if you’re cooking for a crowd, simply double this recipe. Just the thing for your next backyard barbecue!
Hawaiian Pasta Salad Variations
You can easily add more (or less) ingredients to this Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe. Have fun coming up with different flavor combinations to suit your taste. Here are just a few ideas for additional ingredients:
- Green peas
- Broccoli
- Celery
- Mandarin orange slices
- Mango or papaya chunks
- Nuts (cashews or macadamia nuts are a great choice)
- Shredded chicken or turkey
- Bacon crumbles
- Hard boiled egg
What to Serve With Hawaiian Pasta Salad
Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Wings.
Hawaiian Pasta Salad with Pineapple Weight Watchers Points in
There are 7 Freestyle SmartPoints in a serving of this Hawaiian Pasta Salad with Pineapple.
More Great Salad Recipes:
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Easy Hawaiian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Cold Pasta Salad Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450g) uncooked elbow macaroni or other pasta shape of your choice
- 1 - 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 cups cubed ham
- 28 ounces pineapple chunks drained and juice reserved for salad dressing
- 2 red peppers deseeded and chopped
- 2 carrots peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 4 green onions sliced
- salt
- black pepper
Pineapple Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoons sour cream
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice reserved from the pineapple tins
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard or Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
To Make Hawaiian Pasta Salad:
- Cook pasta according to packet instructions (you will want it to be al dente).
- Drain the pasta and add in a couple of teaspoons of olive oil to keep it from sticking. Allow pasta to cool.
- Meanwhile, make the Hawaiian pasta salad pineapple dressing by adding all ingredients together and whisk till smooth. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, ham, pineapple bits, red pepper, carrots, green onions, salt and pepper. Then add in the dressing and mix the Hawaiian mac salad till combined.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
- Cover the Hawaiian macaroni salad and chill until you are ready to serve your cold pasta salad.
Notes
Hawaiian Pasta Salad Tips
- When waiting for the pasta to cool, add 1- 2 teaspoons of olive oil and toss to prevent the pasta from sticking.
- This recipe typically calls for smooth Dijon mustard, but I love the bite that a whole grain mustard provides.
- You can use the traditional elbow macaroni, but any pasta shape works well. Or make this Hawaiian Pasta Salad with whole wheat pasta or gluten free pasta instead.
- To make this Hawaiian mac salad a bit healthier, I used half fat mayo. But you can make it with full fat mayonnaise if you prefer.
This dish looks creamy and delicious. I will definitely try this Thanks for sharing.
Can you use yogurt in the place of mayo, because I’m allergic to it? The recipe sounds awesome but i think i would rather eat it hot instead of cold. I’m not much on cold salads, orher then regular salad. Thanks for sharing.