Creamy Pasta Salad - A Beautiful Mess

I am so excited to share this Creamy Pasta Salad recipe with you today! It’s one of the tastiest pasta salads I’ve ever made and my kids loved it too. It’s the perfect side dish for BBQ season and summer get togethers.

Pasta salad is the warm-weather version of macaroni and cheese – the best comfort food! Mix up a large batch and watch it disappear.

summer salads: Classic potato salad, pea salad with bacon, broccoli salad, ragweed salad, chicken salad, egg salad, macaroni salad, roasted green tomato salad.

Ingredients in the pasta salad:

Rotini pasta – While you can use any form of pasta for this recipe, I find rotini are perfect for soaking in our delicious creamy sauce.
tomatoes – Sliced cherry tomatoes add so much to this pasta salad.
paprika – Chopped red peppers are a delicious topping for pasta salads.
Peas – Frozen peas are a common suspect in my pasta dishes because they are tasty and sweet.
Cucumber – Chopped cucumber adds a little crunch.
carrot – Shredded carrots add texture and some sweet crunch to this recipe.
Onion – Chopped onions are an essential ingredient to enhance the flavor of this dish.

Creamy Pasta Salad Dressing Ingredients:

mayonnaise – Spicy mayonnaise is the base to make our dressing creamy.
sour cream – Another creamy ingredient that adds flavor and depth to the sauce.
lemon juice – My favorite summer ingredient! Lemon juice brings out all the flavors and adds some acidity.
white wine vinegar – A little more acid for the taste.
Chopped garlic, dried – You can also use this for garlic powder. I enjoy the texture of the dried minced garlic. I’m one of those people who add a little extra garlic to every recipe.
Parsley, dried – For a hearty finish.
salt and pepper – Taste good.

Preparation of Creamy Pasta Salad:

Start by boiling a pot of water until the pasta is cooked just over al dente. I let them soak for a few more minutes before straining. Extra soft noodles stay soft when cold.

Drain the water and let the noodles cool before mixing.

Mix up your sauce. In a separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, white vinegar, dried minced garlic, dried parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.

Prepare your chopped vegetables. Feel free to add additional veggies for a crispier and healthier salad.

In a large bowl, mix the cooled pasta, sauce, and vegetables. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Crafting Tips:

Cook your pasta slightly al dente for added softness that will help your salad stay soft when refrigerated.
Adjust the veg selection to suit your tastes and add extra veggies for a crispier and healthier dish. Choose lots of colorful vegetables.
Rotini pasta or macaroni are good choices for this recipe.

Serving suggestions/Goes well with:

Other recipes you might like:

FAQs:

frequently asked Questions

How long does this keep in the fridge?

Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Can I do this the night before?

Yes. This salad is best prepared at least eight hours in advance and can be stored overnight with excellent results. Stir before serving.

What is the best pasta for pasta salad?

We recommend rotini, macaroni or rotelle. These forms hold well when gripping the bandage.

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A creamy mayonnaise-based pasta salad recipe.

yield 12

Preparation 10 minutes

Cook 10 minutes

instructions

Start by boiling a pot of water until the pasta is cooked just over al dente. I let them soak for a few more minutes before straining. Extra soft noodles stay soft when cold.
Drain the water and let the noodles cool before mixing.
Mix up your sauce. In a separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, white vinegar, dried minced garlic, dried parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.
Prepare your chopped vegetables. Feel free to add additional veggies for a crispier and healthier salad.
In a large bowl, mix the cooled pasta, sauce, and vegetables. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Remarks

Cook your pasta slightly al dente for added softness that will help your salad stay soft when refrigerated.
Adjust the veg selection to suit your tastes and add extra veggies for a crispier and healthier dish. Choose lots of colorful vegetables.
Rotini pasta or macaroni are good choices for this recipe.

Nourishment

nutritional information

Creamy pasta salad

amount per serving

% Daily Value*

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Note: Nutrition is automatically calculated using Spoonacular for your convenience. Where appropriate, we recommend using your own nutritional calculations.

Creamy Pasta Salad – A Beautiful Mess