Best Colorful Pasta Salad Recipes

COLORFUL SPIRAL PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook pasta according to package directions, adding the broccoli during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain and rinse in cold water., Transfer to a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, olives, salt and pepper. Drizzle with salad dressing; toss to coat. Chill until serving.

COLORFUL VEGGIE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and let cool.
• Brush the corn, yellow squash, zucchini, bell pepper and scallions lightly with oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Grill the corn, turning frequently, until cooked through and the kernels are charred, about 10 minutes. Grill the zucchini and squash slices, turning once, until charred but not mushy, about 2 minutes per side. Grill the pepper slices until they are charred on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Grill the scallions whole, turning them frequently, until charred and soft, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the pesto, olive oil, lemon juice and zest. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cut the yellow squash, zucchini and bell peppers into 1/2-inch pieces and add them to the bowl with the dressing. Cut the kernels off the corn and add them to the zucchini; chop the scallions and add them, too. Add the pasta and grape tomatoes and gently toss until everything is coated with the dressing. Add the parsley, toss and season to taste. Serve at room temperature.

COLORFUL TORTELLINI PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to directions on the package.
• When making any pasta salad, I prefer to under cook it by a minute or two so that it is a bit more firm, but this is up to you.
• Rinse with cold water and drain well.
• Whisk together vinegar, olive oil, herbs, lemon juice, garlic, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and hot sauce in a medium bowl or large measuring cup.
• Combine peppers, onion, and olives in a very large bowl.
• Gently stir in tortellini.
• Pour dressing over salad and lightly toss to coat pasta and vegetables.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least four hours.
• Just before serving, sprinkle the cheeses on top.

COLORFUL PARTY PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• 1. To make dressing: In a large glass jar or bottle with a lid, add whole garlic, bay leaf, & rosemary sprig. Add extra virgin olive oil & red wine vinegar. Add all remaining seasonings. Place lid on jar and shake gently to mix well. (Taste dressing & add adjust seasonings to your taste.) Refrigerate any unused dressing. NOTE: Dressing is best if left to sit 24 hours before use. This allows the garlic & rosemary to infuse into the oil & vinegar. Homemade is best, but you can use your favorite Italian dressing as well.
• 2. Prepare pasta according to directions, drain, cool, & drizzle with a small amount of EVOO & set aside. NOTE: Pasta salad is very versatile, & if it's a last minute request, I make with what I have on hand. I always have fresh vegetables in my fridge, & ingredients for Italian dressing. If I don't have red or yellow peppers, I use extra green peppers. Sometimes I add celery too. It really just depends on what I have on hand. But the recipe herein is by far my favorite way to prepare this wonderful salad!
• 3. Chop all vegetables & add to pasta, mix in well.
• 4. Dice pepperoni & cheeses; add to pasta and vegetables. Fold in. Add fresh seasonings to taste.
• 5. Add Italian dressing & stir well. Refrigerate for 2-4 hours before serving. Best if made the day beforehand.
• 6. Stir well and add fresh grated Romano cheese just before serving.

COLORFUL PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse with cold water.
• In a medium bowl combine cooled pasta, cauliflower, broccoli, red bell pepper, cottage cheese, salt and pepper.

SWEET COLORFUL PARTY PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Start boiling water for pasta and cook according to package directions.
• While water is heating, you can proceed with the next step.
• In a skillet, heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat, and add all of the sliced bell peppers, stirring continuously for about 5 minutes or until desired consistency is reached. Set aside to cool.
• Drain pasta in cold water for a couple of minutes, until cool.
• Place in a medium-sized Tupperware-type container and set aside.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine cider vinegar and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Then mix in olive oil and vegetable oil.
• Add the liquid mixture to the pasta.
• Then mix in all of the bell peppers, black olives, pimientos, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, and chopped celery.
• Add to taste: dash of onion powder, salt, basil leaf, oregano, and minced garlic (if desired).
• Refrigerate for at least one hour. Best if refrigerated over night. Sometimes pasta will absorb the dressing, so you may want to add a little extra vinegar and oil before serving.
• Note: You can adjust the amounts of sugar, vinegar, and oil to your desired taste.
• Enjoy.

