Description
Summer’s most delightful Creamy Pasta Salad brings Mediterranean flavors and crisp textures to your table. Cool, zesty ingredients dance together, creating a refreshing dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, and quick lunch options you’ll crave all season long.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (rotini, macaroni, or penne)
- 1 cup (150 grams) diced cucumber
- 1 cup (150 grams) cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup (75 grams) diced bell pepper (any color)
- ½ cup (75 grams) shredded carrots
- ½ cup (75 grams) diced celery
Cheese and Onion:
- ½ cup (75 grams) shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
- ¼ cup (40 grams) chopped red onion
Dressing Ingredients:
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) white vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with water, season generously with salt, and heat until vigorously bubbling. Submerge pasta and cook precisely to package guidance for perfectly tender noodles.
- Immediately drain pasta and rinse under cold streaming water, halting further cooking. Allow pasta to cool completely while preparing remaining components.
- Meticulously dice and chop crisp vegetables into uniform, bite-sized pieces, arranging them neatly for easy incorporation.
- Craft a vibrant dressing by whisking together creamy mayonnaise, tangy sour cream, acidic vinegar, zesty mustard, subtle sugar, aromatic garlic and onion powders, and seasoning with salt and pepper. Taste and fine-tune flavor profile as needed.
- Transfer cooled pasta to a spacious mixing vessel, gently fold in prepped vegetables and optional cheese. Drizzle prepared dressing over mixture.
- Thoroughly toss ingredients until every morsel is luxuriously coated with creamy dressing, ensuring even distribution of flavors.
- Seal bowl with protective cover and refrigerate for minimum 60 minutes, allowing ingredients to harmonize and develop rich, complex taste sensations.
- When ready to serve, retrieve from refrigerator and present chilled, offering a refreshing and satisfying culinary experience.
Notes
- Pick short pasta shapes like rotini or shells that hold dressing better and create delightful texture pockets.
- Customize veggies based on seasonal availability or personal preference, ensuring crunchy and colorful mix.
- For lighter version, swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt to reduce calories while maintaining creamy consistency.
- Make ahead friendly dish that tastes even better after overnight refrigeration, allowing flavors to intensify and blend perfectly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg