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Creamy Pasta Salad

1 review
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time

Prep: 25 min. + chilling

Makes

10 servings

Updated: Sep. 19, 2023
I love creating new and tasty foods, such as this popular salad. I make it often for my husband and me, especially during the summer months. If you add some shredded cooked chicken breast, you can make this a meal for two. —Lorraine Menard, Omaha, Nebraska
Creamy Pasta Salad
Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home
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Ingredients

  • 5 cups cooked spiral pasta
  • 1-1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped cucumber
  • 1 small green pepper, chopped
  • 2/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 2/3 cup sliced pepperoncini
  • 10 radishes, sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1-1/4 cups ranch salad dressing

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Creamy Pasta Salad Tips

Should you rinse the pasta after cooking when making creamy pasta salad?

When you’re cooking pasta for cold pasta salads, you’ll want to rinse the noodles to get rid of the extra starch. If you don’t rinse the noodles, that starch will soak up the salad dressing, leaving your creamy pasta salad not so creamy. Here’s more about how to cook pasta for every dish.

What can you serve with creamy pasta salad?

This creamy pasta salad would make a perfect addition to a potluck or picnic spread. Grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, fresh watermelon slices, baked beans—you name it!

Can you make creamy pasta salad ahead of time?

Yes! We recommend that you make this creamy pasta salad recipe at least an hour ahead of time so that the flavors can meld together (in an airtight container in the fridge) before you serve the salad. If you make it the day before, reserve a little bit of the dressing to toss the salad with right before serving, which will guarantee that each bite is as creamy as the last.

—Lauren Pahmeier, Taste of Home Associate Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 233 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 1021mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 9g protein.