Pasta Salad with Spam
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This is hands down one of the best salad recipes on my website. Pasta Salad made with elbow macaroni, fresh vegetables, baby peas, and Spam, topped with a dressing made of mayonnaise, dill pickle juice, and black pepper. It may sound too simple to be epic – but I promise that everyone will keep coming back for more!
This Pasta Salad with Spam has been on my blog since 2013. I have made it many times, and I finally got around to taking some new photos and adding some relevant content to the post so that I could re-share it with you today, in time for Memorial Weekend. Trust me, this is the Pasta Salad that your cookout is waiting for.
Pasta Salad with Spam
Okay, so I am going to preface this blog post with this – If you have followed me and cooked/baked from my recipes, chances are you might have made my Banana Bread (it’s truly the last banana bread recipe that you will ever need) or this recipe for Grandma Davis’ Sugar Cookies.
The first time that I tried this recipe was when my family attended the graduation party of my friend, Tonja’s son. My kids were each on their second helping of this pasta salad and “Mmm-ing” with every bite. When I asked Tonja what was in it, she giggled and told me the two “secret ingredients.”
She then told me it was Grandma Davis’ recipe and I was sold. Seriously, folks, this woman knows her stuff.
Secret Ingredient Pasta Salad
Please don’t let the main secret ingredient detour you from making this wonderful salad. It is so good! Here are the two things that her family claims make this salad what it is: Dill Pickle Juice and Spam. Tonja told me that her Grandma uses her own homemade pickle juice, but that the type of dill pickle juice doesn’t change the flavor as much as leaving out the Spam. She has tried it with ham and it “just isn’t the same.”
I ate Spam as a kid, but up until I made this salad for the first time back in 2013, I had never purchased a can of it myself.
What is Spam?
SPAM is salty processed canned pork introduced in 1937 by Hormel Foods Corporation. Spam’s basic ingredients are pork shoulder and ham, chopped and pressed into a can. It gained popularity during World War II. It’s really popular in Hawaii, which makes sense to me since my mom always served Spam with pineapple.
Ingredients in Pasta Salad with Spam
You will find the exact measurements and instructions at the bottom of this post in the printable recipe card.
For the Dressing:
- mayonnaise – full fat or light both work.
- dill pickle juice – makes the dressing so good!
- milk – (optional) to thin the sauce, I have never felt it needed it.
- black pepper – you won’t need salt.
For the Salad:
- frozen peas – fresh would work if you have them.
- cucumber – I like to leave the skins on mine, but you can peel them if you like.
- red onion
- Roma tomato – diced
- Spam – diced
- American cheese – (optional) I never add it.
- elbow macaroni – cooked al dente and rinsed in cold water and drained.
How to Make Pasta Salad with Spam
Boil pasta, drain, and place in a large bowl.
Prepare the dressing by whisking together the mayo, pickle juice, and black pepper.
Set aside.
Add the chopped veggies and Spam to the top of the pasta. Toss together.
Top with the dressing and stir to coat.
I like to make this salad a day ahead so the flavors can develop!
Store in the fridge. Will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Love it? Pin it!
Don’t forget where you found this great recipe! Pin it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest before you go!
More Recipes to Love
My family loves the ingredients in this pasta salad. If you want to try another great Pasta Salad recipe with Spam, try this Hawaiian Macaroni Salad!
Are Pasta Salads your jam? My Mom’s Macaroni Salad recipe is incredible, as are this BLT Pasta Salad and this Anti Pasto Pasta Salad.
Don’t toss the dill pickle juice, use it for making dressing. Dill Pickles are my favorite! Have you tried my Dill Pickle Dip or my Dill Pickle Cheese Ball recipes? Yum!
I hope that you love this salad as much as we do!
Pasta Salad
This is hands down one of the best salad recipes on my website. Pasta Salad made with elbow macaroni, fresh vegetables, baby peas, and Spam, topped with a dressing made of mayonnaise, dill pickle juice, and black pepper. It may sound too simple to be epic – but I promise that everyone will keep coming back for more!
