Description
This Creamy Pasta Salad is a must-try for any gathering, combining fresh vegetables and a rich, zesty dressing that will tantalize your taste buds. With its vibrant colors and delightful flavors, it’s perfect for summer picnics, potlucks, or backyard BBQs. This easy-to-make dish takes just 15 minutes of active preparation time and is completely customizable to suit your preferences. Whether you add grilled chicken or keep it vegetarian with seasonal veggies, this salad is both refreshing and satisfying. Chilled and creamy, it’s the ideal side dish to complement grilled meats or to serve as a light meal on its own. Get ready to impress your family and friends with this flavor-packed pasta salad!
Ingredients
Scale
- 12–16 ounces garden rotini pasta (cooked)
- ½ medium red onion (minced)
- 1 cucumber (diced)
- ½ pint grape tomatoes (halved)
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper (diced)
- 3 tablespoons Italian vinaigrette dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 + 1/4 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon white sugar
Instructions
- Cook the garden rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente (about 7–10 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, Italian dressing, Cajun seasoning, ground black pepper, and white sugar; mix until smooth.
- Add the cooled pasta along with minced red onion, diced cucumber, halved grape tomatoes, and diced yellow bell pepper into the dressing mixture. Gently mix until everything is coated.
- Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 1–3 hours before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salads
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 10mg