NBR- Pasta Salad...

adharper2615

Anyone have any good recipes?  Can pasta salad be pre-made and frozen?

 

I'm a atrocious cook (not that pasta salad is difficult) and a mess in the kitchen unless it comes in a box, frozen, ready to eat, etc.  I was planning on making pasta salad for our baby BBQ at the end of July.  I was hoping it was something I could make the week prior to and thaw/serve the day of...

 

Help?  TIA.

lissah23

I usually just cook up some tri-colour rotini, run it under some cold water, and then mix it with one of the Club House pasta salad dressings (you just mix them with some vinegar).

So yummy and easy!

ETA I usually add some red onion and red and green pepper to it too

angie05161

I've made the Simply Pasta Salad from a box.  It's super easy and fool proof.  Only takes about 15 minutes to make.  Not sure if that helps you...I don't make it from scratch.

jennybeams

I wouldn't freeze it.  It seriously takes 30 minutes to make.

Boil pasta

I add olives, green pepper, little cubes of cheese, little cubes of salami & pour italian dressing over the whole thing.  Then I let is sit in the fridge for 1/2 hour to marinate and chill.

mooeta

1 bag of cheese tortellini (cooked and left to cool)

1 cup (or more to taste) cooked frozen peas
1 bottle creamy italian salad dressing.

Mix everything and add salad dressing to taste.  sprinkle top with a tiny bit of parm cheese.  Easy and tasty.

tlquist

I usually will make it one day before (AT THE MOST!) Here is my recipe...very simple but pretty good..there are sooo many diff. things you can throw into it.

1lb. cooked/drained/cooled spiral pasta, 1 cucumber (diced and peeled), 1 red pepper, 1 yellow pepper, 1 can of chopped olives, 1 small package of chopped mushrooms, 1 package of cherry tomatoes, 1 carrot (shredded).

1 bottle Italian dressing...dump entire bottle in veggie/pasta mix. Stir thoroughly. Chill in refrig.

before serving, add pepperoni and diced cheese.  Stir again and serve!

Hope this helps!!

MadameFancyPants

I love pasta salad.  I'm sure my favorite recipe could be frozen.

all you need is your favorite veggies.  I use carrots, celery, red onion, cucumber, and my mom likes to add bell pepper.  Cut them into small pieces.

I also like to add summer sausage to mine to make it a little bit heartier.

 Boil your pasta- I usually use Wacky Mac, shells, or egg noodles

after you drain the pasta, but it in a big mixing bowl with your veggies and sausage (if you choose) mix well together and top with Zesty Italian dressing.  I never measure the dressing but I give it a good dosage.  Mix one last time and then cover it and refridgerate it. 

It's better made the day before so everything can marinate.  I bet you can freeze it too, because the oil in the dressing will keep the noodles from drying out. 

Enjoy!

mermer82

I have one that I made up myself that is colorful and yummy.

A box of rotini, 8 oz feta cheese crumbled, 1 orange bell pepper diced, a half a red onion diced, 1 whole tomato diced, 1 packet (mixed) good seasons italian dressing mix. You need oil and vinegar for the italian dressing packet. 

katee2184

After learning the hard way after my baby brother's graduation party this past weekend... DO NOT FREEZE PASTA SALAD.  It will never be the same again. 

Randa&Jerm

jennybeams:

I wouldn't freeze it.  It seriously takes 30 minutes to make.

Boil pasta

I add olives, green pepper, little cubes of cheese, little cubes of salami & pour italian dressing over the whole thing.  Then I let is sit in the fridge for 1/2 hour to marinate and chill.

 

This is EXACTLY what I was going to say!! If you like artichoke hearts you can add those too!  YUM!!!

adharper2615

Thanks ladies!

KatiKM

I don't know about freezing it. But I do know that it is really easy to dress up any box pasta salad,

add other veggies like Carrots, bell peppers, olives, tomatoes, even left over cold peas or corn.

Also try adding cubed cheese (cheddar or pepper jack are always good)

and parmesan cheese shavings are a hit too.

It makes the simple boxes seem alot more special.

ickasticka

Definitely don't freeze it, but you could totally make it the day before.  I think it tastes better after having some time to marinate.  You just need to boil and cool the noodles, then you can really add whatever you want to it.  Fresh cut up veggies, cheese, salami or pepperoni, and some zesty Italian dressing.  Some common veggies to add are onion, bell pepper, shredded carrot, artichoke hearts, and black olives.  You could even buy the Suddenly Salad pasta salad mix.  They have several varieties.  I've made them before in a pinch.  They're tasty and very simple.  You can do it!

msloan27

I use colored ruffle pasta and add sliced black olives, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cheese, pepperoni, sliced cucumber, scallions and italian dressing.  What really makes it is Salad Supreme (sold in the spice isle)-not too much though-i usually add to taste. Gives it a nice kick.