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Classic Pasta Salad

Classic Pasta Salad: A Creamy and Colorful Twist

This Classic Pasta Salad is creamy, customizable, and colorful—perfect for any meal.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 300

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta Base
  • 8 ounces Rotini Pasta tricolor for fun visual twist
For the Vegetables
  • 1 cup Bell Peppers diced, any color
  • 1 cup Cucumber diced, skin on
  • 1/2 cup Red Onion diced, green onions as alternative
  • 1 cup Frozen Peas thawed
For the Cheeses
  • 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese grated
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese grated
For the Dressing
  • 1 cup Mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar or regular vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard or yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Sugar adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder or fresh minced garlic
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Pepper

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Colander
  • Mixing bowl
  • Cutting board
  • Knife
  • spatula

Method
 

Preparation Steps
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add rotini pasta, and cook for about 10 minutes until al dente. Drain in a colander.
  2. Rinse the drained pasta under cold water for a few minutes to cool it down.
  3. Dice bell peppers, cucumber, and red onion into small pieces, and thaw the frozen peas.
  4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  5. Add the cooled pasta, diced vegetables, and peas to the dressing, and toss until everything is coated.
  6. Fold in the grated sharp cheddar and Parmesan cheeses.
  7. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
  8. Before serving, toss again and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 10gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 450mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Chill for at least an hour for best flavor. Customize with extra veggies or proteins as desired.

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