Quick and Easy Pasta Salad Recipe for a Crowd

Jump to recipe

I like cold pasta salads. Some can be time-consuming, but this one only took me 30 minutes. Adding different flavorful items to any old pasta salad recipe will help enhance the flavor of any cold pasta salad recipe. This recipe is great for hot summer months to enjoy at a gathering or just with the family.

Jump to:

• Back story:
• Ingredients:
• Easy Pasta Salad Ingredients:
• Easy Pasta Salad Instructions:
• Essential tips when making this cold pasta salad recipe
• Reveal:
• What can you serve with pasta salad?
• When should I make this pasta salad recipe?
• What should I put in a cold pasta salad recipe?
• Quick and Easy Pasta Salad Recipe Card

Back story:

This recipe was modified from a relative's recipe who has been known for pasta salads over the years. I approached her to get her thoughts on the best ingredients for a pasta salad recipe. She mentioned a variety of ingredients, and this recipe came out of that discussion.

Ingredients:

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

Easy Pasta Salad Ingredients:

4 cups of dried pasta (I used small Fusilli (Affiliate Link) pasta.)
1 cup of red bell peppers chopped into small pieces
One cup of cherry tomatoes halved
1 cup of zucchini peeled and chopped into small pieces
One 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 (Affiliate Link), salt, and pepper to taste)

Easy Pasta Salad Instructions:

First, I cooked the pasta in coordination with the recipe. You can also place the pasta in cold water to shock it. But, it is not necessary.

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

Mix together in a big bowl.

Then, I mixed them, transferred them to the bowl, added a little salad dressing, and tossed them together. I added a little more until the pasta was just wet and not coated with too much dressing. I prefer it not to be incredibly moist.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate

Then, I covered the bowl and placed it in the refrigerator for a few hours or up to 3 hours. This easy salad even tastes better on the second day. Remember that the pasta salad recipe is best served cold, so keeping it in the refrigerator until half an hour before dinner or a party works best.

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

Enjoy!

Essential tips when making this cold pasta salad 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 precisely as instructed. Many manufacturers, like Barilla, consider that when they determine their temperature, it should be al dente.

Looking for some great pasta bowls (Affiliate Link)? Here are some I found on Amazon. They are ceramic bowls and great for handing out to enjoy this recipe!

Pasta Bowls, Ceramic Salad Bowls of 6, 32 oz Large

Buy Now →

Pasta Bowls Set - 30 Ounce Ceramic Plates

Buy Now →

(Affiliate Link)

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

Reveal:

Here is what the finished pasta salad looks like after it is finished. Yummy, right?

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 ideas from our grilling (Affiliate Link) category.

When should I make this pasta salad recipe?

This recipe can be used for a variety of activities. Below is a list of activities that I have made this recipe.

• School activities/events - indoor procession home shows, school play cast party
• Family BBQs - 4th of July party, Memorial Day BBQ, summer party
• Religious gatherings - Baptisms, communions
• Weeknight Dinners - Dinner for busy nights
• Sunday family gatherings - Summertime family reunions

What should I put in a cold pasta salad recipe?

You can add a variety of ingredients to a cold pasta salad recipe. Below are several that work well. Be sure to add the ingredients below evenly. Too much, and it will not taste right.

Type of Pasta to Use (pasta shape):

• Fusilli (Affiliate Link)
• Elbow (Affiliate Link)
• Rigatoni
• Wagon wheels
• Medium shells
• Penne
• Tortellini
• Color rotini

Add four cups of any of these pasta types to make a large batch of pasta salad. Add ½ to 1 pound of pasta if it is for a family of 4-6 people.

Protein (optional) to use in your pasta salad:

• Cubed cheese - shredded or crumbled - American, cheddar, feta cheese, fresh mozzarella, etc.
• Chicken breast - cooked and chopped
• Steak - cooked and cubed
• Salami - cubed
• Ham - cubed
• Roast beef - chopped
• Tuna (canned) - drained and flaked
• Crabmeat - Lump type and picked over
• Shrimp (71-90) Size- cooked and chopped
• Egg - hardboiled and chopped
• Tofu - baked and chopped
• Nuts - toasted and chopped
• Bacon - cooked and crumbled
• Pine nuts - toasted

Add 1 cup of protein for a large batch and a regular-size family of six.

Vegetables (Fresh veggies) or Legumes (raw or canned):

Fresh produce works best.

• Broccoli florets - blanched
• Corn kernels - blanched or frozen(defrosted and cooked).
• Carrots - shredded
• Tomatoes - cherry - halved
• Frozen peas - cooked and let cool to room temperature.
• English Cucumber or regular cucumber - diced - seedless or remove seeds
• Celery - sliced bite-size pieces
• Red / Green / Yellow / Orange Bell pepper - diced
• Green beans - cut into bite-sized pieces - blanched
• Asparagus - blanched and chopped into bite-sized pieces
• Chickpeas - canned
• Red kidney beans - canned
• Cannellini or Great Northern beans - canned
• Zucchini - peeled and chopped
• Mushrooms - fresh and chopped

Add at least 2 of the vegetables or beans above.

Olives and Marinated ingredients:

• Black olives - sliced
• Kalamata Olives - sliced
• Green Olives - sliced
• Pepperoncini Peppers
• Sundried tomatoes - chopped
• Roasted red pepper - chopped

These ingredients are optional but are packed with a ton of flavor. Add at least ½ cup of these ingredients depending on the richness you want to bring to your pasta salad.

Salad Dressing:

Tangy dressings work well for a good pasta salad. Below are some suggestions.

• Italian Dressing - vinaigrettes work well
• Greek Salad Dressing - vinaigrettes work well
• Garlic oil Dressing- garlic, red pepper flakes, olive oil (Affiliate Link), salt and pepper.
• Dijon Dressing: Dijon mustard with oregano, white wine vinegar, olive oil (Affiliate Link), salt, and pepper to taste

Add at least ⅔ cup to ¾ cup, depending on the pasta you use. It's better to make more to help keep the salad moist.

Here is the recipe if you want to print it.