Any quick and easy pasta salad recipes?

Answer 1

Sweetie,these are really easy.

I have made this before,and it is delicious.It can be served as a man dish,or as a side dish,hot,and/or cold.
1 pound of fresh asparagus
1 pound pasta(Your choice on which cut,i like penne or fettuccine)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Salt and pepper
Garlic

Clean your asparagus and make sure you remove the tough parts of the stem.Place asparagus on a cookie sheet,drizzle with olive oil,salt,pepper,and finely chopped garlic.Toss to coat and place in a 350 degree oven until golden.Remove from heat and let cool.Boil pasta until desired bite,and drain well.Let the pasta cool a bit,while you prepare your asparagus.Cut the asparagus into about 3-4 pieces per asparagus(This doesnt have to be perfect just get bite size pieces).Place in the bowl,make sure you get all the juices off the cookie sheet into this dish as well.Place pasta on top of asparagus,and drizzle with balsamic vinegar,extra virgin olive oil,and fresh lemon juice of 1/2 a lemon(optional),toss.Taste for seasonings and add additional salt and pepper if needed.This can be served hot or cold,main dish,or side dish.Its full of flavor.


This one is also delicious,hot or cold.
Balsamic Vinegar
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 pound of pasta(again,you choice as to which cut)
1 Package of Grape Tomatoes
Mozzarella Cheese
Basil
Black Olives

Prepare your pasta to desired bite.While that is cooking,in a bowl mix One part olive oil,to 1/2 part balsamic vinegar whisking while adding balsamic to olive oil.Chop basil(If you are using dried,you will need to use more but also,simply add a little olive oil to moisten,fresh is best if you can get it)Add to the vinegarette.Cut your tomatoes in half and toss in the vinegarette(Another little tip:This is delicious with oven roasted tomatoes).When pasta is finished,you can add it warm or let it cool.Toss in the vinegarette and tomatoes coating the pasta.Break up chunks of mozzarella cheese and toss in chopped black olives(About 1/4 of the can or 1/2 cup fresh).Top with more basil.If the pasta is hot when you add the cheese it will melt just a bit,if you add it cold it will remain cold,but it is delicious either way.

Here is another that is pretty much the same,can be served as a side,or main:
Heavy or Half and Half Cream
Parmesan Cheese
Butter
Favorite Pasta(This is sort of a fettucine alfredo dish,but with a tad of a twist)
Mozzarella
Broccoli florets

Cook pasta to desired bite.Steam Broccoli florets.While they are cooking you can make your sauce.Add cream(Doesnt have to be exact measurements,but id say about 3/4 cup).A couple hand fulls of parmesan cheese(fresh is best but again can be boughten).One thin pat of butter,salt and plent of ground black pepper.Stir and let the cheese melt with the sauce(Its best to get good quality cheeses for this).Once sauce is thick and cheesy...Drain pasta when it is finished,and toss into the sauce.Add broccoli florets,(Make sure water is removed from both broccoli and pasta you do not want your sauce watery).Toss together,and add in broken up chunks of mozzarella cheese and toss while heat is still on.The mozzarella will begint to melt,but wont melt all the way.Serve with garlic bread,or as a side.

Pasta is like a blank canvas,it will pick up any flavor you add to it.These i have personally tried,they are very elegant for a dinner party etc.They are also perfect for a one-two person meal with garlic bread or alone as they are very simple and take little effort.They hold up to the main course as well as a simple side pasta salad.Good luck hun,and have a good night.

Answer 2

Quick and Easy Chicken Pasta Salad:

25 min 25 min prep
6 servings

1 head broccoli, chopped and steamed until crisp tender
salt
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1/2 lb pasta shells, cooked and drained
2 large tomatoes, cubed
1/2 cup coarsely chopped red onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
1 cup Italian dressing (more if needed)

1. Place well drained broccoli in a large mixing bowl.
2. Sprinkle with salt to season.
3. Add chicken, pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, salt and pepper to taste; stir to combine.
4. Pour dressing over the salad; stir gently to mix.
5. Cover and chill 1 hour before serving.
6. I serve the salad on a bed of lettuce.

