Creamy Pasta Salad

My Creamy Pasta Salad recipe has the perfect balance of tanginess and sweetness, complemented by mixed dried herbs. Cold pasta salad has never tasted so delicious—and it's all done in under 20 minutes!

I don't know about you, but after the last year I am READY to get out and grill, picnic, and play! Are you with me?

If you are into grilling, you must try my Greek Marinated Lamb Chops. They taste amazing and are surprisingly easy to make.

So it's time for one of my favorite potluck recipes...

Creamy pasta salad: what's not to love?

We're talking soft pasta with a rich, tangy, herby dressing mixed with vibrant vegetables.

Did I forget to mention, I make my pasta salad with pepperoni and cheese too?  These are awesome additions.

This is a filling pasta salad, and I have to admit: it has been my lunch more than once.

My Chimichurri Pasta Salad & Greek Pasta Salad also have great flavor. You should give them a try. You won't be disappointed.

Let's be honest: pasta salad is all about the dressing, am I right?

This creamy pasta salad dressing is rich, sweet, and—most importantly—has a perfect amount of tanginess. Herbs round out the flavor profile.

The dressing brings the pasta and veggies to life. I've found that even the pickiest eaters will enjoy this pasta salad.

Read on! I'll be covering:

• Ingredients needed
• Steps explaining how to make creamy pasta salad
• Make-ahead tips (TEASER: there's an important step you can't miss!)
• How long can I refrigerate?
• How to estimate how much to make per person

Want to try something a bit more wild? Check out my Smoked Baked Beans recipe. So flavorful and no fancy smoker required.

Creamy pasta salad ingredients

These are the ingredients I use, but the recipe is flexible. Feel free to add or remove ingredients to your liking.

Best pasta for pasta salad

For cold pasta salad, I go the traditional route by using elbow macaroni. Other pastas that would be great alternatives include ditalini, fusilli, farfalle, and penne.

Vegetables for pasta salad

I use green bell pepper, celery, and red onion. Modify to what you and your family like!

Meats for pasta salad

I love pepperoni because its spiciness adds a little kick that goes well with the tangy dressing. Salami, summer sausage, or even cubed ham would be delicious substitutes.

Cheese for pasta salad

I cut cubes of medium cheddar from a blog. Freshly cut cheese has more flavor (in my opinion) than any pre-shredded or pre-cubed cheese.

Creamy pasta salad dressing

My creamy pasta salad begins with mayonnaise. Do NOT substitute Miracle Whip: that stuff is vile (in my opinion, at least), it's not really mayonnaise, and it's too sweet for this dressing.

I add vinegar for tang and sugar for a bit of sweetness.

I also add in herbs and spices, including onion powder, salt and pepper, and mixed Italian herbs.

How to make pasta salad

This salad comes together in 20 minutes or less. I make the pasta salad in the order listed below:

Start cooking the pasta

Regardless of the pasta you choose, make sure to follow the package instructions for completely soft doneness. Pasta salads are NOT the place for al dente.

Check the pasta before draining: you may find that you need to take it even further than the package tells you to get the softness you want.

Once the pasta is cooked to your liking, drain and rinse with cold water for a few minutes.

How to make creamy pasta salad dressing

While the pasta is boiling, get started on the pasta salad dressing.

Talk about easy: just mix all the dressing ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then whisk until smooth. BOOM! DONE!

Chop, cube, and cut all the veggies, cheese, and meats

First, cube the cheese into about ½-inch squares.

Then add to the bowl of dressing and stir, being careful to ensure that the cubes are coated on all sides. This keeps the cheese from clumping together!

Do the same thing with your pepperoni: we don't want those delicious nuggets clumping up either.

Chop your remaining veggies, add to the bowl of dressing, and mix thoroughly.

Add the cooked pasta

Make sure that your cooled pasta is drained really, really well. We don't want a watery pasta salad!

Add the pasta, about ⅓ at a time, to the mixing bowl with your dressing, veggies, cheese, and pepperoni. Mix well before adding more pasta.

Then, all that's left is to chill the salad before serving!

Simply refrigerate in an airtight container until your potluck, cookout, or picnic.

Make ahead pasta salad

This recipe is perfect for making ahead: the flavors deepen and meld. Feel free to make it a few days before your event.

Important! Reserve some of the pasta salad dressing so you can mix it in right before serving.

Cooked pasta loves to suck up dressing while it hangs out in the fridge. Mixing in the extra sauce right before you serve brings the creaminess right back.

Of course, now that you've made your pasta salad in advance, you may naturally be wondering...

How long does pasta salad last in the fridge?

The quick answer is 3–5 days, assuming that you're storing it refrigerated in an airtight container.

If the salad sits out at your party (ugh!), I wouldn't recommend putting it back in the fridge. So keep it chilled!

Of course, if your nose tells you that something is "off" about the salad, LISTEN. Toss it right in the bin.

How much pasta salad per person?

Assuming that this pasta salad is a side dish, estimate a serving size of ¾ cup per person.

Since you have a ton of veggies, pepperoni, and cheese in the salad, the actual cooked pasta portion is probably closer to ½ cup per person.

A typical 1-lb box of pasta yields 8 cups of cooked pasta, so one box should be enough to feed about 16 people.

However, since this pasta salad is so delicious, I'd estimate closer to 12–14 servings. People will be coming back for seconds.

What goes well with pasta salad?

Creamy pasta salad pairs well with just about anything off the grill or smoker. A few of our favorites are

• Smoked ribs, pulled pork and brisket
• Grilled Italian Sausage Sandwiches with Pepper-Onion Foil Packs
• Grilled Ribeye Steaks with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms
• Grilled Tri-Tip Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

I hope you love this twist on a classic potluck side dish!

Stay safe. Stay well.

—xoxo Michelle

If you're looking for more potluck and cookout inspiration, be sure to check out my Memorial Day Potluck Recipes Roundup, and these great potluck sides:

• Easy Spicy Hummus
• Chimichurri Pasta Salad
• Smoked Baked Beans
• Potato Salad with Relish
• Tangy 3-Bean Salad

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