Summer is here, and it’s time to fire up the grill and enjoy the great outdoors. And what better way to complement your grilled meats and veggies than with a delicious and easy-to-make creamy pasta salad?
This pasta salad recipe is a classic that has been enjoyed by my family many for years. It’s creamy, tangy, and packed with fresh veggies that add a pop of color and flavor. Plus, it’s so easy to make that you’ll wonder why you haven’t tried it before.
To make this creamy pasta salad, you’ll need rotini pasta, grape tomatoes, red onion, sweet peas, parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, Italian dressing, and a variety of seasonings. The first step is to cook the pasta according to package directions or al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta in a colander. Avoid rinsing this allows the sauce to coat the pasta better.
Next, add the cooked pasta, grape tomatoes, red onion, and sweet peas in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Italian dressing, tony cachere, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture, top with parmesan cheese, and stir until everything is evenly coated.
Cover the bowl with a top or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together and the pasta salad to chill properly.
When it’s time to serve, give the pasta salad a quick stir and enjoy! The creamy dressing pairs perfectly with grilled meats and veggies, making it the perfect side dish for any summer barbecue or picnic.
In conclusion, this creamy pasta salad is a delicious and easy recipe that is perfect for summer and grilling time. With its fresh veggies and tangy dressing, it’s sure to be a hit with everyone at your next gathering. So give it a try and see for yourself how delicious it can be!
Want a lighter dressing? Take a look at my FRESH SPAGHETTI SALAD
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Creamy Pasta Salad
- Total Time: 10
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
Light and tangy Pasta Salad, with just enough creamy dressing to coat the noodles and vegetables, this is one heck of an awesome creamy pasta salad
Ingredients
12 oz small pasta noodles
12 oz grape tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup red onion, chopped
2 cups frozen peas (thawed)
12 oz ham, chopped (or protein of choice)
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
For sauce
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 c Italian dressing
2 tsp tony chachere seasoning
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prep Time: 10
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
Keywords: creamy pasta salad, pasta salad, salad, side dish
Greetings, I hope this post finds you well. I am happy to share with you some more Belle-approved kitchen finds: Mutti® Double Concentrated Tomato Paste and Mutti® Finely Chopped Tomatoes available at Albertsons, which reminds me of my NaNa. She was caring, sweet, but knew how to demonstrate just the right amount of sass. My PawPaw and her had a garden every year, and she loved tomatoes. You all know we plant a garden every year as well and the one thing my husband must absolutely have is tons of tomato plants. Well, fast forward to the Louisiana heat and we have lost all our crops in record time this year. That still doesn’t stop me from craving fresh tomatoes. If you are feeling the same way, I am happy to share with you my Roasted Tomato Caprese dedicated to my NaNa and husband.
Preheat the oven to 350. Drain cans of tomatoes and place in a bowl. You can save reserved contents and make a great tomato soup base.
I hope this recipe brings you as much joy as it brings my family. Don’t forget, Mutti is available at your local Albertsons. As always, thank you for following along with me as I share recipes from the soul with memories of my NaNa sprinkled throughout. Be Well-Omniley
Then allow pressure to vent naturally, and wait until all of the steam has released and the valve has dropped. Remove the lid. Wait for everyone to come to see what that smell is!!!
