Description
A creamy and flavorful pasta salad perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a refreshing side dish. This recipe combines tender cooked pasta with a tangy and creamy dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, and Dijon mustard, mixed with fresh vegetables and cheddar cheese for texture and taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 2 cups cooked pasta
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Vegetables & Cheese
- 1/2 cup diced cucumber
- 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Begin by cooking 2 cups of pasta according to package instructions, then drain and set aside to cool.
- Combine mayonnaise and sour cream: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of mayonnaise and 1/2 cup of sour cream.
- Add milk: Add 1/4 cup of milk to the bowl and whisk the ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
- Mix in mustard and vinegar: Stir in 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar for tangy flavor.
- Season dressing: Season the mixture with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
- Whisk dressing: Whisk the dressing ingredients together until fully combined and smooth.
- Combine pasta with dressing: Add the cooked and cooled pasta into the dressing and toss gently to coat all the pasta evenly.
- Add vegetables: Next, add 1/2 cup of diced cucumber, 1/2 cup of diced bell pepper, and 1/4 cup of chopped red onion into the pasta mixture.
- Mix vegetables evenly: Stir everything together carefully so the vegetables are distributed evenly throughout the salad.
- Add cheddar cheese: Sprinkle 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the salad and fold it in gently.
- Garnish with parsley: Finely chop 1/4 cup of fresh parsley and sprinkle it over the pasta salad for added freshness and color.
- Final mix: Give the salad one final gentle mix to incorporate the parsley.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve: Once chilled, serve the creamy pasta salad and enjoy.
Notes
- For best flavor, chill the salad at least 1 hour before serving.
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream for a healthier option.
- Add cooked chicken or ham to make it a more filling main dish.
- Use any pasta shape you prefer, such as rotini, fusilli, or macaroni.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper.