Servings: 15 servings
Calories: 245kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 15 ounces of mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup dill pickle juice
- milk to thin sauce optional, I didn’t use it
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 ounces frozen peas about 1 cup
- 1 cucumber diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- red onion chopped, to taste (about 1 cup)
- 2-3 Roma tomatoes diced
- 1 can Spam diced
- cubed American cheese optional, I didn’t use it
- 1 1 pound package of small elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
Instructions
- Whisk together mayo, pickle juice and black pepper. Set aside.
- Boil pasta until it's al dente, rinse in cold water and put it in a large mixing bowl.
- Chop all of the veggies and Spam, cheese if you desire.
- Toss pasta and chopped ingredients in a large bowl, cover with dressing and stir to coat.
- Refrigerate for 8 hours before eating.
Notes
I don't ever feel like I need the milk in the dressing and I typically don't add the cheese.
This salad tastes its best when it sits for 8 hours before eating. Subbing ham for the Spam will change the taste considerably.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 361mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g
This recipe was originally posted on June 3, 2013. It has been updated to improve user experience and re-shared on May 21, 2023.
I have been looking for some new salad recipes for the summer. This one definitely fits what I am looking for, so I will put some Spam on the shopping list! Pinned 🙂
It looks so appetizing! I’m definitely going to try it. I admit I’m raising my eyebrows at the idea of buying Spam, but I’ll do it anyhow. I’ve just got to see how this tastes!
CongratsMichaela on also being featured in Deanna’s Olive and Grapevine Salad Newsletter this week!
GREAT salad! Cheers! Joanne
I love the ‘secret ingredients’ in this wonderful family recipe! Grandma Davis’ Pasta Salad sounds scrumptious. There’s nothing like a good old fashioned macaroni salad like this!
I’m with your kids when it comes to great macaroni salad, Michaela! The pickle juice I’ve used before but Spam…I didn’t see that coming! That is ingenious. I just printed this out and can’t wait to make it! Maybe some cubed Tillamook medium cheddar too?
The cheddar sounds like a great addition! Come back and let me know what you think, Mike! 🙂
Several versions on this, will make this one looks better than mine. Thank you!
My uncle had a drugstore with a counter and served the best sandwiches. One being a ham salad,it was made with spam! He grated it and then added mayo r miracle whip/mustard/pickle relish/salt/pepper it was delish! I have also added finely diced green onion.
Sounds good!! I hope you like the salad, too!
My mom used to make this when I was a little girl…she never put mustard only Miracle Whip…it was yummy!
Loved this! I didn’t have pickle juice on hand so I used dill with vinegar & a little sugar. Added the peas & cheese with some veggies (riced) and we loved it! I should have made a double batch. Thanks Michaela!
This is one of my family’s favorites! I am so happy you enjoyed it, Lisa!
I am a spam eater and this salad sounds marvelous to me. It looks delicious.
Do the peas have to be frozen? Do you think from a can would work ok?
I am sure they would? I would just be really careful — canned ones seem mushier to me?
I was watching food network last night and they were cooking with Spam. It looked so good I was inspired to try it. This pasta salad is on my list for the first recipe to try it out!
I made this for a backyard barbecue this weekend and it was a hit- no leftovers!
Such an easy and summery side dish. This would be a great recipe for me to bring to the next cookout I’m invited to!
I love how tasty and delicious this is!! My kids loved it! I will definitely make this again!
This pasta salad is going to be a staple for us through the summer. It was amazing.
This pasta salad is so perfect for summer and I love all of the ingredients. It’s easy to make and loaded with texture. My favorite!!
This is such an amazing recipe! My family loves spam and they were all excited to try this!
This was a huge hit at my house!! Everyone enjoyed it! Can’t wait to make it again!
Your dedication to using fresh and awesome ingredients shines through this and every recipe that you make. I appreciate how you highlight the beauty and flavors of each of your amazing dishes.
Thank you for the kind words!
I made this the other night and everyone loved it!! We’re going to a bbq tomorrow and i’m making this. It was delicious and so easy!!!