Best Simple Pasta Salad Recipes

SIMPLE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.

SIMPLE ITALIAN PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rotelle in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain.
• Stir rotelle, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, olives, and pepperoni together in a large bowl. Pour 1/2 of the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight. Pour remaining dressing over the salad and stir.

SIMPLE TASTY PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook the rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain. Rinse pasta with cold water until cool; drain.
• Combine cooled pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, green bell pepper, red onion, and black olives in a large bowl.
• Pour Italian-style salad dressing over the pasta mixture; toss to coat.
• Sprinkle bacon bits and cranberries over the salad to serve.

SIMPLE PASTA SALAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Blend canola oil, vinegar, corn syrup, lemon juice, onion, garlic, Parmesan cheese, salt, parsley, basil, and red pepper flakes in a blender until smooth, about 30 seconds.

SIMPLE TUNA PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the cooked and drained pasta with the drained tuna, chopped celery, peas, and mayonnaise, using only enough mayonnaise for the salad to be creamy.
• (If it's made ahead, you may need more because the pasta will absorb the mayo.) Chill at least 1- 2 hours before serving.

SIMPLE SHRIMP PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta and cook until al dente. Rinse under cold water and drain.
• In a large bowl combine shrimp, tomato, green pepper, mayonnaise and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Add pasta and toss to coat. Chill for approximately one hour and serve.

ALEX'S SIMPLE WHOLE WHEAT PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Place the pepper directly over a gas flame to char and cook, turning, about 3 minutes per side. Place the pepper in a bowl and let sit, uncovered, until cool enough to handle.
• Place the pepper on a cutting board. Remove the seeds and core and open the pepper up so it lies flat on the cutting board, charred skin-side up. Use a kitchen towel to wipe the charred skin away. Sprinkle the pepper with the sugar, then chop the pepper into 1/4-inch dice. Place the diced peppers back in the bowl and drizzle with the vinegar. Set aside.
• Bring 4 quarts water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add a generous amount of salt. (It should taste like seawater.) Cook the pasta, stirring from time to time, until "al dente" (chewy but not hard or raw tasting), 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.
• Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and toss with the pesto. If the pesto is too thick, add some pasta water to thin it out. Place half of the pasta in a serving bowl, then top with half of the Parmesan and half of the roasted peppers. Top with the remaining pasta, Parmesan and roasted peppers. Garnish with fresh basil and serve.
• Pulse the basil with the garlic, sugar and salt in a food processor. Slowly stream in 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup water through the top of the machine, pulsing until almost completely smooth. Taste for seasoning. Add more oil if too chunky or dry. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the Parmesan.

SIMPLE ITALIAN PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Set aside., Drain artichoke hearts and tomatoes, reserving liquids. Chop artichokes and tomatoes; set aside., Drain pasta. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, cheeses, pepperoni, basil, oregano, onion mixture, artichokes and tomatoes. In a small bowl, combine the reserved liquids. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Chill until serving.

SIMPLE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• 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.
• 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 mix into the salad. (You could use McCormick's Parmesan Herb Seasoning Blend instead - use the whole jar of 1.87 ounces.)
• Cover, and refrigerate until serving.

SIMPLE SUMMER PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• COOK pasta according to the directions on the package.
• MIX all of the ingredients together well with the cooked pasta.
• REFRIGERATE for about 3-4 hours before serving.

SIMPLE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except dressing in large bowl.
• Add dressing; mix lightly.
• Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.

SIMPLE & EASY PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Boil pasta in lightly salted water for approximately 12 minutes, or until al dente. Drain and rinse.
• Add all chioped vegetables and 1/2 the bottle of dressing to the bowl, and toss the pasta in. Add the parmesan cheese and italian seasoning, and give it a few good tosses and stirs.
• Refrigerate until chilled and ready to serve!