cooking zone: PastaSalads

Showing posts with label PastaSalads. Show all posts

Corn and Black Bean Tortellini Salad

Corn and Black Bean Tortellini Salad is a simple recipe that kicks up the traditional salsa to a whole new level. It's loaded with beans, corn and veggies and tossed with a chile-lime salad dressing to create an absolutely craveworthy recipe that everyone will be raving about!

We are so excited to be partnering with our friends at BUSH’S® Beans to bring you a scrumptious simple recipe with BUSH’S® Black Beans!!!

I keep my pantry stocked with beans because they are so easy to incorporate into everyday meals. As a matter of fact, my daughter's favorite dinners of all time is a skillet with black beans. Having them on hand makes it so easy to toss together a great meal.

With summer rolling around we are already in fresh vegetable mode. I can't get enough salads right now. One of my favorite fresh combinations are corn and black bean salsa. I decided to take this classic favorite and transform it into a scrumptious potluck hero.

Every year we all find ourselves attending summer parties and potlucks. I know I always want to bring something everyone will love, because who doesn't want everyone fawning over their food? Am.I.Right?

My latest obsession is this corn and black bean tortellini salad. The star of the show are the exceptional black beans and grilled corn on the cob makes the perfect partner to this salad. It is a salad so I have loaded up with my favorite veggies and a simple chile-lime dressing to bring it all together and then I topped it with avocado, cheese, and cilantro.

You could use your own store bought chili-lime dressing but homemade is so easy. I mean who could say no? This salad is absolutely craveworthy!!!

Looking for more inspiration? Check out these black beans recipes here. These Arepas with Black Beans, Mango and Avocado look absolutely amazing. Find them here on Food Network .

Enjoy!

With love from our Simple Kitchen to yours.

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Corn and Black Bean Tortellini Salad
SERVES 8 | ACTIVE TIME 15 Min | TOTAL TIME 15 Minutes

1 (19-ounce) bag frozen cheese tortellini pasta
1 cup chile-lime salad dressing, recipe follows
1 orange bell pepper, cut into bite-size pieces
1 English cucumber, cut into moons (halved and sliced)
1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced
16 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
3 ears grilled corn, cut off the cob
1 (15-ounce) can BUSH’S® Black Beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and diced
4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
1 avocado - peeled, pitted and diced (optional)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook tortellini according to directions on the package (do not add salt to the water). Drain. Pour cooked tortellini into a large serving bowl.

Pour dressing over tortellini and gently toss with salad tongs until the hot tortellini is well coated. It will absorb some of the dressing as it sets.

Add the peppers, cucumber, onion, tomatoes, corn, black beans and jalapeno to the bowl. Toss to combine. Top with feta cheese, avocado, and cilantro.

Serve and enjoy.

Chile-Lime Salad Dressing
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoon honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon New Mexico chili powder

In a pint-size mason jar add salad dressing ingredients, shake mason jar until dressing is combined.

PRINT RECIPE

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bush's Beans. The opinions and text are all mine.

Sumber https://www.theslowroasteditalian.com

Author musicforlive

Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad

Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad is a delicious summer pasta salad recipe! It's full of bacon, tomatoes, avocado, all topped with a tangy, creamy dressing!

Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad

This avocado pasta salad is perfection, the salty, crunchy bacon, paired with the creamy cool avocado, sweet ripe tomatoes, and tangy red onion - mix it all up with your favorite noodles, and a 5 ingredient dressing and this pasta salad is a perfect spring or summer side dish!

I love pasta salads because they are the perfect thing to make for potlucks or a backyard BBQ. From traditional Hawaiian tortellini salad or chicken caesar pasta salad. Pasta salads are a perfect cold side dish for a hot day, and this one comes together in a short time!

Speaking of simple recipes, of course our new cookbook {The Simple Kitchen - available to order now}is packed with delicious, easy recipes.

The Simple Kitchen is loaded with more than 75 BRAND NEW recipes and a hand full of family favorites too.

