anyone have an awesome pasta salad recipe i can try out on easter for side dish?

Answer 1

This is a pasta salad that is a little different from the traditional one, but to me it is just as good if not better.

Orzo Pasta Salad

8 ounces orzo pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/2 cup grape tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in olive oil, vinegar, red onion, tomatoes and basil and toss to combine. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper.

Answer 2

Hey Tammy Lee, This is how I do mine, its sorta of a greek inspired pasta salad, its not too expensive to do.. Plus it tastes great.
1 pound of bowtie pasta, cooked/drained/cooled
1 red bell pepper,(you can use a little bit of yellow pepper too, it looks great in the salad) chopped into small slivers
1 bunch of green onions chopped into pieces- white parts too
1 bottle of Ken's Greek salad dressing, or newmans own parmesan and roasted garlic (add half at a time)
1 can of black olives, sliced
1 can of artichoke hearts diced
1 pkg of crumbled feta cheese
A few good shakes of a some grated parmesan, like Krafts.
Mix all the ingredients together, adding pasta last. If the pasta is a bit dry, you can add a little bit of the water from the olive can, or a little mayo, or sometimes I even use a few shakes of Italian dressing. Watch the salt content..and if you are making it ahead, make sure the pasta is a little more wet than you would like..the pasta will soak up the moisture while it sits in the fridge, and I would also recommend letting it all sit together at least an hour before serving..It allows the flavors to really meld together.

Answer 3

Pasta Salad

Ingredients
1 package [19 oz.] frozen Cheese Tortellini
1/4 cup roasted red pepper, sliced
1 small bottle artichoke hearts, drained, chopped
3/4 cup broccoli, chopped
1/4 cup sun dried tomato, packed in olive oil, sliced
1/4 cup black olives, chopped
1/4 cup white onion, diced
3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, preferably Reggiano
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise
coarse salt
freshly ground pepper

Method
Boil the pasta in plenty of salted water until al dente. If you want to hold the pasta until the next day, then undercook it as the dressing will soften it further. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl. Add the pasta and mix well. Taste for seasoning. Serve immediately.

Note: This recipe has endless variations. Use your favorite vegetables; use a very high quality salad dressing instead of the olive oil for added flavor; add roasted garlic, add bottled mushrooms; substitute other pastas; use Nicoise or Kalamata olives, use Pimento-stuffed green olive; add an herb like thyme or oregano; add capers; pickled jalapeno slices; add a flavorful mustard or a dash of hot sauce; add tuna or cooked chicken for a Tuna or Chicken Pasta dish

Answer 4

Not a recipe, even though I do love to cook and experiment, but my favourite pasta salad is Kraft's Italian Pasta Salad, with house italian dressing. I add in some extra black olives, diced peppers, bacon bits and parmasagne cheese and I'm good to go.

Answer 5

Jenny's Antipasta Pasta Salad

1 box Rotini pasta
1 bottle Berensteins' Cheese Fantastico Dressing
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 container crumbled feta cheese with mediterranean herbs
1 can sliced black olives, drained
1 chub dry salami, cut into 1/2 inch bites
1/2 cup chopped sundried tomatoes

Cook pasta according to directions and let cool. Mix the rest of the ingrediants and let "marinate" overnight. Toss before serving and enjoy!

Answer 6

1 small jar of pesto
1 cup good mayonnaise
1/2 cup chopped semi-dried tomatoes, drained of any oil
1/2 cup chopped black olives
1/2 cup chopped baby bocconcini or mozarella
1 packet cold cooked pasta shells/bows/elbows

Stir everything together and season to taste. This one is a winner!

Answer 7

yes its very easy pasta shells crispy bacon diced green pepper and diced onions,cheddar cheese mix all together with ranch dressing