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Home » Recipe » Quick and Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

Quick and Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

Last Modified: August 17, 2022 Sabrina Quairoli This blog uses cookies. It also has affiliate links. We earn sponsored content income.

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quick and easy pasta salad

I like cold pasta salads however, some can take up so much work.  This one, however, only took me 30 minutes.  It is great for that leftover meat and other ingredients that you want to use but don't know what to do with them.

Here are the ingredients I used to make this one:  Feel free to use whatever is in your pantry to make your own quick and easy pasta salad recipe.

quick and easy pasta salad ingredients

Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

Easy Pasta Salad Ingredients:

4 cups of dried pasta (I used small Fusilli pasta.)
1 cup of red peppers chopped into small pieces
1 cup of cherry tomatoes halved
1 cup of zucchini peeled and chopped into small pieces
1 cup of red kidney beans (rinsed)
1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese cubed
⅔ - ¾ cup of favorite salad dressing (I created a Dijon mustard with oregano, white wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste)

Easy Pasta Salad Instructions:

First, I cooked the pasta coordinating with the recipe.

Then, I drained it and placed the pasta on a cookie sheet to cool off. It worked pretty well. After about 5 minutes, I added the zucchini, then, beans, red pepper, cheddar cheese, and cherry tomatoes.

Catalina Crunch Low Carb Cereal
lay out pasta to cool on a cookie sheet then add ingredients

Then, I mixed them and transferred them to the bowl and used a little of the salad dressing, and tossed it together. I added a little more until it was just wet and not too much dressing coating the pasta. I prefer it not to be extremely wet.

Then, I covered the bowl and placed it in the refrigerator for a few hours.

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Then, toss it again and add more dressing if needed.

Enjoy!

quick and easy pasta salad in the bowl

What to put in pasta salads?

Since pasta salads are so versatile, you can a variety of things to them. Below are just some items you can add to pasta salads.

  • Black olives sliced
  • Cucumbers cubed
  • Red, yellow, orange, or green bell peppers chopped
  • Mushrooms sliced or cubed
  • Broccoli florets small

What can you serve with pasta salad?

You can serve pasta salad with many other dishes. Below are some from our website to give you some ideas from our grilling category.

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  • Southwest Tenderloin Pork Foil Packet Recipe
  • Delicious Grilled Rosemary Garlic Lemon Chicken Thigh Recipe
  • Asian Infused Turkey Burger Recipe
  • 5 Easy Chicken Recipes You Should Not Miss

Important tips when making this recipe

Keep in mind that everything should be about the same size.

So, when you cut vegetables, be sure to have them about the same size as the pasta and other vegetables.

Conserve some of the dressing to apply before serving.

If you use up all the dressing, the pasta will most likely absorb it. Toss some of it into the bowl and serving it will make it juicier. It will also add a pop of flavor to the salad.

Don't overcook or undercook the pasta.

Try cooking the pasta exactly as instructed. Many manufacturers like Barilla, take into account that when they determine their temperature, it should be al dente pasta.

Here is the recipe if you want to print it.

Quick and Easy Pasta Salad

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quick and easy pasta salad in the bowl
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Sabrina Quairoli
June 21, 2022
by Sabrina Quairoli
Cuisine american
Category Lunch Recipes Pasta Recipes Recipe Salad Recipes Side Dishes Vegetarian Recipes
A cold salad recipe for a crowd.
Persons
12
Serving Size
1 cup
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Total Time
25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of dried pasta (I used small Fusilli pasta.)
  • 1 cup of red peppers chopped into small pieces
  • 1 cup of cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup of zucchini peeled and chopped into small pieces
  • 1 cup of red kidney beans (rinsed)
  • 1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese cubed
  • ¾ cup of favorite salad dressing

Instructions

  1. First, I cooked the pasta coordinating to the recipe.
  2. Then, I drained it and placed the pasta on a cookie sheet to cool off. It worked pretty well. After about 5 minutes, I added the zucchini, then, beans, red pepper, cheddar cheese, and cherry tomatoes.
  3. Then, I mixed them and transferred them to the bowl and used a little of the salad dressing and tossed it together. I added a little more until it was just wet and not too much dressing coating the pasta. I prefer it not be extremely wet.
  4. Then, I covered the bowl and placed it in the refrigerator for a few hours.
  5. Then, toss it again and add more dressing if needed.
  6. Enjoy!
Calories
230
9.6%
Fat
3.9 g
4.6%
Saturated
1.9 g
5%
Carbs
37 g
12%
Protein
10 g
Fiber
3.9 g
12%
Sugar
2.4 g
Sodium
66 mg
2.8%
Trans fat
0.1 g
Cholesterol
9.6 mg
3%
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Notes

(I created a Dijon mustard with oregano, white wine vinegar, and olive oil, salt and pepper to taste)

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Tags

Cherry Tomatoes,
gluten free pasta,
pasta recipe,
Zucchini
© 2023 Recipes owned by Sabrinas Organizing blog and owner Sabrina Quairoli

Looking for some great pasta bowls, here are some I found on Amazon:

Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.

quick and easy pasta salad in the bowl
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About Sabrina Quairoli

I love sharing my passion for organizing life and home. I hope you get inspired when visiting my home organizing tips, quick weeknight recipes, party planning ideas, and DIY organizing projects. Visit the About Me page to read my story.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janet Barclay

    June 17, 2015 at 6:47 am

    Saving this - can't wait to try it!

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