Delicious and Easy Pasta Salad Recipes for Every Occasion

Looking for the perfect dish to impress at your next picnic or potluck? These pasta salad recipes are bursting with flavor, easy to make, and endlessly customizable. From zesty Mediterranean blends to creamy classics, you’ll want to try them all—read on to discover your new favorite!

Description

There is something unmistakably nostalgic and comforting about a well-made pasta salad. It is the kind of dish that carries you to lazy summer afternoons, backyard barbecues, and lively potlucks with friends. Every bite offers a delightful mix of chilled pasta, crisp vegetables, and bold flavors that tangle together like a warm conversation. The creamy or tangy dressing hugs each ingredient with just the right touch, making each forkful balanced and refreshing.

Pasta salad is the kind of dish that invites creativity without asking much in return. The al dente pasta provides a chewy base, while the vibrant mix of cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, and olives brings crunch and color. Toss in cubes of sharp cheddar or crumbles of feta, and you have a melody of mouthfeel and flavor that sings of sunshine and easy living. This classic side dish often steals the show, and once you taste it, you will understand why it never goes out of style.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This pasta salad recipe is the definition of reliable and versatile. It comes together in under thirty minutes, making it a go-to side dish for weeknights or weekend cookouts. It suits just about any crowd since it can be completely vegetarian or customized with your favorite protein like grilled chicken or tuna.

Not only is it colorful and fresh, but pasta salad also holds up beautifully in the fridge which makes it perfect for meal prep. It is satisfying without being heavy, and the ingredients are simple pantry and produce staples that you likely already have on hand.

Serving and Storage Tips

Serve your pasta salad chilled or at room temperature. It tastes even better after resting in the fridge for an hour or two as the flavors deepen and mingle. Use an airtight container to refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days. Stir well before serving again, and if needed, add a splash of olive oil or dressing to freshen it up.

While pasta salad does not freeze well due to the fresh ingredients and mayonnaise or vinaigrette base, it can certainly be made ahead. Prepare all ingredients and dressing the night before, keeping them separate, and toss right before serving for best texture and flavor.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces rotini pasta
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• 1 cup cucumber diced
• 1 cup red bell pepper chopped
• 0.5 cup red onion thinly sliced
• 0.5 cup black olives sliced
• 0.5 cup sharp cheddar cheese cubed
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley chopped
• 0.33 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste

Equipment

• Large pot
• Colander
• Cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Large mixing bowl
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Wooden spoon or silicone spatula

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini until just al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water so it cools quickly and stops cooking. Set aside.
2. Chop the vegetables: While the pasta cooks, prep your veggies. Slice the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, chop the bell pepper, thinly slice the onion, and drain and slice the olives. Cut the cheddar and chop your fresh parsley.
3. Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until fully combined and silky.
4. Toss the salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, all the chopped vegetables, cheese cubes, and parsley. Drizzle the dressing over the top, then toss gently until everything is coated evenly.
5. Chill and serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors blend and the pasta absorb that delicious dressing.

Nutrition per serving

Course, Cuisine, Keywords

Side dish, American, Pasta salad, Picnic food, Cold pasta recipe, Summer recipes

For extra flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan and do not skip the lemon zest. Leftovers keep well for 2 days in the fridge.

FAQ

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Classic Creamy Pasta Salad

A nostalgic, colorful, and versatile pasta salad tossed with crisp vegetables, tangy dressing, and cubes of cheddar cheese. Perfect for summer afternoons, potlucks, meal prep, and backyard gatherings.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 320 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 8 ounces rotini pasta
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• 1 cup cucumber diced
• 1 cup red bell pepper chopped
• 0.5 cup red onion thinly sliced
• 0.5 cup black olives sliced
• 0.5 cup sharp cheddar cheese cubed
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley chopped
• 0.33 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, cheddar cheese, and parsley.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
• Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
• Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 9gFat: 20gSodium: 470mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4g

Keyword pasta salad, American, side dish, picnic food, cold pasta recipe, summer recipes

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