8 chapters with a total of 82 quick and easy recipes that are bursting with flavor!!!

Every recipe has a photo that will make your mouth water. It has slow cooker meals, one-pot recipes, quick dinners, simple appetizers, desserts and more!!!

And we have included kitchen tips to make dinnertime less stressful.

We are so excited to share our recipes with you!!! So, don't wait. Go and grab yours today! The Simple Kitchen <-- click here to order.

WHERE TO ORDER:

🔥 Amazon 🔥 Barnes & Noble 🔥 Books-a-Million 🔥 IndieBound

Helpful Tips to make Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad:

You can easily make this a BLT avocado pasta salad with the addition of a couple cups of chopped up lettuce. You'll want about 4 cups!
Cook your bacon in the oven so you can avoid splatters, which makes the clean up so easy, and helps you from getting burned too!
Use this handy tip for halving tomatoes. It is a great time saver!
Another great addition to this pasta salad is little cubes of chopped up cheese. Something like swiss, or Monterey Jack! You'll want about 1 cup.

What you will need to make Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad:

Avocado Tool - After spending hours in the clinic with our cousin last Easter, I decided that this tool is a necessity in our kitchen.
Mason Jar - I love to use jars to make dressings. It is so simple to toss it all in a jar put the lid on and shake the living tar out of it. Then if there is any left over, you can store it in the jar too.

Enjoy!

With love from our simple kitchen to yours.

Do you ❤ love ❤ TSRI? Don't miss another recipe. Click here to Subscribe to by Email and receive new recipes in your inbox every day!

Don't miss a thing! Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram ❤ ❤ ❤

Check out more of our favorite pasta salad recipes:

Hawaiian Tortellini Salad
Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
Southern Style Macaroni Salad

Yield: 8 ServingsAuthor: Aimee Berrett

Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad

Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad is a delicious summer pasta salad recipe! It's full of bacon, tomatoes, avocado, all topped with a tangy, creamy dressing!

prep time: 15 MINScook time: total time: 15 mins

Ingredients

8 ounces bowtie pasta (or other medium-sized pasta)
1 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
2 avocados, cubed
8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup diced red onion

Creamy Dressing:

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Cook pasta noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
Place noodles, tomatoes, avocado, bacon, and red onion in a large bowl.
Add mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Stir together till totally smooth.
Pour dressing over pasta salad and toss everything together!
Cover bowl and place pasta salad in the fridge for about 2 hours (or more) before serving!

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, your price will remain the same, and will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
Sumber https://www.theslowroasteditalian.com

Author musicforlive

Bacon Pea Pasta Salad

Creamy Bacon Pea Pasta Salad is super quick and easy to make and smothered in the most delicious lemon chive dressing! You can make the salad ahead of time for the perfect stress-free potluck or dinner side that everyone will love!

We are quickly approaching the season of potlucks and barbecues galore and every get together needs a fabulous pasta salad - enter Bacon Pea Pasta Salad! This pasta salad boasts the winning trifecta of bacon, peas and pasta made even more drool worthy with tantalizing creamy, Lemon Chive Dressing. This dressing is bright and tangy and so good you will want to smother it on everything!

Hi all, its Jen from Carlsbad Cravings and I am excited to be with you again sharing another quick and easy recipe bursting with flavor! I’m confident this Bacon Pea Pasta Salad will quickly become a go-to favorite because not only is it crazy delicious, it is SO easy. Most pasta salads involve a lot of chopping due to the veggies – but this doesn’t have any – aside from crumbling your bacon in two seconds. If you need more easy potluck sides, be sure to check out my Asian Salad and Southwest Pepper Jack Salad. Now let’s get started!

is super quick and easy to make and smothered in the most delicious lemon chive dressing Bacon Pea Pasta Salad

Speaking of simple recipes, of course our new cookbook {The Simple Kitchen - available to order now}is packed with delicious, easy recipes.

The Simple Kitchen is loaded with more than 75 BRAND NEW recipes and a hand full of family favorites too.

8 chapters with a total of 82 quick and easy recipes that are bursting with flavor!!!

