Summer Pasta Salad Recipes

Serving cold pasta salad makes a whole lot of difference to the everyday meal. You can try this summer recipe as a flavorful side dish or a light meal. Loaded with vegetables, healthy summer pasta salads are best served after chilling for 4-8 hours in the refrigerator. While using ham or chicken, make sure that the vegetable quantity is more than meat amount. That way, you can enjoy the best tasting pasta salads without sacrificing the nutritional value and taste.

Easy Summer Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 12 ounces cooked spiral pasta
• 1 cup chopped mushrooms
• 1 can black olives
• 1 cup broccoli, chopped
• ½ cup shredded carrots
• ½ cup shredded cheddar
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 (8-ounce) bottle Italian dressing

Directions for Preparation

This is one of the easy summer pasta salad recipes with Italian dressing for those who love italian pastas that you can try at home. All you need is to combine all the ingredients (except pasta) - mushroom, olives, broccoli, carrots, cheddar, mozzarella and Italian dressing in a large mixing bowl. Toss well and cover lid. Marinade in the refrigerator to bring out the best flavor of the ingredients. One hour before serving, add cooked pasta and mix with a wooden spatula. Chill for one hour and serve.

Best Summer Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce) packet penne pasta
• 1 cucumber, chopped
• 2 (2-ounce) cans sliced black olives
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 cup chopped baby carrots
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 1 cup Italian-style salad dressing
• 1 (16-ounce) bottle Catalina salad dressing
• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ teaspoon celery salt
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Preparation

In a large pot, add water and a pinch of salt. Bring it to a boiling temperature and introduce pasta. Cook until pasta is soft or done. You can cook pasta according to the directions mentioned on the package. Drain and keep cooked pasta aside. Take a small saucepan and add vinegar and sugar. Allow the mixture to boil for 2 minutes and remove from heat. Now, let's work on the salad dressing part. For this, combine together Catalina dressing, Italian dressing and vinegar mixture. To this, add pasta, cucumber, olives, tomato, baby carrot, bell pepper and onion. Season with celery salt, table salt and freshly ground pepper. Toss the salad for even coating and serve.

Spicy Summer Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 3 cups rotelle pasta
• 5 large tomatoes, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 green bell peppers, chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Preparation

In a large cooking pot, add sufficient water for boiling pasta and sprinkle a dash of salt. Bring water to a boil and add pasta. Continue boiling for 8-10 minutes, or according to the stipulated time mentioned on the package. Drain cooking water and keep pasta aside. Take a mixing bowl and mix olive oil, red wine vinegar, parsley and chili powder. To this spicy concoction, add tomatoes, red pepper and green pepper. Using a spatula, stir well the mixture to ensure even coating of the vegetables with oil mixture. Then add cooked pasta and shredded cheese. Toss well and chill before serving. Alter the ingredients of the pasta salad recipes to suit your taste buds.

Summer pasta salad ideas are endless, you can add your favorite vegetables like green peas, shredded cabbage and squash. The only trick to make flavorful salads is marinade them for a few hours before serving, preferably in a chilling temperature. You can try out cold pasta salad recipes for potluck parties and barbecue dinners, and I am sure, your guests will love having them.