Best Picnic Pasta Salad Recipes

CONTEST-WINNING PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook spiral pasta and tortellini according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Place in a large bowl; add the artichokes, broccoli, provolone cheese, salami, peppers, beans, olives, onion and garlic. , Prepare salad dressing according to package directions; pour over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.

THE PERFECT PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, rice vinegar, salt, sugar, and cayenne together in a large bowl for about 30 seconds. Whisk in olive oil in 1-teaspoon increments until emulsified. Whisk in tarragon, dill, parsley, chives, and thyme. Remove and reserve 1/2 of the dressing in a separate small bowl.
• 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. Add snow peas, carrots, peas, and broccoli about 2 minutes before the pasta is done. Drain pasta and veggies well, but do not rinse.
• Transfer hot pasta mixture to the vinaigrette in the large mixing bowl and toss well to combine. Let rest for 5 minutes and toss again. Toss occasionally until the mixture is almost room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, green onions, salt, and the reserved dressing and toss well.
• Wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours before serving. Toss and adjust seasoning before serving.

CLASSIC PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Whisk the mayonnaise, parsley, sour cream, chives, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper together in a large bowl.
• Cook the broccoli in the boiling water until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and transfer to a colander. Run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Add the broccoli to the bowl with the dressing.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Three minutes before the pasta is done, add the peas to the pot. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Add to the bowl.
• Add the ham, provolone, olives, onion and salami to the bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. The pasta salad is best if served right away.

SUMMER PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Blanch broccoli and asparagus in boiling salted water, and plunge into ice bath to stop cooking.
• Cook pasta until al dente.
• Rinse with cold water and drain.
• Toss pasta with chopped vegetables.
• Mix first 5 ingredients of dressing, and slowly whisk in oil.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Toss dressing with pasta and vegetables.
• Chill until ready to serve.

PASTA AND SMOKED SAUSAGE PICNIC SALAD

Steps:

• Bring pan with 2 to 3 inches of water to a boil.
• Turn heat off and add sausage.
• Immediately cover pan and let sausage stand 15 minutes.
• Remove sausage to a plate and let cool in the refrigerator.
• Meanwhile, prepare vinaigrette dressing by mixing dry mustard, salt, pepper, garlic and vinegar together in a small bowl.
• Slowly whip in olive oil to form an emulsion.
• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• Drain.
• Place in large bowl and toss with 1/4 cup vinaigrette dressing.
• When cool, slice sausage into thin 1/4-inch slices.
• Remove garlic clove from vinaigrette dressing.
• Add sausage, peas, onion, tomatoes, carrots, 1/4 cup basil and remaining vinaigrette to the pasta.
• Sprinkle top with cheese. Garnish with fresh basil.

PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss pasta, corn, tomatoes, zucchini and olives; set aside. In a jar with tight-fitting lid, combine all of the dressing ingredients; cover and shake well. Drizzle over salad; lightly toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to boil and add a generous amount of salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to the package directions.
• Meanwhile, prepare the vinaigrette. Zest 1 lemon into a large mixing bowl. Add the juice of both lemons, honey and some salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. While continuing to whisk, slowly pour in the olive oil to emulsify the mixture into a light dressing.
• When the pasta is cooked, drain and immediately pour into the large mixing bowl with the lemon-honey vinaigrette. Toss the pasta with the walnuts, apricots, lemon thyme, mint and radicchio. Gently toss to combine and pour into a serving dish. Serve at room temperature or store, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

PICNIC PASTA AND HAM SALAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, stir together mayonnaise, salt and pepper.
• Add ham, cooked macaroni, cucumber, peas and onion.
• Toss to coat well.
• Cover and refrigerate until well chilled (several hours).

SUMMER PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Tear corner of Ready Pasta pouch to vent, then microwave for one minute.
• Cut tomatoes in half and combine with pasta, adding in Italian dressing and basil.
• Season with salt and pepper and top with cheese.

PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Rinse with cold water; drain.
• Mix tomato sauce, dressing, basil and oregano in large bowl. Add pasta and remaining ingredients; toss. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours until chilled but no longer than 48 hours.

