Description

A colorful, creamy, and kid-friendly pasta salad packed with veggies, ham, and cheese—perfect for lunchboxes or family picnics.

Ingredients

Pasta spirals – 500g

Frozen peas – 1 cup

Frozen corn – 1 cup

Shaved ham, chopped – 100g

Colby cheese, diced – 100g

Mayonnaise – ½ cup

Olive oil – 2 Tbsp

Runny honey – 1 tsp

Instructions

1. Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a boil. Cook 500g pasta spirals according to package instructions until tender but firm.

2. In the last 2 minutes of pasta cooking, place a steamer basket over the pot and steam 1 cup frozen peas and 1 cup frozen corn until tender.

3. Drain pasta and vegetables in a colander. Rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool. Shake off excess water and transfer to a mixing bowl.

4. Add 100g chopped shaved ham and 100g diced Colby cheese to the cooled pasta and vegetables.

5. In a small bowl, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 1 teaspoon runny honey to make the dressing.

6. Pour dressing over the pasta mixture and gently stir until everything is evenly coated.

7. Serve immediately or chill in the fridge for a few hours to let the flavors meld.

8. Pack into lunchboxes or airtight containers for school or picnic meals.

Notes

You can easily swap ingredients based on your child’s preferences—try salami instead of ham, cheddar instead of Colby, or add extra veggies like carrots or edamame. This recipe is a great way to use up leftovers and keep lunches exciting.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Lunch
Method: Boiling
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 320
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 360mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 10g
Cholesterol: 25mg

Keywords: kids lunch, pasta salad, school lunch, picnic food