Best 8 Zesty Potluck Pasta Salad Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Looking for the perfect dish to bring to your next potluck? Look no further than this zesty pasta salad! This refreshing and flavorful recipe is sure to be a hit with everyone. Packed with colorful vegetables, tangy dressing, and cooked pasta, this salad is sure to impress your friends and family. It's the ideal dish for potlucks, picnics, barbecues, or any other gathering. So gather your ingredients and let's start cooking!

Let's cook with our recipes!

ZESTY PASTA SALAD



Zesty Pasta Salad image

Reduce the fat with this made-over Zesty Pasta Salad recipe. There's so much flavor packed into our Zesty Pasta Salad, you may find yourself in disbelief.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Holiday & Special Occasion Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 6 servings, 2/3 cup each

Number Of Ingredients 7

1/3 cup MIRACLE WHIP Light Dressing
1/4 cup KRAFT Lite Zesty Italian Dressing
1 cup multi-grain elbow macaroni, cooked
1 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheeses
3/4 cup matchlike carrot sticks
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/2 cup chopped red peppers

Steps:

  • Mix dressings in large bowl.
  • Add remaining ingredients; mix lightly.
  • Refrigerate 30 min.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 180, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Sodium 300 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 9 g

ITALIAN PASTA SALAD



Italian Pasta Salad image

This zesty Italian pasta salad recipe combines vegetables and pasta in a creamy dressing. Refreshing and filling, this change-of-pace salad is perfect as a side dish. It's always popular at a potluck. —Tina Dierking, Skowhegan, Maine

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch     Side Dishes

Time 25m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 cup uncooked spiral pasta
1-1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
3 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
1 cup zesty Italian salad dressing
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup cubed provolone cheese
1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions; rinse with cold water and drain. Place in a large bowl; add the tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onions and salad dressing. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight; drain., In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese; stir in the provolone cheese and olives. Gently fold into the pasta mixture.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 371 calories, Fat 30g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 13mg cholesterol, Sodium 707mg sodium, Carbohydrate 17g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 7g protein.

ZESTY COLD CHICKEN PASTA SALAD



Zesty Cold Chicken Pasta Salad image

A quick, easy, tasty, and colorful chicken pasta salad that looks as great as it tastes. Serve at room temperature or cool for at least 1 hour.

Provided by Krysie

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Tomato Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 23m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (8 ounce) package rotini pasta
1 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
½ teaspoon dried mustard
24 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 (15 ounce) can peas, drained
2 (5 ounce) cans chicken packed in water, drained
1 pinch paprika

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. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  • Mix mayonnaise, lemon pepper seasoning, and dried mustard together in a large bowl. Mix in cherry tomatoes, peas, and chicken. Fold in rotini. Sprinkle paprika over salad before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 446.7 calories, Carbohydrate 69.3 g, Cholesterol 44 mg, Fat 7.3 g, Fiber 6.3 g, Protein 27.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 1102.4 mg, Sugar 12.8 g

ZESTY SALAD



Zesty Salad image

A refreshing, zesty salad for lunch or picnics. Great with anything or just on its own.

Provided by farah

Categories     Salad     Vegetable Salad Recipes

Time 40m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 small potato, cut into cubes
½ cup finely chopped cabbage
¼ cup fresh pomegranate seeds
½ carrot, cut into matchsticks
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon brown sugar
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Steps:

  • Place potato cubes into a small pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and let cool, about 10 minutes.
  • Combine cooled potato, cabbage, pomegranate seeds, and carrot in a large bowl.
  • Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl until well-mixed. Poured over potato mixture and toss to combine.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 120.5 calories, Carbohydrate 23.1 g, Fat 2.6 g, Fiber 3.2 g, Protein 2.5 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 604.1 mg, Sugar 6.5 g

ZESTY CHICKEN PASTA SALAD



Zesty Chicken Pasta Salad image

Combining the coolness of a salad and the zesty seasonings of pizza, this salad is perfect for a summer get together. Megan Moore, Memphis, Tennessee

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 55m

Yield 14 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 package (12 ounces) tricolor spiral pasta
2 cups cubed part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 large sweet red pepper, chopped
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 cans (2-1/4 ounces each) sliced ripe olives, drained
6 green onions, sliced
1 package (3-1/2 ounces) sliced pepperoni, halved
1/2 cup canola oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions; rinse with cold water and drain well. In a large serving bowl, combine the cheese, chicken, peppers, mushrooms, olives, green onions, pepperoni and pasta. , In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Pour over salad; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Toss before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 300 calories, Fat 17g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 36mg cholesterol, Sodium 415mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 14g protein.