COLORFUL PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, drain pineapple, reserving 1/4 cup juice. In a large bowl, combine the pineapple, snow peas, carrot, cucumber and reserved pineapple juice. , Drain pasta and rinse with cold water. Add to pineapple mixture. Sprinkle with cilantro. Drizzle with salad dressing and toss to coat. Chill until serving.

COLORFUL PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• First make the dressing & then set aside. Cook pasta according to package directions and rinse under cold water until cool. Add peppers, onion, pepperoni, mushrooms, broccoli, olives, sun dried tomatoes & feta to pasta & toss. Pour dressing over all & mix well. Chill until time to serve. Enjoy!

COLORFUL PARTY PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta til al dente.
• Fine chop all meat and veggies.
• Run cold water over pasta and add to large salad bowl, add veggies, Crispins and Dressing, toss to coat and chill 1-24 hours.

COLORFUL PASTA SALAD WITH CRAB

Steps:

• 1. Cook the pasta according to package set aside to cool
• 2. Cut the stems off the broccoli, throw them away. Steam the florets - place the florets in a pot with a very small amount of water, place a lid on the pot and cook on low until a bright green, set aside to cool ** I usually make the pasta and broccoli the evening before and place in the refrigerator overnight to assure it is cooled.
• 3. Remove the seeds and chop the peppers and tomatoes, chop the onion, try to make them all the same size I usually cut them really tiny, sometimes I throw them in the food processor, however doing so can make them a bit watery.
• 4. Cut the crab meat in small chunks, or you may flake them.
• 5. Add the mayo, parm cheese and dressing in a bowl whisk well, add salt and pepper to taste. ** we like it with a lot of dressing I usually make extra
• 6. Mix in a large bowl combine the pasta, veggies and crab, pour the dressing mixture over the pasta mixture and mix, garnish with parm cheese and parsley flake.

EASY COLORFUL SUMMER PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• 1. In large mixing bowl add pasta , salt/pepper, vegetables, and chesse. Gently toss ... add salad dressing .. mixed thoroughly. Chill for 2- 3 hours. Just before serving mix again , garnish with croutons. (or hard boiled egg slices if you choose) * Optional .. you can place slices of hard boiled egg on top of salad in the center with a spring of parsely. If you choose to do this, mix salad one last time before garnishing.

COLORFUL PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• 1. I have made this with the bare minimum of ingredients, and with all the ingredients and varying amounts in between, it always still tasted good! I've even made it with plain macaroni noodles, I just prefer the tricolored noodles because they make the salad prettier.
• 2. Boil noodles for 7 minutes, drain and cool in large bowl.
• 3. Add all ingredients (minus noodles, miracle whip and shredded cheese) to a food processor and chop to a very fine texture (this can be done by hand too but takes longer)- no chunk larger than 1/2 cm (think baby food textures).
• 4. Add all processed ingredients to the bowl with the noodles and mix well.
• 5. Using a wooden spoon, one spoonful at a time add and stir in Miracle Whip until you like the texture of the salad, (some like it drier, some like it "goopier").
• 6. Once you have all mixed together, slowly fold in handfuls of shredded cheese - to taste - and finally top the finished salad with a little more of the grated cheese.
• 7. It should be noted: (1) if this salad sits overnight in the refrigerator, it tastes even better, but needs a little more miracle whip (or a small amount of milk)added to it the next day as it dries a bit from noodle absorption. (2) Due to the vinegar in the pickle juice, this should not be stored more than a day in a non coated metal pan.

HOPE'S COLORFUL PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Stir in the pasta, and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked through, but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Rinse with cool water; drain well in a colander set in the sink; set aside to cool completely.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan, and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli, recover, and steam until bright green and still crisp, about 2 minutes. Remove the broccoli and rinse well with cold water until cold; drain.
• Stir together the onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, the cooled pasta, and the cooled broccoli in a large bowl. Whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar dressing, and dry mustard. Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables; stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

COLORFUL PASTA SALAD RECIPE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, drain pineapple, reserving 1/4 cup juice. In a large bowl, combine the pineapple, snow peas, carrot, cucumber and reserved pineapple juice.
• Drain pasta and rinse with cold water. Add to pineapple mixture. Sprinkle with cilantro. Drizzle with salad dressing and toss to coat. Chill until serving.