Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with our creamy pasta salad, a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Picture perfectly cooked pasta, generously coated in a creamy, tangy dressing infused with the vibrant flavors of Italian seasoning. Crisp and refreshing vegetables, such as diced celery, sweet bell peppers, and crunchy red onions, add a delightful textural contrast. Tender cooked chicken or succulent shrimp provide a protein-packed boost, while grated Parmesan cheese adds a touch of nutty richness. This versatile dish can be easily customized to suit your preferences, making it a perfect choice for potlucks, picnics, or a quick and satisfying meal at home. Explore our collection of creamy pasta salad recipes, each offering unique variations to satisfy every palate. From classic mayonnaise-based dressings to lighter yogurt-based options, and even vegan alternatives, we have something for everyone. Discover the perfect creamy pasta salad recipe that will become a staple in your culinary repertoire.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
CLASSIC CREAMY PASTA SALAD
This Classic Creamy Pasta Salad is such a flavorful side dish. Creamy dressing and crispy diced vegetables mixed with elbow pasta make it oh so delicious.
Provided by Dina
Categories Salad
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Start off by making the creamy salad dressing. In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. 
- Then dice up the red onion, celery, and bell pepper. You can speed the process up by using a vegetable chopper.
- Now cook the pasta according to the package or al dente. Once the pasta is cooked, pour out into a colander and quickly rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process. 
- Then add the pasta, chopped vegetables, and creamy dressing into a large bowl and toss to combine. Here you can add additional salt according to your liking. Serve chilled.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 361 kcal, Carbohydrate 36 g, Protein 7 g, Fat 21 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Cholesterol 18 mg, Sodium 282 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 3 g, ServingSize 1 serving
ITALIAN PASTA SALAD RECIPE
This is one satisfying and flavor-packed cold pasta salad with crunchy veggies, fresh herbs, rustic old-world salami, tangy olives, and mozzarella. A zesty Italian dressing brings it all together.
Provided by Suzy Karadsheh
Categories Salad
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Cook the pasta in boiling water according to package instructions until the pasta is cooked to al dante (don't forget to salt your water). Drain
- In a large bowl, mix the pasta with the tomatoes, chopped veggies, artichoke hearts, olives, pepperoncini, salami, mozzarella, and fresh herbs.
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix the dressing ingredients together.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta and toss to coat.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 292.3 kcal, Carbohydrate 31.1 g, Protein 13.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Cholesterol 26.9 mg, Sodium 748.4 mg, Fiber 2.7 g, ServingSize 1 serving
CREAMY PASTA SALAD WITH ITALIAN SEASONING
Get a taste of Italy when you make this Creamy Pasta Salad with Italian Seasoning. Add MIRACLE WHIP Dressing to this delicious, colorful pasta salad.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Recipes
Time 3h20m
Yield 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Mix dressings and seasoning in large bowl until blended.
- Add remaining ingredients; mix lightly.
- Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 290, Fat 12 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Sodium 300 mg, Carbohydrate 37 g, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 6 g, Protein 10 g
ITALIAN DRESSING PASTA SALAD
This colorful salad is hearty enough to be a light meal in itself. It's a great make-ahead dish, since the full flavors of the herbs and veggies need a little time to blend. For more tasty ideas, check out these other cold pasta salad recipes.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 1h
Yield 36 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse with cold water; drain well. In two large bowls, combine the California vegetables, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, onion, cheeses and pasta. , In a small bowl, combine the salad dressing, parsley, basil, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt and pepper. Pour over pasta mixture; toss to coat. Stir in olives. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. , Toss before serving. Serve with Romano cheese if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 157 calories, Fat 10g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 15mg cholesterol, Sodium 405mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.
ITALIAN PASTA SALAD I
This is an excellent and refreshing pasta salad with a little zing to it. It will also store for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Provided by Jeanette
Categories Salad 100+ Pasta Salad Recipes Rotini Pasta Salad Recipes
Time 30m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.
- In a large bowl, combine the pasta, Italian salad dressing, Caesar dressing, Parmesan cheese, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and red onion. Mix well and serve chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 290.6 calories, Carbohydrate 32.6 g, Cholesterol 5.9 mg, Fat 14.6 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 8.5 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 728.2 mg, Sugar 4.6 g
CREAMY ITALIAN PASTA SALAD
If you like simple pasta salads you should try this. I love this in the summer but you could have this any time. I didn't see any other recipes like this that used both dressings so I thought I'd share mine. They really do go well together. This is pretty versatile and you can add any veggies that you'd like.
Provided by MTpockets
Categories < 30 Mins
Time 25m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook pasta as directed, rinse with cold water and drain well.
- In a large bowl, combine rest of ingredients and toss to coat.
- Add pasta and toss to coat.
- Chill at least 2 hours before serving.
- *** If pasta "absorbs" the dressing, you may need to add a little more dressing after chill time before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 468.6, Fat 29.6, SaturatedFat 6.2, Cholesterol 22.5, Sodium 849.8, Carbohydrate 39.1, Fiber 2.1, Sugar 5.9, Protein 11.6
CREAMY ITALIAN PASTA SALAD
Toss a zesty Italian yogurt dressing with tomatoes, zucchini and pasta for a colorful and delicious salad.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Lunch
Time 20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook, drain and rinse macaroni as directed on package.
- In large bowl, mix yogurt, cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic salt and onion. Stir in macaroni. Add remaining ingredients; toss. Cover and refrigerate any remaining salad.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 250, Carbohydrate 40 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Fat 1/2, Fiber 3 g, Protein 13 g, SaturatedFat 1 1/2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 510 mg, Sugar 9 g, TransFat 0 g
Tips:
- To ensure the pasta salad is creamy without being too heavy, use a combination of mayonnaise and Greek yogurt as the dressing base. Greek yogurt adds a tangy flavor and helps to balance the richness of the mayonnaise. - For a flavorful salad, use a variety of vegetables such as chopped bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. You can also add protein sources like diced ham, grilled chicken, or crumbled bacon. - To enhance the Italian flavors, use a generous amount of dried Italian seasoning in the dressing and add a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley or basil before serving. - For the best texture, cook the pasta al dente according to the package instructions. This will prevent the pasta from becoming mushy when coated in the dressing. - For a make-ahead option, prepare the pasta salad up to 24 hours in advance. Keep it refrigerated until ready to serve.Conclusion:
This creamy pasta salad is a delightful and versatile dish that is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or light summer meals. Its creamy texture, flavorful dressing, and colorful vegetables make it a popular choice for all ages. With its ease of preparation and customizable ingredients, this pasta salad is sure to become a staple in your recipe collection. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and let's create a creamy pasta salad that will tantalize your taste buds!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love