Best 11 Penne Pasta Salad Recipes

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Penne pasta salad, a delectable dish that combines the flavors of succulent pasta, fresh vegetables, and tantalizing dressings, is a perfect choice for summer gatherings, potlucks, or light lunches. Its vibrant colors and refreshing taste make it an instant favorite among pasta lovers. With countless variations, experimenting with different ingredients and dressings allows you to tailor the salad to your personal preferences. From classic Italian dressing to creamy pesto or tangy vinaigrette, the possibilities are endless. In this article, we will guide you through selecting the ideal pasta, preparing the salad with ease, and exploring a range of delectable recipes to satisfy every palate. Let's embark on a culinary journey to discover the best penne pasta salad recipe that will surely impress your family and friends.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

PENNE PASTA SALAD



Penne Pasta Salad image

I came up with this recipe one day while experimenting in my kitchen. This salad makes a great side dish with just about any kind of meat.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch     Side Dishes

Time 20m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta
1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
1 bottle (8 ounces) Italian salad dressing
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon dill weed
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water. Meanwhile, combine tomatoes, green pepper, onions and olives. Stir in pasta. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 320 calories, Fat 12g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 608mg sodium, Carbohydrate 45g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 8g protein.

PENNE PASTA SALAD



Penne Pasta Salad image

A colorful pasta salad with bell peppers and a touch of dill.

Provided by Deanna

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 1h

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 8

16 ounces penne pasta
1 cup creamy salad dressing, e.g. Miracle Whip ™
½ cup Dijon-style prepared mustard
1 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried dill weed
1 red onion, julienned
1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 orange bell pepper, julienned

Steps:

  • In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the salad dressing, mustard, cheese and dill.
  • Add pasta, red onion and bell peppers. Toss well; season with salt and pepper. Chill before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 269.3 calories, Carbohydrate 35 g, Cholesterol 17.7 mg, Fat 9.8 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 10.2 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 611.1 mg, Sugar 5 g

PENNE AND TUNA PASTA SALAD



Penne and Tuna Pasta Salad image

I was in search for a pasta salad that had tuna in it....I came across a recipe that I thought would be perfect but made so many changes I had to post it as a new recipe. I hope you like this recipe as much as I did. Cook time equals cook time for pasta. Prep time is the time it takes to assemble the rest of the ingredient with the cooked pasta.

Provided by cervantesbrandi

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 13m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 cups penne pasta
1 (6 ounce) can tuna (I used the kind in the pouch)
2 celery ribs (cut in half lengthwise and chopped)
1/2 small white onion (chopped)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1/3 cup frozen peas (thawed)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon celery salt (or to taste, I add a little under 1/2 tsp)
black pepper

Steps:

  • Cook the penne according to the package instructions. Strain the water and set aside to cool, or run under cold water.
  • In a large bowl mix the rest of the ingredients. Fold in the penne until the pasta is completely mixed inches.
  • Enjoy!

ANN'S PENNE PASTA SALAD



Ann's Penne Pasta Salad image

My friend Ann brought this to a girl's weekend outing and we all loved it. We served it with croissants and oatmeal cookies.

Provided by Chef Doozer

Categories     Penne

Time 20m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 (16 ounce) box penne pasta, cooked
6 roma tomatoes, chopped
1 (4 ounce) box feta cheese, crumbles can add more
3 tablespoons basil (liquid jar kind)
1 (16 ounce) bottle of zesty Italian dressing

Steps:

  • Mix all ingredients and toss with dressing.
  • Add extra dressing if it gets dried out.

PENNE PESTO PASTA SALAD



Penne Pesto Pasta Salad image

Penne pasta is tossed with basil pesto, mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and black olives for a colorful and delicious pasta salad.

Provided by truRoots(R)

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     truRoots®

Time 25m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (8 ounce) package truRoots® Ancient Grains Organic Penne
½ cup prepared fresh basil pesto
1 (8 ounce) container mozzarella pearls (perline)*
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (2.25 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
4 sprigs Fresh basil sprigs, for garnish

Steps:

  • Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water, just until al dente, about 7 to 9 minutes. Drain.
  • Combine pasta and pesto in large bowl. Stir in mozzarella, tomatoes, Parmesan and olives. Chill until ready to serve. Serve garnished with basil sprigs, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 285.2 calories, Carbohydrate 24.8 g, Cholesterol 29.2 mg, Fat 15.8 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 11.2 g, SaturatedFat 6.5 g, Sodium 269.4 mg

TUNA PENNE PASTA SALAD



Tuna Penne Pasta Salad image

This is a good tuna pasta salad. I came up with this recipe for my finicky friend who will not eat cooked or raw vegetables. And for those of you who do not like vegetables either, this recipe is for you.

Provided by Cookin In Texas

Categories     Tuna

Time 20m

Yield 4-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 (6 ounce) cans tuna, drained and flaked
1 (16 ounce) penne pasta
4 -6 hard-boiled eggs, cut up into small chunks
1 tablespoon vinegar
2 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 1/2 tablespoons onion powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dill
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Steps:

  • In a large bowl,combine all ingredients except pasta and cheese,mix well to blend.
  • Cook Rinse and drain pasta.
  • Add pasta and cheese to the mayonnaise mixture,stir well.
  • Cover place in fridge,chill at least 2 hours before serving.
  • TIP: You can add almost anything to this salad and it taste good.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1233.3, Fat 64.1, SaturatedFat 12.1, Cholesterol 293.6, Sodium 1232.5, Carbohydrate 128.8, Fiber 12.9, Sugar 11.1, Protein 39.4

PENNE PASTA SALAD WITH SPINACH & TOMATOES



Penne Pasta Salad With Spinach & Tomatoes image

A tasty pasta salad brought to life with a delicious combination of olive oil, white wine vinegar, rosemary, thyme, garlic, oregano and basil, tossed with fresh spinach, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and a sprinkling of Parmesan.

