The best easy pasta salad (2023)

Super Light Pasta Salad – with pasta, tomato, fresh mozzarella, spicy salami, pepperoncini, olives and light Italian dressing. DANGEROUS GOOD.

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Meet your new best friend of summer:

An incredibly easy pasta salad with pasta, juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, red onion, salami, olives, herbs, and a drizzle of homemade dressing.

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We made this for Memorial Day and it was a huge hit! The dressing is absolutely delicious and goes perfectly with this salad. Thanks for sharing!!

The best easy pasta salad (2)Krista

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(Video) PASTA SALAD 3 WAYS (Literally The Best Pasta Salads I've Ever Had)

If you want to know what I ate for 4 of my last 5 meals, THIS SUMMER is a MUST. We have a moment here.

Let's have a moment together, okay?

In this post: Everything you need to make a simple pasta salad

  • Watch how to make the best easy pasta salad
  • Ingredients for this easy pasta salad recipe
  • And the pasta salad dressing?
  • This is how your pasta salad dreams come true.
  • The Best Easy Macaroni Salad: FAQs

Prefer to watch than read?

In my opinion, a good classic pasta salad works for one of two scenarios:

  • attending an end-of-summer picnic, luncheon, or other type of party where everyone brings something;
  • Tackle the leftover meat, cheese, and veggies in my fridge and turn them into a meal I want to eat 24/7.

This pasta salad will do both for you.

The best easy pasta salad (3)

Ingredients for this easy pasta salad recipe

Do you have two and a half seconds? Cool.

Will need:

  • Your favorite noodle dish
  • Cherry tomatoes (or other non-threatening vegetable)
  • mozzarella cheese balls
  • Salami (choose a very spicy one)
  • Oliva
  • Pepperoncini (optional...sort of)
  • red onion and parsley

For the pasta, choose one that has a good texture and a firm shape so that it soaks up all the sauce. I like the routine. (DeLallo too! It's our favorite. The semi-grainy texture is second to none for dipping sauces. I buy mine at Target or Cub Foods.)

And the pasta salad dressing?

Thank you for your concern. That is important.

We need a hot Italian sauce. Here are our ingredients.

  • oil
  • White wine vinegar
  • salt and pepper
  • dried oregano and basil
  • little sugar
  • fresh herbs (such as parsley, plus basil or chives)

Made at home in a blender or food processor, it takes about 60 seconds. Youmadethis sauce, pasta salad boss, you. ♡

The best easy pasta salad (4)
The best easy pasta salad (5)

This is how your pasta salad dreams come true.

Okay, it's summer, so you know we don't spend all day in the kitchen. We bring this beauty to share with friends, family, neighbors, postal workers, daycare centers, and just about anyone who can get their hands on a fork stat. Let's make a macaroni salad!

  1. Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse. Let it cool down a bit and add a little oil.
  2. Puree the sauce in a blender or shake it in a glass.
  3. Play around, try to fit in, and train every self-control muscle in your body so you don't eat everything before everyone arrives.
The best easy pasta salad (6)

Can I give one last piece of advice? You don't have to wait until you're invited to a picnic or dinner to bring the magic of pasta salad into your life.

This is a dream weeknight meal.

Stop by the store on the way home and pick up some nice salami and cheese, some olives and some fresh herbs. Cook some pasta, throw it all together, and voila. Cold pasta salad + a glass of rose for dinner and more cold pasta salad as leftovers for lunch all week.

(Video) PASTA SALAD | with Italian salad dressing

I'll be done in no time.

The Best Easy Macaroni Salad: FAQs

What salt do you recommend?

Please note that the amount listed applies to coarse sea salt. If you use fine table salt, start with 2 teaspoons and add more as needed.The dressing itself will be too salty.How too salty for a regular salad. But in this recipe, that's exactly what we want! Mixed with a pound of plain pasta, as well as a handful of fresh, unseasoned vegetables, this sauce will be delicious when you toss it.

Can I use other vegetables and extras in this pasta salad?

Be sure to adapt this salad, it's better! Try adding blanched green beans, fresh spinach, artichokes, red or yellow bell peppers, garbanzo beans, etc. for a more vegetarian version. Or different cheeses (feta? Parmesan?) or different shapes of pasta (penne? fusili? maybe even some tortellini?)… the possibilities are endless. I love this salad just the way it is, but I also love how flexible it is!