Every recipe has a photo that will make your mouth water. It has slow cooker meals, one-pot recipes, quick dinners, simple appetizers, desserts and more!!!

And we have included kitchen tips to make dinnertime less stressful.

We are so excited to share our recipes with you!!! So, don't wait. Go and grab yours today! The Simple Kitchen <-- click here to order.

WHERE TO ORDER:

🔥 Amazon 🔥 Barnes & Noble 🔥 Books-a-Million 🔥 IndieBound

Helpful Tips to make Bacon Pea Pasta Salad:

I love fresh chives in this recipe but if they are too expensive or hard to come by then you can substitute 1 1/2 tablespoons dried chives.
I like to use medium pasta shells in this recipe but any medium or small pasta will work great.
It is important to not overcook your pasta – you want it al dente so it still has a little bite otherwise the pasta salad will be soggy. We want creamy – not soggy.
To stop your pasta from cooking after it’s removed from the heat, rinse and drain it in cold water then drizzle it with a touch of olive oil to keep it from sticking together.

What you will need to make Bacon Pea Pasta Salad:

Microplane Grater – if you don’t have one, you NEED one! Microplane Graters are fabulous for zesting lemons and limes as well as grating cheese.
Citrus Squeezer – you can juice your lemons by hand but I absolutely love my citrus squeezer. It takes the grunt work out of squeezing and you get so much more juice out of each fruit.
Colander – this kitchen essential makes life so much easier! You can use it to drain pasta or wash veggies and fruit.

Check out more of our favorite pasta salad recipes:

Hawaiian Tortellini Pasta Salad
Muffaletta Tortellini Pasta Salad
Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
Antipasto Tortellini Pasta Salad

Yield: 6 ServingsAuthor: Jennifer Sattley

Bacon Pea Pasta Salad

Creamy Bacon Pea Pasta Salad is super quick and easy to make and smothered in the most delicious lemon chive dressing! You can make the salad ahead of time for the perfect stress-free potluck or dinner side that everyone will love!

prep time: 10 MINScook time: 10 MINStotal time: 20 mins

Ingredients

Pasta Salad

12 ounces medium shells (or other small pasta of choice)
2 cups frozen petite peas, thawed
8 ounces thick cut bacon, cooked and chopped

Lemon Chive Dressing

2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon salt pepper
3/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

Instructions

Whisk together all of the Lemon Chive Dressing Ingredients together in a medium bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Cook pasta according to package directions just until al dente. Rinse with cold water and drain. Drizzle with a little olive oil to keep from sticking.
Add pasta, peas and dressing to a large bowl and toss until evenly combined. If serving immediately then add bacon and toss to combine. If not serving immediately then cover and chill in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, add bacon and toss to combine.

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
Sumber https://www.theslowroasteditalian.com

Author musicforlive

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad recipe is tender pasta tossed in a tangy buffalo wing sauce with shredded chicken, tomatoes, celery. Add a drizzle of ranch dressing and you're ready for a party!

I love the tangy taste of buffalo wing sauce and I'll eat it on just about anything from Buffalo Chicken Dip to Shredded Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches. This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad takes your standard buffalo chicken wings and combines them with pasta salad to make one of my favorite potluck recipes. It's really easy to throw together, you can make it the day before, and it's easy to transport. Not to mention it's totally delicious!

Hi! We're Kat & Melinda from Home. Made. Interest. where we're all about easy recipes and simple entertaining. With summer just around the corner we're so excited to share this awesome Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad with you. If you like it make sure to check out our Mexican Pasta Salad with Creamy Chipotle Lime Dressing too!

The key to this Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is the creamy sauce made with a combination of ranch dressing and buffalo wing sauce. You mix the two together and then pour them over your cooked pasta, shredded chicken, cherry tomatoes, and celery. Give everything a good toss so that's it thoroughly coated. That's it, just a few simple steps and you have an amazing pasta salad that tastes like the classic buffalo wings that everyone loves.

