Cold Pasta Salad Recipe Easy

Cold Pasta Salad Recipe Easy is a combination of pasta and vegetables with a creamy Homemade Dressing.

Add one of the suggested ingredients to make it a main dish for a luncheon or any light meal.

Cold Pasta Salad Recipe

• 8 oz. uncooked shell pasta (2 cups)
  
  
• 1 1/2 cups fresh whole cherry tomatoes
  
  
• 1/2 cup green bell peppers, cut into 3/4 inches strips (Julienne style)
  
  
• 1/2 cup red bell peppers, cut as the green peppers
  
  
• 1/2 cup small sweet pickles, thinly sliced crosswise
  
  
• 1/4 cup cooked green peas, drained (canned peas are fine and are optional)
  
  
• 1/4 cup diced red onion (optional)
  

Cook pasta according to the package instructions until it is as tender as you prefer.

Drain the pasta.


Rinse it in cold water and let it cool completely before assembling the salad.

Cut your vegetables, except for the tomatoes.


Reserve a few of the tomatoes to garnish the top.

To assemble your salad, place the cold pasta in a salad bowl and pour your chilled dressing over it and toss lightly.

Add your vegetables and toss them all together, gently.

This technique helps you to prevent your tender pasta from tearing.

You can serve this salad immediately or you can place it in the refrigerator let it chill a couple of hours before serving it.

It will taste better if it is thoroughly chilled.

 Cold Pasta Salad Dressing Recipe

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  
  
• 1/2 cup sour cream
  
  
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan and Romano Cheese combined
  
  
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle juice
  
  
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt*
  

Mix all of the ingredients together and place them in the refrigerator until the pasta is done and the vegetables are prepared.

*If you are limiting your salt intake, you can reduce the salt by 50% or omit it.


The reason for so much salt is because most of the salt that is cooked with the pasta will wash away when you drain the cooked pasta and rinse it.

Cold Pasta Salad Recipe Easy Variations:

Serve the salad greens of your choice on a plate or in individual salad bowls.

Add a cup of diced cooked ham or chicken (chicken breast are delicious) to make a light main dish.

Add a can (4.5 oz.) of tuna, drained.


If using tuna packed in oil, you can choose not to drain it.


The olive oil in the packed tuna is healthy, in my opinion. Plus, it adds to the flavor of the salad.

Add 1/2 cup chopped boiled eggs.


Or use sliced boiled eggs for garnish.

Add 1/3 cup Blue Cheese to the Salad Dressing.

This Cold Pasta Salad Recipe Easy makes an excellent salad to pack in a lunch container and take to work, if you have refrigeration available.

You can pack this Cold Salad in a home lunch box container to have a quick, simple and delicious lunch whenever you want it or when your guests drop by when you don't feel like cooking in sweltering heat.

Related Pages

Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

Macaroni Tuna Salad Recipe

Return to Pasta Recipes


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