Best 5 Classic Pasta Salad Recipes
Summertime is fast approaching, which means it's time to fire up the grills and plan a few potlucks. Whether you are hosting a barbecue in your backyard or attending a family reunion, a classic pasta salad is always a welcome dish. It's a versatile side dish that can be made ahead of time, making it perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. With its vibrant colors and variety of textures, a pasta salad can be a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
CLASSIC ITALIAN PASTA SALAD
Perfect for a buffet or a barbecue. Customize with your favorite vegetables.
Provided by Food Network
Time 20m
Yield 8 side-dish servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- 1. Combine all ingredients except Wish-Bone® Italian Dressing in large bowl. Add Dressing; toss well. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
- NOTE: If preparing a day ahead, refrigerate, then stir in 1/4 cup additional Wish-Bone Dressing before serving.
- For a Creamy Italian Pasta Salad, substitute 1/2 cup Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise for 1/2 cup Wish-Bone® Italian Dressing.
- Also terrific with Wish-Bone® Robusto Italian, Fat Free! Italian, House Italian, Ranch, Light Ranch, Fat Free! Ranch, Creamy Caesar, Red Wine Vinaigrette or Fat Free! Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressings.
- See nutrition information for sodium content.
CLASSIC ITALIAN PASTA SALAD
Perfect for a buffet or a barbecue. Customize with your favorite vegetables.
Provided by Wish-Bone
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips Wish-Bone®
Time 20m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine all ingredients except Wish-Bone® Italian Dressing in large bowl. Add Dressing; toss well. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 232.9 calories, Carbohydrate 26.2 g, Cholesterol 9.1 mg, Fat 12.2 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 6.6 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 598 mg, Sugar 4.2 g
CLASSIC PASTA SALAD
A classic, light pasta salad featuring Italian dressing. I much prefer it to a the heavy mayo-based varieties. Fast, simple, and easy to make in bulk for parties.
Provided by Brian Genest
Categories Salad 100+ Pasta Salad Recipes
Time 1h55m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Strain pasta and run it under cold water to stop the cooking process; you don't want it to be mushy. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add salad dressing, pepperoni, salami, Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, feta cheese, black olives, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion to the pasta; toss to combine.
- Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 366.5 calories, Carbohydrate 33.6 g, Cholesterol 32.4 mg, Fat 20.3 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 12.5 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 939.8 mg, Sugar 4 g
CLASSIC PICNIC PASTA SALAD
Bulk up this delicious pasta salad with broccoli, peas, ham and provolone.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 30m
Yield 4-6
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Whisk the mayonnaise, parsley, sour cream, chives, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper together in a large bowl.
- Cook the broccoli in the boiling water until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and transfer to a colander. Run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Add the broccoli to the bowl with the dressing.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Three minutes before the pasta is done, add the peas to the pot. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Add to the bowl.
- Add the ham, provolone, olives, onion and salami to the bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. The pasta salad is best if served right away.
CLASSIC ITALIAN PASTA SALAD
Make and share this Classic Italian Pasta Salad recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Charlotte J
Categories Peppers
Time 28m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Combine all salad ingredients in a serving bowl.
- Whisk first 6 dressing ingredients together.
- Add basil to dressing.
- Pour over pasta and toss to coat.
- Season to taste.
- Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
- Toss again before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 639.8, Fat 36.1, SaturatedFat 11.4, Cholesterol 42.9, Sodium 1096.2, Carbohydrate 58.5, Fiber 12.1, Sugar 5.9, Protein 22.6
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh vegetables, flavorful cheese, and a good-quality olive oil will make a big difference in the taste of your pasta salad.
- Cook the pasta al dente: This means that the pasta should be cooked until it is just tender but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta will become mushy and absorb too much of the dressing.
- Let the pasta cool completely before adding the dressing: This will prevent the pasta from absorbing too much of the dressing and becoming soggy.
- Use a light hand with the dressing: You don't want to drown the pasta salad in dressing. Just enough to coat the pasta and vegetables is all you need.
- Add some fresh herbs: Fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or oregano will add a pop of flavor and color to your pasta salad.
- Let the pasta salad chill for at least 30 minutes before serving: This will allow the flavors to meld and develop.
Conclusion:
Pasta salad is a versatile and delicious dish that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or a potluck. With so many different recipes to choose from, there's sure to be a pasta salad that everyone will love. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give pasta salad a try. You won't be disappointed!
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