Provided by English_Rose

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 20m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic granules
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
9 ounces penne pasta, cooked and drained
2 ounces spinach leaves
9 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
4 ounces light mozzarella cheese, torn
2 teaspoons parmesan cheese, grated

Steps:

  • Mix the oil, vinegar, rosemary, thyme, garlic granules, oregano, basil and salt together in a large bowl. Add the cooked pasta and spinach, toss to coat well.
  • Add the tomatoes and cheeses and mix well.
  • Serve warm or at room temperature.

PENNE PASTA SALAD GREEK STYLE



Penne Pasta Salad Greek Style image

Make and share this Penne Pasta Salad Greek Style recipe from Food.com.

Provided by peterjanet72

Categories     Penne

Time 30m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 (450 g) package penne pasta, boiled as per pkg. directions
1/2 green bell pepper, thin sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, thin sliced
1 plum tomato, diced
1/4 cup red onion, thin sliced
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1 lemon, juice and zest of
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 minced garlic clove
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup Greek feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Steps:

  • Combine all the dressing ingredients except the cheeses in a bowl and set aside.
  • Combine pasta, peppers , tomato, and onion in another bowl.
  • Pour dressing over pasta mix, add feta and mix well.
  • Top with Parmesan cheese.
  • Cool and refrigerate 4-5 hours to blend the flavours.

CHICKEN & WHOLE WHEAT PENNE PASTA SALAD



CHICKEN & WHOLE WHEAT PENNE PASTA SALAD image

Categories     Chicken     Pasta     No-Cook     Low Carb

Yield Makes 6 Servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

chicken
whole wheat penne pasta
red peppers
garlic
basil
Asiago cheese
extra virgin olive oil
balsamic vinegar
dijon mustard
salt
freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • Chicken & Whole Wheat Penne Pasta Salad This is a fast & easy low-carb friendly recipe. 4 cups chopped cooked chicken breast 2 large cloves garlic, minced 1 cup roasted, chopped red peppers from jar ¼ cup chopped fresh basil 1 cup cooked whole wheat penne pasta 4 tablespoons freshly grated Asiago Vinaigrette Dressing: 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper Combine all ingredients for the Vinaigrette dressing in a screw top jar. Cover and shake until thoroughly mixed. Set aside. Combine first 5 ingredients, chicken through pasta, in a medium bowl. Add the vinaigrette dressing; mix well. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Sprinkle grated Asiago over salad and serve. Makes 6 Servings.

MONICA'S PENNE PASTA SALAD



Monica's Penne Pasta Salad image

I created this pasta salad while I was a student at Penn State University. Inexpensive, healthy, delicious and is just as tasty as a leftover. You may add sliced chicken or turkey breast for a one dish meal!!

Provided by Monica in PA

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 25m

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 package whole wheat penne
1 red pepper, diced
1 yellow pepper, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 red onion, diced
6 -8 roma tomatoes, diced
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and black pepper
1/2 cup locatelli romano cheese or 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar (less or more depending or your taste)
2 cups cooked sliced chicken or 2 cups turkey breast (optional)

Steps:

  • Boil pasta and cook till al dente.
  • Drain and toss with a small amount of olive oil.
  • Let cool slightly.
  • Add vegetables, oil, vinegar, and toss with cooked pasta.
  • Add romano cheese.
  • salt/pepper to taste.
  • Add cooked chicken/turkey breast (optional).
  • Refridgerate for at least 15-30 minutes.
  • You may need to add more oil or vinegar depending on how moist you desire the salad to be.
  • You may also replace the balsamic vinegar with any vinegar you prefer.

GREEK PENNE PASTA SALAD



Greek Penne Pasta Salad image

I saw this salad in the Deli section at the grocery store for $5.99 a pound. My husband loved it, and I decided to make my own. Since then every family picnic we have I am asked to bring this.

Provided by GLENDA VANEVERY

Categories     Pasta Salads

Time 1h15m

Number Of Ingredients 7

16 oz box penne pasta
1 red onion sliced thin and quartered
1 medium green pepper sliced thin and each slice cut in half
2-8 oz containers of crumbled feta cheese
1 pkg grape tomatoes cut in half
2 sm can(s) sliced black olives
2 bottle kraft greek vinegrette salad dressing

Steps:

  • 1. Cook pasta according to package directions until soft, (do not cook el dente) Rinse well with cold water and shake out excess water.
  • 2. Combine all other ingredients, adding cheese last. Add 1 bottle of dressing, and mix well. I put down 2 bottles in the ingredients section, because I always add more then 1 bottle. Chill. Prior to serving stir salad well, to mix dressing at the bottom of the bowl.

Tips:

  • Fresh ingredients: Use the freshest vegetables, herbs, and cheese you can find for the best flavor.
  • Cook the pasta al dente: This means cooking the pasta until it is just tender but still has a slight bite to it.
  • Use a good quality olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is the best choice for dressing the salad.
  • Don't overdress the salad: A little bit of dressing goes a long way. You can always add more if needed.
  • Let the salad chill before serving: This will allow the flavors to meld together and the salad to become more refreshing.

Conclusion:

Penne pasta salad is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish. It is packed with flavor and nutrients, and it is a great way to use up leftover chicken or vegetables. With so many different variations to choose from, there is sure to be a penne pasta salad recipe that everyone will love.

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