Quick And Easy Pasta Salad Recipes

The following are some basic ingredients you'll need to make a great pasta salad. The list is no where near complete, it's simply a basic guide line to help you get started. You may already have some of these ingredients on hand!

Pasta - in the shape of your choice; macaroni, shells, spirals, bow ties, wagon wheels, penne etc. You can use most any type of small or medium sized pasta. Whole wheat, spinach and other flavored pastas work well too.

Protein - optional but adds to the flavor as well as the nutrition and makes a side dish into a main course. Diced, sliced or chopped cold cut type meats like ham, sausage etc. Cooked meats like chicken and poultry, beef, pork or seafood. Hard boiled eggs. Flaked canned fish or seafood. Shredded, cubed or crumbled cheese. Canned beans and legumes.

Vegetables - add flavor, texture, color, crunch and nutrition to your pasta salad. Diced or chopped raw vegetables like celery, onions, bell peppers, cucumbers, green onions, broccoli, cauliflower, tomato and grated carrots.

Salad dressing - holds everything together and adds to the flavor. Choose a creamy or vinaigrette dressing recipe.

Pickles - optional but they add to the flavor, try sliced or chopped olives, dill pickles, relish, artichoke hearts, asparagus or sweet pickles.

This is a low fat creamy dressing, if you aren't concerned about fat or calories you can make it with regular mayonnaise. Feel free to substitute sour cream, regular or no fat for some or all of the milk.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup/125 mL low fat mayonnaise
1/3 cup/80 mL low-fat milk
2 tsp/10 mL vinegar or lemon juice, less if desired
1-1/2 tbsp/15 mL * Watkins Snack & Dip Seasoning of your choice

Directions: Whisk together all ingredients until smooth. Place in the fridge for half an hour to allow favors to meld. Serve over assorted salad greens or stir into pasta salad.

Makes about 1 cup, 250 ml, 2 tbsp/30 mL per serving.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER SERVING:Calories 50, Protein 0 g, Carbohydrates 3 g, Sodium 170 mg, Fat 5 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Dietary Fiber 0 g.

* Twelve flavor variations, choose one of the following to compliment your pasta salad ingredients:

Bacon and Cheddar Snack & Dip Seasoning - great for mac and cheese!

Bacon and Horseradish Snack & Dip Seasoning - great for a dressing with a bit of bite!

Bacon and Onion Snack & Dip Seasoning - for

Blazin Cajun Snack & Dip Seasoning - great for a bit of heat!

Crab Snack & Dip Seasoning - great for seafood salads.

Cucumber and Dill Snack & Dip Seasoning - great for almost any salad.

Garden Vegetable Snack & Dip Seasoning - great for salads with lots of veggies.

Garlic and Dill Snack & Dip Seasoning - great for almost any salad.

Salsa and Sour Cream Snack & Dip Seasoning - great for mexican or southwestern salads.

Tomato and Basil Snack & Dip Seasoning - great for mediterranean and tomato pasta salads.

Tomato and Horseradish Snack & Dip Seasoning - great for tomato pasta salads with a bite.

Sesame Garlic Snack & Dip Seasoning - great for asian inspired salads.

You can find all of these Snack & Dip Seasonings here.

A basic vinaigrette recipe, add different herbs and spices to create a variety of flavors.

Ingredients
2/3 cup/160 mL Watkins Grapeseed Oil, original or flavor of your choice
1/4 cup/60 mL red or white wine vinegar or lemon juice
2 tsp/10 mL Watkins onion granules
or 2 tsp/10 mL Watkins minced green onion
Salt, Watkins black pepper and sugar, to taste

Directions: Combine all ingredients; mix well. Let stand 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.

Makes about 1 cup/250 ml, 2 tbsp/30 mL per serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories 80, Protein 0 g, Carbohydrates 0 g, Sodium 0 mg, Fat 9 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, and Dietary Fiber 0 g.

Variations:

1-1/2 cups/375 mL Watkins Original Grapeseed Oil
1/2 to 2/3 cup/125 to 160 mL white wine vinegar
1 tbsp/15 mL fresh lemon juice
1-1/2 tsp/7.5 mL Watkins Original Double-Strength Vanilla
2 tsp/10 mL sugar
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Tarragon
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Basil
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Mustard - Dry
3/4 tsp/4 mL Watkins Garlic Granules
1/2 tsp/1.2 mL freshly-ground Watkins Sea Salt
To taste, freshly ground Watkins Black Tellicherry Peppercorns

Directions: Combine all ingredients in medium bowl; whisk until smooth. Refrigerate until needed. Keeps up to one week.

Makes 2 cups/500 mL, 2 tbsp/30 mL per serving.

Order your Watkins Vanilla and spices here.

Here is my Mom's famous macaroni salad, these are all ingredients she always had in her pantry and fridge. It's a good basic recipe, feel free to substitute or add more ingredients to make your own famous salad!

Ingredients:
3 cups uncooked macaroni
1 cup diced ham or garlic sausage
3 stalks of celery, diced
3 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup diced sweet pickles
1/2 cup grated, or cubed cheddar cheese
1/2 - 3/4 cup Creamy mayonnaise type dressing Note: use the Basic Creamy Pasta Salad Dressing made with Garlic and Dill Snack & Dip Seasoning recipe on this page.

Directions: Cook macaroni according to package directions, when done drain, place in cold water for a minute and then drain well. Place macaroni in a large bowl, add all other ingredients and enough creamy dressing to coat. Mix well and refrigerate until serving time.

Ingredients:
2 cups/500 mL uncooked tri-color rotini or rotelle pasta
1 tbsp/15 mL Watkins Chicken Soup Base
1 cup/250 mL fresh spinach leaves, sliced into thin strips
1/4 cup/60 mL sliced green onions
3 tbsp/45 mL fresh lemon juice
4 tsp/20 mL Watkins Original Grapeseed Oil
2 tsp/10 mL German-Style Mustard
1 to 1-1/2 tsp/5 to 7.5 mL, Watkins Rosemary, crushed
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Garlic Granules
1/4 tsp/1.2 mL Watkins Lemon Pepper
To taste, freshly-ground Watkins Sea Salt

Directions: Cook pasta according to package directions, substituting the soup base for salt called for in directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Combine pasta, spinach and green onions in glass serving bowl. In small bowl, combine remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour over pasta/spinach mixture. Toss well to combine. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Find more pasta salad recipes here.

Nutrition Facts: Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories 260, Protein 8 g, Carbohydrates 40 g, Sodium 280 mg, Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, and Dietary Fiber 3 g.

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