PICNIC ORZO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook orzo for 7 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
• Add peppers, onion and sundried tomatoes to the orzo pasta and mix well.
• Add oil and gradually add in the vinegar. Use your discretion if you want to add the entire 1/2 cup of vinegar.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Chill for at least 1 hour.
• Fold in feta cheese right before serving.

RANCH PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• Prepare Italian dressing mix according to directions (but using about 1/2 the oil called for).
• Mix Ranch dressing with vinegar and oil.
• Drain pasta well and rinse with cold water, drain well again.
• Place all ingredients into large bowl and toss well.
• Refrigerate 12 hours.
• Toss before serving.
• **Can use 1/2 of a green, yellow, and orange bell pepper to add more color.
• You can add other raw hard vegetables such as julienne carrots, blanched asparagus, sliced radish, anything you like.

PASTA SALAD FOR A PICNIC

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Place in a salad bowl; add tomatoes, cheese ( you can also use feta or swiss if you prefer, peppers, onion and olives.
• In blender, combine the dressing ingredients.oil etc -- cover and process until blended. Pour over pasta mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate until cool.

PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Rinse with cool water. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, combine chopped vegetables, sugar, oil, mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, and shredded Cheddar cheese in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Stir in pasta. Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours before serving.

HOT PASTA PICNIC SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Boil pasta as package directs for Al Dente While pasta is boiling slice kielbasa into medallions---OR if you have to use smaller noodles when Farfalle (bow tie) pasta isn't available dice precooked sausage of choice. Drain pasta and set to the side.
• 2. In the same pot you've just boiled noodles in : toss in kielbasa chunks and warm through. Its great if some get just a bit of color on them. If you don't have that much time, its perfect any way you can warm it. Open all cans and stir into meat-liquids and all! Add pasta and stir gently so the soft noodles don't break.
• 3. **Optional---Every now and again to make this a "winter" instead of summer dish, I add a 1/2 tsp. of minced garlic with my sausage while it warms, and if I have the time,extra diced white onion. ***Add in your family's favorite seasonings. Because this dish is almost all canned or precooked, you should not need to add salt. I have also found garlic powder does not do well in this dish, but a pinch of Italian Seasoning and Paprika does wonders.
• 4. ** This dish get better after a day in the ol' chill chest. The tomatoes sweeten and the juice flavors the pasta.
• 5. (*Note: I use all different kinds of precooked sausage. Even leftover brat's or summer sausage*)

PICNIC PASTA SALAD -- ONE DISH MEAL

Steps:

• Mix all salad ingredients together in a large bowl.
• Whisk dressing ingredients together until smooth and well-blended.
• Toss salad ingredients with dressing until well-blended.
• Let sit, refrigerated, at least 4-6 hours, preferably overnight.
• Note: Additional vegetables can be added substituted if desired. Frozen broccoli florets or chopped cucumber are particularly good. But if you add a lot of extra veggies you might need an extra half batch of dressing.
• Note: It is not necessary to thaw the frozen veggies if making it the night before.
• Note: Fresh beans, snapped to size, can be used raw for a crisper texture or they can be blanched and cooled first.

LIGHT PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine macaroni, chicken, broccoli and onion. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Pour over salad; toss to coat. Cover; refrigerate until chilled.

PICNIC PASTA SALAD (VEGAN)

Steps:

• Mix the salad ingredients in a large bowl.
• Stir the dressing ingredients together and let sit for a couple minutes.
• Pour dressing over the salad and coat all the veggies and pasta. You can let it marinate or enjoy immediately!

PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Rinse with cold water; drain.
• Mix tomato sauce, dressing, basil and oregano in large bowl. Add pasta and remaining ingredients; toss. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours until chilled but no longer than 48 hours.

LAYERED PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, drain.
• Return to cooking pan and toss with 2 tablespoons vinaigrette dressing.
• Transfer half of pasta to a clear glass bowl.
• Layer peas, tomatoes, mushrooms, and proscuitto on pasta.
• Top with remaining pasta.
• Sprinkle with basil and pour remaining dressing evenly over salad.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Serve at once or cover and chill until ready to serve.
• Toss right before serving to evenly coat dressing.