Answer 3

I do this to taste, but I'll try to guess on measurements. This is our family's favorite, and it's easy to tweak if you like different veggies than this recipe.

8 oz. short pasta (rotini, penne, seashells; whatever you like)
1/2 cup Italian Dressing (I use Wishbone)
1/2 cup mayo (I use Hellmans, but again, its your choice)
1 half cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1 half pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 of a package baby carrots, shredded
1 or 2 scallions, thinly sliced ( I just cut them with kitchen shears)
A couple of turns on the pepper grinder

Just boil water for the pasta. Make sure you salt the water when it starts to boil. Cook the pasta for at least 8 minutes, but if you like your pasta softer in a pasta salad, keep checking it for a couple more minutes. Then just add all the remaining ingredients, taste, add anything you feel it needs more of, stir, and serve! It is very good served room temperature or cold right out of the refrigerator.

Answer 4

Chicken Pasta Salad

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
3/4 cup steak sauce
1 (12 ounce) package fusilli pasta
2 cubes chicken bouillon
1 Vidalia onion, diced
2 avocados - peeled, pitted and diced
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 cup Ranch-style salad dressing
DIRECTIONS
Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. Place breasts into a glass baking dish and marinate in steak sauce for 15 to 60 minutes.
Grill chicken until no longer pink and the juices run clear. Remove from grill, and chop into bite-size pieces.
To a large pot of boiling water, add bouillon cubes and pasta. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain, and rinse under cold water.
In a large bowl, combine chicken, pasta, onion, avocados and tomatoes. Mix in salad dressing, cover, and refrigerate until chilled.

Answer 5

Make Over 200 Juicy, Mouth-Watering Paleo Recipes You've NEVER Seen or Tasted Before?

Answer 6

that, boxed pasta salad isn't bad, and by the time you get all the ingredients it's much cheaper to make, unless of course you already have everything on hand.

Just boil pasta, either the small shells or those like in mac and cheese or the spiral kind, whichever you prefer, I just throw in broccoli, cheese, onions... etc. what ever fresh vegies you like, cauliflower, boiled eggs, all of these cut up into bite sized pieces too. and just pour on a bottled dressing, italian, or ranch . Oh don't forget to cool the pasta!

Answer 7

This is called Tuna Temptation. A local Deli sells it and I got the recipe!

Cook 1/2 box (8oz) of medium shells pasta, drain
add I can (6oz) SOLID white tuna, drained--leave in medium chunks
12 - 14 dried apricots, cut in half (or 3rds)
Buttermilk Ranch dressing 16oz bottle (I usually use 2/3 of the bottle)
Gently mix all together and chill before serving

Answer 8

Easy.. just boil some Rotinii noodles until they are soft, drain and cool. Then add a bottle or a half a bottle of italian dressing ( I like to add ranch too). throw in some black olives and maybe some pepperoni and for a to[[ing crush up croutons and sprinkle over the top. super easy and super good.

Answer 9

1 box rotini noodles
red pepper
green pepper
broccoli
sliced black olives
vidalia onion
parm cheese (grated or fresh grated)
Italian dressing

Cook pasta according to box directions. Drain and add to it chopped red pepper, green pepper, broccoli, olives. Toss. Add parm cheese and toss again. Chill. Mix with dressing just before serving.

Hint: to keep the broccoli slightly firm, steam in double boiler for 3 minutes before chopping and adding to salad.

Answer 10

This 1 is tasty and heathy too.
Chop iceberge lettuce in shreds.fine slice onion,chop tomato into segment shapes,a handful of cress( any)and diced red pepper,a potion of cooked cold pasta,a small or large tin of tuna in oil (drained) salt n pepper and mix all together with mayo or salad dressing or both.QUICK ,SIMPLE,CHEAP and VERY TASTY AND GOOD FOR YOU.ENJOY.