Best 3 A Twist On Pasta Salad Recipes

Pasta salad is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or as a side dish. It is a great way to use up leftover pasta, and it can be made with a variety of ingredients, making it a customizable meal. This article provides recipes for three different pasta salads: a classic pasta salad, a Greek pasta salad, and a pesto pasta salad.

The classic pasta salad is made with cooked pasta, mayonnaise, celery, onion, and hard-boiled eggs. The Greek pasta salad adds feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and a Greek dressing to the classic recipe. The pesto pasta salad is made with cooked pasta, pesto sauce, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese.

All three recipes are easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. For example, you can add different vegetables to the classic pasta salad, such as carrots, bell peppers, or broccoli. You can also use different types of cheese in the Greek pasta salad, such as Parmesan or Asiago. And you can add grilled chicken or shrimp to the pesto pasta salad for a more protein-packed meal.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

MACARONI SALAD WITH A TWIST

Macaroni Salad with a Twist image

Found this among some recipes I pinched years ago. It is a nice twist on an old favorite.

Provided by Kathy W

Categories Pasta Salads

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

4 c cooked macaroni, drained and cooled
2 Tbsp onion, finely diced
1/2 c radishes, sliced
1 c celery, sliced
1/2 c mayonnaise
1 1/2-2 Tbsp spicy brown mustard
1 1/2-2 tsp prepared horseradish
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

1. Combine macaroni, onion, radishes and celery in a large bowl.
2. In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, mustard, horseradish, salt and pepper. Whisk until well blended and smooth.
3. Pour over macaroni mixture and toss. Chill.
4. Note: If you want more of a "kick", add a little finely minced jalapeno.

PASTA SALAD WITH A TWIST

Pasta Salad with a Twist image

A BBQ must, indeed! A little bit of spice, a little bit of tang, and a whole lot of delicious. This recipe is also flexible enough to allow for the substitution of other veggies that you may have on hand.

Provided by Elsa Dreyer

Categories Pasta Salads

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1 pkg spiral or any curly pasta
1 onion finely chopped
1 each yellow, green, red and orange peppers chopped
3/4 c ketchup
1/2 c white balsamic vinegar
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c olive oil
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp chili flakes

Steps:

1. Cook pasta as per instructions on package. Drain and let cool. Do not rinse.
2. In a saucepan, combine ketchup, vinegar, sugar, olive oil, curry powder and chilies. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes on medium heat. Let cool.
3. Combine peppers and onion with pasta and pour ketchup mixture over. Mix well, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
4. Serve at room temperature.

MACARONI SALAD WITH A TWIST

Macaroni Salad with a Twist image

I was messin' around in my kitchen trying to put a twist on my traditional macaroni salad recipe. I tried several different dishes before I came up with this one. Now my friends and family can't get enough of it! I recommend making it a day ahead and chilling it overnight to really develop the flavors.

Provided by Sean

Categories Salad 100+ Pasta Salad Recipes Macaroni Salad Recipes

Time 4h28m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package small seashell pasta
1 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup distilled white vinegar
⅔ cup white sugar
2 ½ tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 large Vidalia or sweet onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
¼ cup grated carrots
1 pound diced cooked ham

Steps:

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta, but do not rinse. Let stand 5 minutes.
To make the dressing, combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Set aside.
Combine the onion, celery, bell pepper, carrots, and ham in a large bowl. Stir in the dressing. Add the pasta and toss gently to blend all ingredients. Chill at least 4 hours before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 581.9 calories, Carbohydrate 64.1 g, Cholesterol 43.9 mg, Fat 29.2 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 17.7 g, SaturatedFat 5.5 g, Sodium 1415.5 mg, Sugar 20.3 g

Tips:

For maximum flavor, marinate the tomatoes and mozzarella in the dressing for at least 30 minutes before assembling the salad.
If you're short on time, you can skip marinating the tomatoes and mozzarella, but the salad won't be as flavorful.
You can use any type of pasta for this salad, but short, sturdy pastas like penne or fusilli work best.
Be sure to cook the pasta al dente (tender but still slightly firm to the bite) so that it doesn't get mushy in the salad.
If you can't find fresh mozzarella, you can use a good-quality shredded mozzarella instead.
This salad is best served chilled, so make it ahead of time and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.

Conclusion:

This pasta salad is a delicious and refreshing side dish that's perfect for summer gatherings. It's easy to make, and it can be tailored to your own taste by adding or omitting ingredients as desired. So next time you're looking for a light and flavorful dish to serve at your next party or potluck, give this pasta salad a try!