I made this at my friend's house because we were craving a pesto-like flavour on a hot day, but we did not have the right equipment available to grind up a nice pesto sauce. I opted for items that were already in the fridge to try to mimic the flavours, and used an avocado as the base of the creamy sauce. It only took the amount of time it took to boil the pasta, then was chilled. It was such a delight, that I had to share it with you!
Total Time: 15 minutes plus chill time
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
Steps:
This page contains the following solutions.
Don't get me wrong, I love those rich and creamy sauces just like everybody else! I have to say though, this is actually quite tasty despite being a healthier option.
The flavor and juiciness of rotisserie chicken makes this pasta salad a hit with me. You can serve this dish immediately or refrigerate to allow the flavors to blend more and serve cold. Either way, it's yummy.
This salad tastes great switching the Parmesan cheese with crumbled feta too!
Cook pasta shells as directed on package. Add in carrots too when you cook the shells (about 10 minutes) drain, rinse with cold water. Put into a large bowl...
To switch it up from our usual quinoa lunches, I made pasta salad. You can make this huge batch of pasta salad that lasts in the fridge throughout the week. What's great about this pasta salad is you can serve it cold and it's customizable (feel free to change up any ingredients you'd like)!
Cook pasta according to package directions. Put pea pods, carrots, and broccoli in a large amount of boiling water until broccoli turns bright green. Combine pasta and all vegetables except tomatoes in bowl.
When you make pasta (mac, etc.), save 3 or more cups of it. Rinse it and put in the fridge for pasta salad the next day.
A colorful salad, a little different, and fairly calorie wise. Combine ingredients and chill until serving.
Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Drain again. Toss with oil and sprinkle with cumin.
For salad, cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse under cold water. In salad bowl, combine all salad ingredients; set aside.
Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain. In large bowl, combine tortellini, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, onion, garlic, dressing and pepper sauce.
In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, orange juice, basil and ginger. Add remaining ingredients and toss lightly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours to blend flavors.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I am looking for a plain pasta salad recipe. Just with the tri-colored pasta, some type of salad dressing, and some parmesan? Does anyone have a very plain recipe?
How about your pasta and parmesan, mixed with italian dressing or garlic oil and vinegar?
I agree with the previous poster. Chill some pasta, add italian dressing, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. I like to add croutons to mine.
I just make up some tri-colored pasta, and use Good Seasons Italian Dressing on it. top with some grated parm cheese. Awesome! I think I will make some now! lol
Ranch dressing with bacon bits added to cooked pasta and parm is good too.
If you want something a little different, but still simple try this: instead of Italian dressing, mix half and half vinegar&oil dressing with pesto and top with feta cheese instead of parmesan. If I have a few minutes I'll also add some chopped zucchini and left-over chicken, but it's great even without the extras.
Whenever I make pasta salad I'm never sure how it's going to turn out. Sometimes I use pasta tomatoes, onions and cucumbers. Other times I use pasta, maybe some tomatoes, olives, onions. It just depends on what I'm in the mood for.
Hi. You will not want to believe it, but THE absolute best dressing for pasta is found at Dollar General. It's called Zesty Italian and it is $1 a bottle. I didn't believe it either, but try it! It's delicious! My favorite pasta salad is rotini, green peppers, carrots, onion, green olives, parmesan and hard salami. Pour on the DG dressing and let it sit for a couple hours. Stir and enjoy. Sometimes I make it with just the pasta and the green olives with the dressing and parm -- I love the saltiness of the olives. Boy, now I'm hungry!!
My recipe --
1 box rainbow spiral pasta, cooked
1 tomato chopped
1 onion, sliced
1/2 cucumber, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
Black olives, sliced
1/4 cup Parm cheese, grated
1/2 bottle Italian dressing
Combine ingredients, let stand overnight. Before serving, add a little more dressing if it is too dry!
this recipe actually won a free dinner at a local ponderosa type buffet.
It is simply the dressing you'd use for potato salad
mayo, mustard, pickle relish, a little vineagar.
Add to cooked , rinsed pasta anything you would put in a vegetable salad, except the lettuce. Cukes, radishes, tomatoes, onion, pepper, celery, celery seed . even pimento adds color and flavor. The longer it sits the better it is. Enjoy, Ceil
The trick to my pasta salad is the RED onion cut up VERY small!!!!
Gives it an awesome taste........along with everything else.........!!!
Cindy
Louisiana
"An easy, yet very yummy pasta salad. Almost any type of pasta may be used. Best if left to sit overnight."
Original recipe yield: 12 servings.
Prep Time:
15 Minutes
Cook Time:
12 Minutes
Ready In:
30 Minutes
Servings:
12 (change)
INGREDIENTS:
* 1 (16 ounce) package uncooked rotini pasta
* 1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian salad dressing
* 2 cucumbers, chopped
* 6 tomatoes, chopped
* 1 bunch green onions, chopped
* 4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
DIRECTIONS:
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place pasta in the pot, cook for 8 to 12 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
2. In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the Italian dressing, cucumbers, tomatoes, and green onions. In a small bowl, mix the Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning, and gently mix into the salad. Cover, and refrigerate until serving.
pasta salad that we love is ;
olive oil, red wine vinegar and italian spices
we add crumbled feta cheese and small cherry tomatoes then small pieces of pepperoni cut up
it goes fast when I make this
My sister tells me she makes it with bottled Italian salad dressing and whatever she has in her refrigerator. She uses up all the leftover veggies. It can include peas, olives, cucumbers, etc. This is how she cleans out her refrig in the summer.
For a change, why not try it with mayo or salad dressing and tuna, etc.?
Get some Salad Supreme in the spice dept. It is a mix of spices. Cut up tomatoes, cukes and cauliflower if you like. Sprinkle about 1/2 bottle of the Supreme on these and let sit overnight. Then in the morning mix the veggies, do not drain, with the cooked noodles and pour Zesty Italian dressing over all. Delicious!
I use Good Seasons Italian dressing and add whatever veggies I have. Will work great with just the pasta and parmesan!
thanks for all the great ideas!!!!!!!!!
Suggestion: Instead of using parmesan cheese that comes in a can and is finely grated, use cheese cubes. I had it once and it was fabulous.
use the tri colored pasta cook and cool pasta add cherry tomatoes cut in half, diced cucumbers black olives green olives,cubed motz cheese, add bottled Italian dressing and mix well just before serving add your parmasan cheese this is an easy salad and every one loves it I make it for partys and pot luck dinners it is alway a hit Hope you enjoy
I add Artichoke hearts to mine...mmmmmm
I am looking for some great meatless, cold pasta salads. I am not looking for exotic recipes. I would like ones that are simply made, like the ones our mothers and grandmothers made. I sure would love to hear from you. Thank you and God Bless.
By kay from Clyde, TX
I use Dreamfield Pasta for macaroni salad and it is very dry no matter what I do. I even cook pasta for 8 minutes, then let it soak in cold water for 10 minutes so it won't absorb as much liquid (my mom's secret). Does someone have a juicy recipe for the dressing? Is the Dreamfield the problem?
By Joan
This is a simple and easy to make pesto pasta salad or served as a side dish. Its a perfect meal when you don't have much time.
While the additional ingredients can vary the mainstay of Greek pasta salad in addition to the pasta is typically feta cheese, onion, garlic, herbs, and olives. Typically tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers are also added. Finish with a red wine dressing and enjoy. Recipes can be found below.
Assorted beans and pasta make a delicious main dish salad. This page contains a 3 bean pasta salad recipe.