Speaking of simple recipes, of course our new cookbook {The Simple Kitchen - available to order now}is packed with delicious, easy recipes.

The Simple Kitchen is loaded with more than 75 BRAND NEW recipes and a hand full of family favorites too.

8 chapters with a total of 82 quick and easy recipes that are bursting with flavor!!!

Every recipe has a photo that will make your mouth water. It has slow cooker meals, one-pot recipes, quick dinners, simple appetizers, desserts and more!!!

And we have included kitchen tips to make dinnertime less stressful.

We are so excited to share our recipes with you!!! So, don't wait. Go and grab yours today! The Simple Kitchen <-- click here to order.

WHERE TO ORDER:

🔥 Amazon 🔥 Barnes & Noble 🔥 Books-a-Million 🔥 IndieBound

Helpful Tips to make Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad:

You'll need to shred your chicken for this recipe. You can 1) use two forks to pull the chicken into shreds, or 2) Use a stand mixer. Just place your cooked chicken breasts in the bowl of a stand mixer with the bread hook attachment, or paddle attachment on, and then mix on medium high for 3-5 minutes. It gives you perfectly shredded chicken every time!
This recipe is perfect for making ahead of time. assemble everything the night before your party and keep it in a sealed container in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.
I'm ranch dressing fan but you can substitute blue cheese dressing if you prefer. You can even add some crumbled blue cheese if you like!

What you will need to make Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad:

Large Pot - You'll need a pot to boil your chicken and your noodles.
Snap 'N Strain Strainer - This strainer makes it so easy to pour the water out of your noodle pot without losing a single noodle!
Pyrex Bowl with Lid - It's perfect for transporting this pasta salad to all of your summer parties.

Check out more of our favorite pasta salad recipes:

Hawaiian Tortellini Pasta Salad
Muffaletta Tortellini Pasta Salad
Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
Antipasto Tortellini Pasta Salad

Yield: 10 ServingsAuthor: Kat Jeter & Melinda Caldwell

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad recipe is tender pasta tossed in a tangy buffalo wing sauce with shredded chicken, tomatoes, celery. Add a drizzle of ranch dressing and you're ready for a party!

prep time: 20 MINScook time: 10 MINStotal time: 30 mins

Ingredients

16 ounces rigatoni pasta
2 1/2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
1/4 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
5 stalks celery, thinly sliced
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Once cooked drain pasta.
Add cooked pasta, cooked and shredded chicken, celery, and cherry tomatoes to a large bowl.
In a small bowl combine ranch dressing, buffalo wing sauce, and garlic powder.
Pour buffalo sauce over the pasta and toss everything together until it is well coated.
Enjoy!

Author musicforlive

Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken

Pesto Pasta Salad is a satisfying fresh summer side, bursting with flavor!!! With grilled chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella, and a homemade fresh basil pesto this recipe is perfect for a summer potluck!

To make this pesto pasta salad recipe you'll need a fresh basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, grilled chicken, cooked rotini noodles, mozzarella pearls, pine nuts, shredded parmesan cheese, and chopped basil. Toss it all together for your favorite new pasta salad!

Hi guys! It’s Aimee from Like Mother, Like Daughter here again to share this yummy pesto pasta salad with you! This pasta salad is a new favorite of mine and I'm going to be enjoying it all summer long. Its inspired by a favorite pizza I like to get at a local pizza place which is topped with pesto, mozzarella, shredded chicken and cherry tomatoes!

This pesto pasta salad makes a lot, so it’s perfect for a summer bbq or potluck! You can easily cut the recipe in half though if you don't want to make as much!

Now that we are ready for warmer weather, I think we're ready for a summer bbq with this pesto pasta salad, some hawaiian ham kabobs, or some bbq pulled pork! Cool off with these lemon cheesecake bars for dessert!

