Ham Ranch Pasta Salad

Try a new twist on an easy dinner salad. It’s easy to customize with what you have on hand.
Ham Ranch Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 3 cups your favorite pasta, cooked to al dente
  
• 1 cup frozen peas, cooked
  
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
  
• 1 cup diced red bell pepper
  
• 1 cup diced ham
  
• 1 cup bottled ranch dressing
  
• salt and pepper to taste
  
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives (optional)

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta until al dente, drain, and allow to cool. In a large bowl, add drained pasta, ham, peas, tomatoes, red bell pepper and chives. Toss to combine.
2. Gently stir in ranch dressing. Add salt and pepper to taste. If desired, top with ham crumbles for garnish.

Note: The chives in this recipe are totally optional. I don’t always add it. But this time I had some on hand, so I added it. I like the extra flavor that it added to the pasta salad.

If you let this sit in the fridge for a while, you might need to add a little more ranch dressing just before serving. The pasta really soaks it up.