Easy pasta salad

A fresh, colorful, and creamy pasta salad loaded with tender rotini, crisp vegetables, cheese, and a tangy homemade dressing. Perfect for lunch, picnics, potlucks, or a quick side dish.

Servings: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chilling Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients:

For the Pasta Salad:

• 12 ounces rotini or fusilli pasta
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup cucumber, diced
• ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
• ½ cup yellow bell pepper, diced
• ½ cup black olives, sliced
• ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

For the Dressing:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon honey, optional

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Avoid overcooking because soft pasta can become mushy in the salad.
3. Drain the pasta well and rinse it under cold water until completely cooled.
4. Let the pasta drain thoroughly. Excess water can make the dressing watery.
5. Prepare the vegetables by cutting the tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, olives, and red onion.
6. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, olives, red onion, cheddar cheese, parsley, and basil.
7. In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and honey if using.
8. Pour about three-quarters of the dressing over the pasta mixture.
9. Gently toss everything together until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated.
10. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to blend.
11. Before serving, stir the pasta salad again. Add the remaining dressing if the salad looks dry.
12. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice as desired.
13. Garnish with a little extra parsley or basil and serve chilled.

Nutrition Information:

Approximate per serving, based on 6 servings:

Calories: 430 kcal
Protein: 12 g
Carbohydrates: 48 g
Fiber: 4 g
Net Carbohydrates: 44 g
Fat: 23 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Cholesterol: 25 mg
Sodium: 650 mg
Sugar: 5 g

Nutrition values are estimates and can vary depending on the pasta, mayonnaise, cheese, and other ingredients used.

Q/S:

Q: Can I make pasta salad ahead of time?
A: Yes. It can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead. Keep it covered in the refrigerator and add a little extra dressing before serving if needed.

Q: Why does my pasta salad become dry?
A: Pasta absorbs dressing while it sits. Reserve some dressing and stir it in just before serving.

Q: Can I use a different type of pasta?
A: Yes. Bow-tie, penne, shells, macaroni, or rotini all work well.

Q: Can I make this pasta salad without mayonnaise?
A: Yes. Replace the mayonnaise with additional sour cream or use Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing.

Q: Can I use Greek yogurt?
A: Absolutely. Plain Greek yogurt works especially well as a substitute for some or all of the mayonnaise.

Q: Can I add meat?
A: Yes. Diced grilled chicken, turkey, ham, salami, or pepperoni can be added for extra protein.

Q: Can I add more vegetables?
A: Yes. Broccoli, carrots, corn, celery, spinach, peas, or avocado can be added.

Q: Can I use feta instead of cheddar?
A: Yes. Feta gives the salad a delicious salty and tangy flavor.

Q: Is this recipe vegetarian?
A: Yes, as written. Check that your cheese and mayonnaise are vegetarian-friendly if needed.

Q: Can I make it gluten-free?
A: Yes. Use your favorite gluten-free pasta and make sure the other packaged ingredients are certified gluten-free.

Q: How long does pasta salad last?
A: Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.

Q: Can I freeze pasta salad?
A: Freezing is not recommended because the creamy dressing and fresh vegetables can change texture after thawing.

Q: How can I make it healthier?
A: Use whole-wheat or chickpea pasta, replace some mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, increase the vegetables, and use a reduced-fat cheese.

Q: Can I make it dairy-free?
A: Yes. Use dairy-free mayonnaise, dairy-free yogurt or sour cream, and dairy-free cheese.