This cold pesto pasta salad is such a refreshing and flavorful dish! Everyone will love it!

and a homemade fresh basil pesto this recipe is perfect for a summer potluck Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken

Helpful Tips to make Pesto Pasta Salad:

Use your favorite store bought pesto instead of homemade pesto to make it quicker to throw everything together.
Instead of cooking up your own chicken, you can also use a rotisserie chicken! It’s a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken meat. Have it for dinner one night, and use the leftovers the next day for this chicken pesto pasta salad!
This is a great dish to make ahead since it tastes best after everything has set together in the fridge for a couple hours. Make it the night before a bbq so you don't have to stress about it the day of!
This pesto pasta salad should stay good in your fridge for about 5 days if it even lasts that long before you eat it all ;)

What you will need to make Pesto Pasta Salad:

Colander – this kitchen essential makes life so much easier! You can use it to drain pasta or wash veggies and fruit.
Cutting Board- A big good solid cutting board so you can prep all your veggies on one surface. I use my cutting board daily so it’s worth the investment.
Quality Knives- Quality knives make prep time much quicker and are important for safety as well. If you make one kitchen investment, I believe it should be in quality knives.

Check out more of our favorite pasta salads:

Hawaiian Tortellini Pasta Salad
Muffaletta Tortellini Pasta Salad
Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
Antipasto Tortellini Pasta Salad

Yield: SERVES 8Author: Aimee Berrett

Pesto Pasta Salad

Pesto Pasta Salad is a satisfying fresh summer side, bursting with flavor!!! With chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella, and a fresh basil pesto this recipe is perfect for a summer potluck!

prep time: 15 MINScook time: 15 MINStotal time: 30 mins

Ingredients

1 cup pesto (recipe to follow, or store bought)
16 ounces rotini pasta
2 large chicken breasts (or about 2 cups cooked grilled chicken)
1/2 cup pine nuts
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
8 ounces mozzarella pearls
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Fresh Basil Pesto

3 cups fresh basil
1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper, to taste

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook your pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water when done.
Grill chicken breasts over medium-high heat, seasoned on both sides with salt and pepper, flipping after about 5 minutes. Cook until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Allow to rest for about 10 minutes before dicing up.
Meanwhile, prepare the pesto: Add the basil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, olive oil, and salt and pepper to a food processor. Blend until the mixture is mostly smooth, and reaches desired consistency. Set aside.
In a small pan add pine nuts and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 3 minutes until they are nice and toasted.
In a large bowl, add cooked pasta, chicken, pine nuts, tomatoes, mozzarella, parmesan, and fresh basil. Top with pesto and stir it all together to combine.
Cover and place in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving.

Cook's Notes

Pasta salad will stay good covered in the fridge for about 5 days.

Author musicforlive

Greek Spaghetti Salad

Greek Spaghetti Salad is an easy summer pasta salad recipe that comes together really quick. It is loaded with roasted red peppers, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese, topped with a homemade Greek vinaigrette. It's my latest obsession!

Greek Spaghetti Salad is an amazing summer side dish that is a delicious combination of spaghetti, fresh summer cucumbers, smoky roasted red peppers, Kalamata olives, and tangy feta cheese. It is tossed with a homemade Greek vinaigrette that infuses the spaghetti salad with flavor. It’s the perfect summer potluck recipe!

Hi again! We're Kat & Melinda from Home. Made. Interest. and we're all about easy recipes and simple entertaining. That’s why we love simple pasta salads like Greek Spaghetti Salad, Mexican Pasta Salad with Creamy Chipotle Lime Dressing, and Cucumber and Tomato Pasta Salad. They can all be thrown together quickly, or you can make them ahead of time. Either way they will save you time whether you are attending a backyard BBQ or just grilling outside with the family on a Friday night.

is an easy summer pasta salad recipe that comes together really quick Greek Spaghetti Salad

Speaking of simple recipes, of course our new cookbook {The Simple Kitchen - available to order now}is packed with delicious, easy recipes.

The Simple Kitchen is loaded with more than 75 BRAND NEW recipes and a hand full of family favorites too.

8 chapters with a total of 82 quick and easy recipes that are bursting with flavor!!!

