Creamy Pasta Salad

Summer is right around the corner and if you are anything like me, you are probably already thinking ahead to what delicious and healthy meals you can whip up this summer for your family and friends. How about pasta salad? 

Pasta salad was always a hit when I was in school. We would have after-school events or get together at a classmate’s house for a small party and there would always be pasta salad on the menu and boy was it super delicious! I’m pretty sure that is what got me into this dish. Having it so much growing up at school made me love it. Now, I have created a recipe of my own. 

Creamy Pasta Salad

3.5 from 19 votes
Recipe by Madison
Course: MainDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

10

minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound bow tie pasta, cooked according to package instructions

  • 2 cups mayonnaise

  • 1 tablespoon vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

  • 1/4 cup green onion, chopped

  • 1/4 cup celery, chopped

  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely diced

  • 1/2 cup broccoli florets, chopped into bite sized pieces

Directions

  • In a large bowl, mix together: mayo, vinegar, olive oil, parsley, sugar, salt, pepper, green onion, red bell pepper, and broccoli.
  • Next, add the cooked pasta. Mix together.
  • Cover and Refrigerate for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

You cannot go wrong with my creamy pasta salad recipe. It consists of very simple and healthy ingredients: bow tie pasta, mayonnaise, vinegar, olive oil, fresh parsley, green onion, celery, red bell pepper, broccoli, sugar and salt and pepper to taste. The mayonnaise is what makes this dish creamy. 

Now pasta salad is a very diverse dish. You can add whatever vegetables and pasta you like and still get that delicious taste you desire. This is a perfect party dish so if you are at a loss for what to make for that next backyard barbecue, well, I’ve just given you an idea right here. 

While growing up, one of my childhood neighbors would always make pasta salad for the annual Super Bowl games in February. I grew up outside of Philadelphia so most people were Eagles fans. My next door neighbors were (and still are) Eagles fanatics and would always host Super Bowl parties and serve up enough pasta salad for all of their guests. They would even get creative and add only green veggies to the dish to celebrate the Eagles, as their main color is green. Now that I live on the other side of the country I do not get to attend my neighbor’s Super Bowl parties anymore. However, that is certainly a fun memory I will cherish for a lifetime. 

The key to making pasta salad is to pick enough vibrant veggies to add in. Try asparagus paired with cherry tomatoes and penne for a nice combination. Or even corn with orange, red and green bell peppers. It is entirely up to you. My tip is to try to make it different each time. If you like a certain dressing, stick with that, but do not be afraid to have fun changing up your veggies and pasta type. 

Have this dish with a nice glass of lemonade or punch and you will be good to go! Your friends and family will be longing for this dish as it can work as a lunch meal or even a quick dinner with a side of your favorite kind of bread. This creamy pasta salad recipe can last for about two days in the fridge. After that, it will start to lose its fresh taste and original flavor. I hope you get the chance to try this recipe! If so, happy eating and until next time! Enjoy!!

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