Best 4 Erins Cold Pasta Salad Recipes
Erin's Cold Pasta Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish that is perfect for summer gatherings. Featuring a vibrant combination of colorful vegetables, tender pasta, and a tangy dressing, this salad offers a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. The recipe is known for its simplicity and ease of preparation, making it an ideal choice for busy cooks who want to whip up a delicious and healthy meal without spending hours in the kitchen. In this article, we will explore the best recipe for Erin's Cold Pasta Salad, providing step-by-step instructions, ingredient variations, and serving suggestions to help you create a dish that will delight your family and friends.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
EASY COLD PASTA SALAD
Great for brunch, luncheons, or whatever. Easy and quick to make. I find that this salad is always popular at get-togethers and usually disappears rather quickly...
Provided by Minnie K
Categories Salad Pasta Salad Rotini Pasta Salad Recipes
Time 2h30m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the rotini, and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and cool by running cold water over the pasta in a colander set in the sink.
- Combine cooked and cooled pasta with the cucumbers, onion, tomatoes, and olives in a large bowl. Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 297.3 calories, Carbohydrate 43.9 g, Fat 10.6 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 7.2 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 608.3 mg, Sugar 4.9 g
ERIN'S COLD PASTA SALAD
This is a super easy, yet yummy cold pasta salad. It's great as a side-dish or for a potluck and best when made a day ahead, although not a must so long as you give it some time in the refrigerator for the flavors to absorb. Measurements are approximate and can be experimented with...you really can't mess this one up!
Provided by Noni Suzanne
Categories Potluck
Time 2h30m
Yield 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and rinse with cold water.
- Add olives, artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese.
- Pour dressing over mixture, toss well and refrigerate.
- You may use more dressing after chilling for a bit, if needed.
- (cooking time is chilling time, and is better if chilled over night).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 423.6, Fat 20.3, SaturatedFat 4.5, Cholesterol 56.2, Sodium 1152.2, Carbohydrate 51.3, Fiber 3.9, Sugar 7.1, Protein 10.9
ANTIPASTO COLD PASTA SALAD
This recipe is great for serving crowds, and can be made with minimal effort and expense if you source your ingredients from the "dollar store." Equally good on a hot summer's day as on Superbowl Sunday. For best results, make a day ahead and refrigerate prior to serving, so the flavors meld. If made in quantities as posted, you will need two 9"x13" aluminum cake pans for serving.
Provided by sarikat
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 45m
Yield 24 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook pasta to al dente firmness according to package instructions. Drain and rinse pasta under cold water, then transfer to very large mixing bowl.
- Mince yellow onion and transfer to mixing bowl.
- Drain mushroom pieces and transfer to mixing bowl.
- Drain olives, slice finely, and transfer to mixing bowl.
- Cut pepperoni in half and transfer to mixing bowl; be sure to separate pieces if needed.
- Cut bar cheese into little cubes no more than 1/2" on a side; transfer to mixing bowl.
- Cut sun dried tomatoes into little pieces no more than 1/2" on a side; transfer to mixing bowl.
- Drain roasted red pepper slices and cut them into little pieces no more than 1/2" on a side; transfer to mixing bowl.
- Pour entire bottle of zesty Italian dressing into mixing bowl and mix ingredients thoroughly before refrigerating.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 255.9, Fat 12.2, SaturatedFat 3.7, Cholesterol 14.6, Sodium 651.4, Carbohydrate 28.6, Fiber 2.7, Sugar 5.2, Protein 8.8
ERINS FAMOUS MACARONI SALAD
Made this to bring to a birthday party a few years ago and it was a huge hit. Everyone wants the recipe and always asks me to bring it to any pot luck. It's by no means "light" but it is delicious.
Provided by Erin Byrnes @travelbugger
Categories Pasta Sides
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring large pot of well salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta. Cook until al dente, according to package instructions.
- While pasta is cooking halve the tomatoes, thinly slice the celery and peel the carrots. After you have peeled the outer layer from the carrots continue peeling until you get to the thin center and can't peel anymore. Toss the tomatoes, celery and carrot shreds into a large bowl (big enough to mix all the ingredients with the pasta)
- Once pasta is cooked, drain well and run under ice cold water until pasta is fully cooled.
- Add pasta to tomato, celery and carrot and toss. Add mayo, vinegar and sugar. You may have to adjust these according to your preferences but these are the minimum amounts you will need. Salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate over night. You my need to add more mayo and vinegar after the macaroni has absorbed most of it while in the fridge, I've found that if I add too much of the dressing in the beginning it just gets soggy and adding it little by little as I'm serving it helps keep the integrity of the pasta.
Tips:
- Choose the right pasta: Short pastas, like penne, rotini, or bow-tie, are best for cold pasta salads because they hold the sauce well and don't get too soggy.
- Cook the pasta al dente: This means cooking it until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta will be mushy and won't hold its shape well in the salad.
- Rinse the pasta with cold water: This will stop the cooking process and help the pasta to cool down quickly. You can also add some ice cubes to the water to help cool the pasta down even faster.
- Use a flavorful dressing: The dressing is what will really make your cold pasta salad shine. Use a dressing that is light and refreshing, but also has enough flavor to stand up to the other ingredients in the salad.
- Add a variety of vegetables: Vegetables add color, crunch, and nutrients to your cold pasta salad. Some good choices include tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, and celery.
- Don't forget the protein: Protein helps to make your cold pasta salad more satisfying. Good sources of protein for cold pasta salads include grilled chicken, shrimp, tofu, and beans.
- Serve the salad chilled: Cold pasta salad is best served chilled. You can either chill it in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving, or you can serve it immediately and let your guests chill it in their bowls.
Conclusion:
Cold pasta salad is a delicious and refreshing dish that is perfect for summer gatherings. It is easy to make and can be customized to your own liking. With a little planning, you can easily create a cold pasta salad that will be the hit of your next party.
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