Every recipe has a photo that will make your mouth water. It has slow cooker meals, one-pot recipes, quick dinners, simple appetizers, desserts and more!!!

And we have included kitchen tips to make dinnertime less stressful.

We are so excited to share our recipes with you!!! So, don't wait. Go and grab yours today! The Simple Kitchen <-- click here to order.

WHERE TO ORDER:

🔥 Amazon 🔥 Barnes & Noble 🔥 Books-a-Million 🔥 IndieBound

Helpful Tips to make Greek Spaghetti Salad:

Make sure you salt the water when you boil your spaghetti. This will give the pasta a little more flavor.
Make it ahead of time! Cook your pasta and chop your vegetables the day before and store everything together in an airtight container. Make and store your Greek vinaigrette separately. When you’re ready to eat pour the vinaigrette over the pasta salad and toss it until everything is well coated.
You can roast your own red peppers or save some time and use a jar of roasted red peppers.

What you will need to make Greek Spaghetti Salad:

Strainer – You can’t make pasta without a good strainer! Make sure to drain the water from the pasta thoroughly before adding the other ingredients.
Knife – The pasta is the only thing that has to be cooked for this recipe after that it’s all chopping. A good knife makes getting perfectly diced vegetables that much easier.
Garlic Press – Save yourself some time and use a garlic press to crush your garlic rather than mincing it by hand.
Bowl with Lid – This Greek Spaghetti Salad is going to be making an appearance at a lot of summer potlucks and that means you need an easy way to get it there. A large bowl with a tightly fastened lid can go straight from the fridge to the party.

Check out more of our favorite pasta salads:

Hawaiian Tortellini Pasta Salad
Muffaletta Tortellini Pasta Salad
Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
Antipasto Tortellini Pasta Salad

Yield: SERVES 8Author: Kat Jeter & Melinda Caldwell

Greek Spaghetti Salad

Greek Spaghetti Salad is an easy summer pasta salad recipe that comes together really quick. It is loaded with roasted red peppers, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese, topped with a homemade Greek vinaigrette. It's my latest obsession!

prep time: 20 MINScook time: 10 MINStotal time: 30 mins

Ingredients

16 ounces spaghetti, cooked according to package instructions
1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
2 cucumbers, diced
2 cups roasted red peppers
1/4 cup diced red onion
1 1/2 cups crumbled Feta cheese
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

In a large bowl combine spaghetti, cucumbers, roasted red peppers, red onion, and feta cheese.
In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss gently until everything is fully combined.

notes

If you are making this the day before stop after step 2 and place your pasta salad in one resealable container and your dressing in a separate container. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Then pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss until everything is well coated. Serve.

Author musicforlive

Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad

Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad is perfect for summer bbq’s and picnics, this creamy pasta salad recipe is made with tortellini instead of traditional dried pasta. Rainbow colored vegetables are tossed with the pasta and a deliciously sweet and tangy dressing!

Step aside from traditional pasta salad recipes and give this creamy one a try! It’s very similar to what we in the Midwest call macaroni salad, with a sweet and tangy dressing… but this rainbow version is full of brightly colored vegetables and is made using cheese-filled tortellini instead of elbow pasta. Trust me, make this for your next cookout or summer bbq and everyone will be asking for the recipe!!

We’re headed into one of my favorite seasons. Not Spring, not Summer… but even better… cookout season!! There’s something so magical about family and friends gathered together, food is sizzling away on the grill, a warm breeze is blowing softly, freshly cut grass can be smelled, and a table full of glorious side dishes awaits!

Hey guys, it’s Amanda from The Chunky Chef. I love being a contributor here on TSRI, and will be here sharing some of my favorite recipes each month! I look forward to bringing some of my midwestern flair and enjoying some treats together.

There are SO many fabulous cookout side dishes… potato salad, pasta salad, corn on the cob, broccoli salad, Mac and cheese, and one of my favorites, macaroni salad! Here in the Midwest, macaroni salad is tossed with an ultra creamy sweet and tangy dressing. It’s also made with traditional elbow macaroni.

