Best 6 Creamy Peppercorn Pasta Salad Recipes

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Creamy peppercorn pasta salad is an incredibly flavorful and versatile dish that can be served as a refreshing side dish at summer cookouts, potlucks, or picnics, or as a light main course for lunch or dinner. Featuring tender pasta coated in a creamy and tangy sauce made with mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and a medley of spices, this salad offers a symphony of tastes and textures. Topped with a generous sprinkling of freshly cracked black peppercorns, it delivers a burst of peppery heat that is perfectly balanced by the cool and creamy dressing. The addition of sweet bell peppers, crunchy celery, and juicy tomatoes adds color, texture, and a delightful crunch, making this salad a feast for the eyes and the palate. This article provides two variations of this delectable salad: one with chicken and one with shrimp, allowing you to customize it to your preferences.


**Creamy Peppercorn Pasta Salad with Chicken:** This variation adds succulent, grilled chicken to the salad, enhancing its protein content and making it a more substantial meal. The chicken is seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices, then grilled to perfection, resulting in tender and flavorful pieces that pair wonderfully with the creamy peppercorn dressing and the crisp vegetables.


**Creamy Peppercorn Pasta Salad with Shrimp:** For a seafood twist, this variation features plump and juicy shrimp, cooked until perfectly tender. The shrimp are tossed in a zesty marinade before being grilled or sautéed, infusing them with a delightful blend of flavors. Combined with the creamy peppercorn dressing and the colorful vegetables, this salad offers a delightful combination of textures and tastes that is sure to impress your guests.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

CREAMY SUMMER PASTA SALAD



Creamy Summer Pasta Salad image

This is a fresh, slightly tangy pasta salad with plenty of different flavors.

Provided by Mary Younkin

Categories     Salad

Time 11m

Number Of Ingredients 13

SALAD INGREDIENTS:
8 ounces salad macaroni or ditalini pasta
1 cup tiny broccoli florets
1/2 cup diced cucumber
1/2 cup finely diced red pepper
1/2 cup sliced black olives
1/4 cup very thinly sliced green onion
DRESSING INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons white wine or plain vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (adjust to taste)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon sugar

Steps:

  • Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, adding a generous tablespoon or so of kosher salt to the water as it cooks. Just before the noodles are done cooking, add the broccoli to the pot. Let the broccoli boil for about 30 seconds and then drain everything into a large colander. Rinse well with cold water.
  • Stir together the mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, pepper, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the cooked pasta and broccoli to the bowl and stir well to coat. Add the cucumber, pepper, olives, and onions and stir again. Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir again just before serving. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 297 kcal, Carbohydrate 31 g, Protein 5 g, Fat 16 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 7 mg, Sodium 496 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving

HAM AND BELL PEPPER PASTA SALAD



Ham and Bell Pepper Pasta Salad image

Stir ham, onion and bell pepper into pasta with a rich sour cream-and-chive dressing.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 30m

Yield 4-6

Number Of Ingredients 10

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
8 ounces dried elbow macaroni
1 cup diced ham
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
2 bell peppers, preferably 1 red and 1 yellow, chopped

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Whisk together the mayonnaise, parsley, sour cream, chives, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl.
  • Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool; add to the bowl with the dressing.
  • Add the ham, onion and bell peppers to the bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. The pasta salad is best if served right away.

CREAMY PASTA SALAD



Creamy Pasta Salad image

"I love creating new and tasty foods, including this popular side-dish salad," Lori Menard writes from Omaha, Nebraska. "I make it often for my husband and me, especially during the summer months. If you add some cooked chicken breast, you can make this a meal for two."

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 25m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 cup cooked spiral pasta
1/3 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons chopped onion
3 tablespoons chopped cucumber
3 tablespoons chopped green pepper
2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons sliced pepperoncini
2 radishes, sliced
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup ranch salad dressing

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 233 calories, Fat 5g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 14mg cholesterol, Sodium 1021mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 9g protein.

THE BEST CREAMY PASTA SALAD



The Best Creamy Pasta Salad image

This is The BEST Creamy Pasta Salad you will ever make, promise. Thanks to one secret ingredient, this classic creamy pasta salad is infinitely more flavorful thank most recipes you'll find.

Provided by Nicole

Categories     Side Dish

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 lb rotini pasta
1 1/2 cups light mayo
1 1/2 tbsp beef bouillon paste
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/4 cup buttermilk, possibly more for thinning out
3 tbsp white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1 large green pepper, diced
1/2 cup chopped red onion
4 cups halved cherry tomatoes

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Season with salt. Add the pasta and give it a stir. Cook until aldente (it should have a slight bite to it). Drain and rinse under cold water until chilled.
  • Add mayo and beef bouillon to a large bowl. Whisk until smooth. Add the sour cream, buttermilk, vinegar, and salt. Whisk until smooth. Add the pasta. Toss until completely coated. If needed, add a little bit of buttermilk to thin the dressing out. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Add in peppers, red onion, and tomatoes. Toss. Again, season with salt and pepper. Serve right away or chill until read to serve. If you do chill it, before serving, give it a stir, if needed, add a little bit of buttermilk to thin out the dressing as needed.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 292 kcal, Carbohydrate 43 g, Protein 8 g, Fat 10 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Sodium 572 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 6 g

ROASTED-PEPPER PASTA SALAD



Roasted-Pepper Pasta Salad image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     side-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

Kosher salt
12 ounces mezzi rigatoni or other short tube-shaped pasta
2 bell peppers (red and/or yellow), halved, stemmed and seeded
6 cloves garlic, unpeeled
1/4 cup almonds
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon
8 ounces bocconcini (small mozzarella balls)
1 bunch fresh basil, leaves torn
Freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • Preheat the broiler. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Shake off the excess water. Meanwhile, place the bell peppers cut-side down on a foil-lined broiler pan, add the garlic and broil until charred, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer the peppers to a bowl, cover and set aside about 5 minutes. Heat a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds and toast, shaking the pan, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop. Squeeze the garlic from its skin onto a cutting board. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt; mince and mash the garlic into a paste with a large knife. Peel the roasted peppers and slice into strips; transfer to a large bowl. Add the garlic paste and drizzle with the olive oil. Finely grate about 1 teaspoon lemon zest into the bowl and squeeze in all of the lemon juice. Add the bocconcini, basil, almonds, pasta, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; toss.
  • Photographs by Antonis Achilleos

CLASSIC CREAMY PASTA SALAD



Classic Creamy Pasta Salad image

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

1 cup Mayonnaise
3/4 cup Sour cream
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp pepper to taste
1 lb elbow macaroni
1/2 cup red onion ((about a quarter of a large onion))
2 sticks celery
1 red bell pepper

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

Tips:

  • Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor. Fresh herbs, vegetables, and meat will make your pasta salad more delicious.
  • Don't overcook the pasta. Pasta should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. This will prevent it from becoming mushy in the salad.
  • Let the pasta salad cool completely before serving. This will help the flavors to meld and will prevent the salad from becoming watery.
  • Serve the pasta salad immediately or store it in the refrigerator for later. Pasta salad can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature.

Conclusion:

Creamy Peppercorn Pasta Salad is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is a great way to use up leftover chicken or steak, and it is also a great vegetarian option. This salad is sure to please everyone at your next party or potluck. Whether you are looking for a light lunch or a hearty dinner, Creamy Peppercorn Pasta Salad is a great choice. It is a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking. So get creative and enjoy!

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