How long does this prepared pasta salad last in the fridge?

Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

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The best easy pasta salad (7)

(Video) Easy CREAMY Macaroni Salad | Comfort Food Favourites

The best easy pasta salad

4.4 of 96 reviews
  • Author: prize already
  • Total time: 30 minutes
  • Harvest: 10+ - this makes more than 15 cups1X
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Description

Super Light Pasta Salad – with pasta, tomato, fresh mozzarella, spicy salami, pepperoncini, olives and light Italian dressing. DANGEROUS GOOD.

Ingredients

units Scale

Essential Pasta Salad:

  • 1 LibracruTime
  • 3 bags cherry tomato, Cut in half
  • 8 ouncesFrischmozzarella cheese balls, Cut in half
  • 1 Libra.Salamiosummer sausage, for data
  • 3/4 taxes Kalamata-Oliven, cut
  • 3/4 taxes Peppers(optional, but do it)
  • 1/2 taxescutRed onion
  • 1/2 taxesFrischPartially, sliced

Italian Pasta Salad Dressing:

  • 1/2 taxes oil
  • 1/4 taxes White wine vinegar(White vinegar or red wine vinegar will work)
  • 1/4 taxes Agua
  • 12soup spooncoarse salt(yes, tablespoons, see notes!)
  • 2Nailit(o1 tspgarlic powder)
  • 1 tablespoon Zucker
  • 2 teaspoonsallTrockener Oreganomidried basil
  • black pepperTastes good
  • fresh herbsif you want! sometimes i add freshparsley, basil or chives.

(Video) Best Macaroni Salad Ever - How to Make Deli-Style Macaroni Salad

instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions, in salted water for added flavor. Let it cool down a bit and toss with a little oil so it doesn't stick.
  2. Mix or shake the sauce in a pitcher.
  3. Mix all the ingredients together! I like to use about three quarters of the sauce and then save the rest of the sauce to add to leftovers.
  4. Store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. In fact, I think it tastes better the day AFTER you make it.

equipment

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Comments

Update 12/7/22:Based on reader feedback and additional testing, the olive oil in the sauce has been reduced to 1/2 cup (was 1 1/2 cup).

Please note that the amount listed applies to coarse sea salt. If you use fine table salt, start with 2 teaspoons and add more as needed.The dressing itself will be too salty.How too salty for a regular salad. But in this recipe, that's exactly what we want! Mixed with a pound of plain pasta, as well as a handful of fresh, unseasoned vegetables, this sauce will be delicious when you toss it. If you want a less salty sauce, you can reduce it to 1 tablespoon.

You can also save time on onion preparation.this guidelike cutting an onion

  • Setup time: 30 minutes
  • Time to cook: 5 minutes
  • Category: Page
  • Method: Mix
  • Cocina: North American

Keywords:Pasta Salad, Pasta Salad Recipe, Best Pasta Salad, Potluck Recipe, Summer Recipe

Recipe card powered byThe best easy pasta salad (11)

(Video) Healthy Meals That DON'T SUCK: Pasta Salad

Try our other pasta salad recipes

  • Lemon Herb Pasta Salad with Marinated Chickpeas (fresh, bright, simple!)
  • Excellent Summer Orzo Salad (easy with fried chicken)
  • Macaroni Salad with Lemon Grass (although the bandage)
  • Spicy Peanut Soba Noodle Salad (lots of fresh vegetables and pasta, just the way we like it)

Just one thing!

This recipe is part of our collection ofeasy noodle recipes. Listen!

Videos

1. How To Make Italian PASTA SALAD with Homemade ITALIAN DRESSING
(Natashas Kitchen)
2. Quick and Easy Pasta Salad
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3. Easy Pasta Salad Recipe with Homemade Italian Dressing
(Kitchen Sanctuary)
4. Quick and Delicious Macaroni Salad Recipe
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5. The Absolute Best Italian Pasta Salad for Summer Picnics
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6. The Best-Ever Pasta Salad | Refreshing, Easy & Done in 30 Minutes
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