This pasta salad uses the same dressing, but with some fun change-ups with the add-ins and pasta itself!

this creamy pasta salad recipe is made with tortellini instead of traditional dried pasta Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad

Speaking of simple recipes, of course our new cookbook {The Simple Kitchen - available to order now}is packed with delicious, easy recipes.

The Simple Kitchen is loaded with more than 75 BRAND NEW recipes and a hand full of family favorites too.

8 chapters with a total of 82 quick and easy recipes that are bursting with flavor!!!

Every recipe has a photo that will make your mouth water. It has slow cooker meals, one-pot recipes, quick dinners, simple appetizers, desserts and more!!!

And we have included kitchen tips to make dinnertime less stressful.

We are so excited to share our recipes with you!!! So, don't wait. Go and grab yours today! The Simple Kitchen <-- click here to order.

WHERE TO ORDER:

🔥 Amazon 🔥 Barnes & Noble 🔥 Books-a-Million 🔥 IndieBound

Helpful Tips to make Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad:

Use tortellini instead of dried elbow shaped pasta. The tortellini adds a beautiful savory contrast to the sweet dressing, as well as added protein.
Use whichever colorful vegetables you prefer. For the red I use red bell pepper, orange is shredded carrots, yellow is yellow bell pepper, green is celery, and purple is red onion.
Tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, chopped broccoli florets, etc could be substituted for the coordinating color.
The trick to getting the dressing consistency just right is to toss the hot, drained pasta with apple cider vinegar and let it cool for 10-20 minutes. This allows the finished dish to have a beautiful tang, with no risk of curdling the dressing with the vinegar.
As you’re mixing the pasta with the dressing, it may seem like there’s way too much dressing… but as it chills in the refrigerator, it will thicken up beautifully.
Speaking of chilling, it’s essential here. All the flavors will really marry together and the dressing thickens!
For little pops of extra color, reserve a teaspoon or two of all the vegetables and sprinkle them over the top of the salad before serving.

What you will need to make Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad:

Mixing bowls – I love these bowls, and they even have lids so you don’t need to cover them with anything while the salad is chilling!
Knife – The pasta is the only thing that has to be cooked for this recipe after that it’s all chopping. A good knife makes getting perfectly diced vegetables that much easier.
Colander – this kitchen essential makes life so much easier! You can use it to drain pasta or wash veggies and fruit.

Check out more of our favorite tortellini pasta salads:

Hawaiian Tortellini Pasta Salad
Muffaletta Tortellini Pasta Salad
Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
Antipasto Tortellini Pasta Salad
Tuscan Tortellini Pasta Salad

Yield: SERVES 8Author: Amanda Batcher

Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad

Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad is perfect for summer bbq’s and picnics, this creamy pasta salad recipe is made with tortellini instead of traditional dried pasta. Rainbow colored vegetables are tossed with the pasta and a deliciously sweet and tangy dressing!

prep time: 20 MINScook time: 10 MINStotal time: 30 mins

Ingredients

1 (19-ounce) package fresh cheese filled tortellini pasta
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 cups mayonnaise
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar (brown sugar may be substituted)
1/2 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 - 1 cup diced red bell pepper
1/2 - 1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 - 1 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1/2 - 1 cup diced celery
1/2 - 1 cup diced red onion

Instructions

Boil tortellini according to package directions and drain well in a colander.  Transfer pasta to a large mixing bowl and toss with apple cider vinegar.  Let cool 10-20 minutes.
While pasta is cooling, in another mixing bowl, add mayo, milk, sugar, salt and pepper.  Whisk to combine.
Pour dressing over tortellini pasta and toss gently to combine.  Stir in all but 1 tsp EACH of all the vegetables (red pepper, carrots, yellow pepper, celery and red onion).
Cover and chill in refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours.
Before serving, stir salad and sprinkle with remaining vegetables.

notes

Can be made a day in advance and kept refrigerated.  After chilling for long periods of time, if pasta seems dry, stir in a splash or two of milk and/or a tablespoon of mayo.

Author musicforlive