I am loving this new Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe that I created this afternoon. It’s very simple but full of great balsamic flavor. Lately I have been buying myself pasta salad at Remke. I am almost thinking I have a sick addiction ha ha. Summer always has me craving different salads. We have quite a few graduation parties to attend these next few weeks that I have offered to bring a dish to pass. I offered up a salad for each one.
Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
I will be honest, I am the only one in my household who is a fan of pasta salad. So I usually just grab a small dish from the deli or just throw a Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad together. This past week I was realizing how much those trips to the deli counter for pasta salad have been costing. Yimes at $4.99 per pound I decided I need to start making my own. Plus, I had a few of you who mentioned pasta salad as some of your favorite summer salads so I know this Pasta Salad Recipe is going to work great for my dish to pass at our graduation parties.
Making Pasta Salad at home is so simple. I tossed in a few of my favorite veggies. I really like onions, tomatoes, peppers and I HAVE to have the cheese. The addition of a small amount of parm and then some sharp cheddar was perfect. The balsamic dressing that I whipped up was perfect. I normally will just use a bottle of store bought dressing but the addition of the balsamic vinegar flavoring was perfect.
INGREDIENTS
Salad:
1 lb Tricolor Pasta
1/2 Green Bell Pepper, diced
1/2 Red Bell Pepper, diced
1/2 cup diced Red Onion
2/3 cup diced Tomatoes
1/2 cup Black Olives
8 oz Cheddar Cheese cubed
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan
Dressing:
1 1/2 tsp Minced Garlic
1/3 cup Balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Basil
1/2 tsp Oregano
1/8 tsp Honey
Salt & Pepper (to taste)
DIRECTIONS
Boil pasta, drain and allow to cool.
Combine all ingredients for dressing and whisk until well blended.
In a large bowl combine all salad ingredients and dressing and toss to coat evenly.
Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- Salad:
- 1 lb Tricolor Pasta
- 1/2 Green Bell Pepper diced
- 1/2 Red Bell Pepper diced
- 1/2 cup diced Red Onion
- 2/3 cup diced Tomatoes
- 1/2 cup Black Olives
- 8 oz Cheddar Cheese cubed
- 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan
- Dressing:
- 1 1/2 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1/3 cup Balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup Olive Oil
- 1/2 tsp Basil
- 1/2 tsp Oregano
- 1/8 tsp Honey
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil pasta, drain and allow to cool.
- Combine all ingredients for dressing and whisk until well blended.
- In a large bowl combine all salad ingredients and dressing and toss to coat evenly.
Angela
Made this today with gf spirals. I swapped the peppers for a cucumber and used garbanzo beans instead of the cheeses. It is delicious!
Bob Chamberlin
Whoa, nice recipe, I did add some fresh mozzarella.
Bella Min
Wow! This had the perfect combination of ingredients!
I used “Betty Crocker’s Suddenly Salad” package you get from the store, I wanted to find a balsamic dressing to use for the pasta instead of the included packet. The amount of dressing to box package is perfect! So tasty!!! I included everything you added except the olives, as I prefer with other things hehe, I used mini sweet peppers & a can of chicken 🤘 delicious. I’m very happy! Saving this one!
Robert Langille
Delicious and fast and ez to make
Jean
This looks really good. Maybe when summer finally arrives here, usually late June here in Calgary. I will try it, with gluten free spirals. The salad dressing especially looks good. Once I try your recipe, I might try it also with a can?, 1/2 can black beans with mozzarella cheese. Wow, the possibilities. Thanks so much for your recipe.
Dawn
Black beans, that’s a great idea! …. Especially from a color/visual standpoint, if you don’t happen to have any olives on hand (which happens to me my case tonight:).