ZESTY POTLUCK PASTA SALAD



Zesty Potluck Pasta Salad image

Love to bring home an empty bowl from potlucks? Here's a crowd-size pasta pleaser that almost guarantees an empty bowl.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Side Dish

Time 20m

Yield 14

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 boxes Betty Crocker™ Suddenly Salad® classic pasta salad mix
3 cups frozen broccoli florets
2/3 cup Italian dressing
1/3 cup cold water
2 cups cut-up cooked chicken or ham
1 1/2 cups halved grape tomatoes

Steps:

  • Empty contents of pasta pouch (from salad mix) into 3-quart saucepan 2/3 full of boiling water. Gently boil uncovered 12 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding broccoli during last 2 minutes of cooking.
  • Meanwhile, in large bowl, stir contents of seasoning mix packet (from salad mix), the dressing and cold water until blended; set aside.
  • Drain pasta with broccoli; rinse with cold water. Shake to drain well. Stir pasta with broccoli, chicken and tomatoes into dressing mixture. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 170, Carbohydrate 24 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Fiber 2 g, Protein 10 g, SaturatedFat 1/2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 660 mg, Sugar 4 g, TransFat 0 g

ZESTY ITALIAN PASTA SALAD



Zesty Italian Pasta Salad image

This is doubly good because the pasta and veggies are marinated with Italian dressing, then drained and a mixture of mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese is added. Super delicious!

Provided by Marie

Categories     Onions

Time 45m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

3/4 cup uncooked spiral shaped pasta
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
3 tablespoons thin sliced green onions
1 1/2 cups Italian salad dressing
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup cubed mozzarella cheese
1 (2 1/4 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions, rinse with cold water and drain.
  • Place in a bowl, add tomatoes, celery, carrots, peppers, onions and Italian salad dressing.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
  • Drain.
  • Just before serving, combine mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese, then stir in mozzarella and olives.
  • Gently fold into the pasta mixture.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 293.3, Fat 21.9, SaturatedFat 5.1, Cholesterol 12.2, Sodium 860.1, Carbohydrate 18.7, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 7.4, Protein 6.9

ZESTY SOUTHWESTERN PASTA SALAD



Zesty Southwestern Pasta Salad image

This goes over well at potlucks - when there's a choice of more than one pasta salad, this one usually goes first. Oddly enough, the leftovers make good soup, too! I just add the leftovers to some vegetable broth and canned tomatoes, and season it with more of the same spices that were in the recipe. This recipe originally came from allrecipes.com, but I have tweaked it in a way that suits me better. As always I have cut back on the oil and lime juice, so add more back in if it suits you. I love the amount of chili powder and cumin in this, but it may be a bit much for some so use less if you don't like those flavors as much as I do.

Provided by Vino Girl

Categories     Pasta Shells

Time 2h30m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

8 ounces small shell pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 red onion, chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

Steps:

  • Prepare pasta according to package instructions.
  • When making pasta salad, I like to cook my pasta a minute or two less than recommended so it stays firmer in the dressing, and holds up better against breaking apart when tossing.
  • Drain and rinse under cold water.
  • In a large bowl whisk together oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, salt and garlic.
  • Gently stir in pasta and set aside.
  • Gently stir in corn, beans, green pepper, red pepper, onion, tomatoes and 1/2 of the cilantro leaves.
  • Garnish with the remaining cilantro.
  • Cover and chill at least 2 hours.

Tips:

  • Use a variety of pasta shapes and sizes. This will add visual interest and texture to your salad.
  • Cook the pasta al dente. This means that it should be cooked through but still have a slight bite to it.
  • Don't overdress the salad. You want the flavors of the pasta, vegetables, and dressing to blend together, not overpower each other.
  • Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld and the pasta to absorb the dressing.
  • Serve the salad with a variety of toppings. This could include grated Parmesan cheese, crumbled bacon, chopped nuts, or fresh herbs.

Conclusion:

Pasta salad is a versatile and delicious dish that can be served as a main course or a side dish. It's perfect for potlucks, picnics, and summer gatherings. With so many different variations to choose from, there's sure to be a pasta salad recipe that everyone will enjoy.

Related Topics