I never thought I was a fan of pasta salad. Turns out, I just wasn’t a fan of certain pasta salads. I’m a fan of SUMMER PASTA SALAD. Did you hear me correctly? That’s right! I’m not big on mayonnaise, and for some reason, I thought that was a staple ingredient in all pasta salads. I’m so glad ReadySetEat.com set me straight!
Summer Pasta Salad
As you know, I’m on the Shared Tastes Panel at ReadySetEat, so I get to make delicious recipes and review them. I know, it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it. This month, two of the recipes I made were pasta salad dishes: Minestrone Pasta Salad and Greek Pasta Salad. Both are healthy, incredibly easy to make, super delicious and adjustable (so you can make more or less depending on the size of your party). And!? No mayo!
Brian and I are having a 4th of July party at our apartment, and in addition to the classics like hot dogs and hamburgers, we wanted to have a bunch of yummy, healthy, summery side dishes for our guests. Plus I know we’re going to be going to a lot of parties this summer where we have to (or will want to) bring a dish. A summer pasta salad is perfect for us to make.
And I don’t have to look any further for my dish ideas than these incredible summer pasta salad ideas right here. I’m completely blown away by them and really think that these will be in my summer recipe arsenal forever now! They are easy and delish and refreshing. I might even go crazy and make them in the winter!
I know they look similar to each other, but there are some distinct differences that make each of them unique and, in their own way, delectable.
Both are very light and include fresh ingredients, but the Minestrone Pasta Salad is made with a light Italian dressing (my fave!) and adds a bit of protein by calling for kidney beans. The baby carrots and zucchini give it a nice crunch. It is so colorful and pretty that you almost don’t want to eat it, but you’re happy once you do.
The Greek Pasta Salad called for rotini pasta, but I had some shells I wanted to use up, so shells it was. Not to get off topic, but that’s one of the many things I love about ReadySetEat recipes: they’re all about making your time in the kitchen quick and enjoyable, so they can be easily modified.
It has a ton of flavor, with a little bit of an added kick from the Gulden’s® Spicy Brown Mustard. Sprinkled with feta cheese, it is just a whole lot of YUM.
These easy summer pasta salad recipes prove that you do not have to spend hours in the kitchen preparing a dish that will wow your guests or the guests at a party you’re attending. Keep it simple with these ReadySetEat.com recipes. I can pretty much guarantee they’ll be a hit!
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Disclosure: I am being compensated by ReadySetEat.com for my time; however, all opinions are mine and my taste buds’!
Check out some other summer dishes:
Backyard Grill Recipes for the Summer
Grilled Portabella Mushroom Recipes
