Meg’s Zesty Pasta Salad

I love pasta salad for summer time, and I feel like I’m always chasing a great, unique pasta salad recipe. I normally throw some Olive Garden dressing into a mixture of noodles and random veggies, but this pasta salad recipe really wows. I got it from one of my very best friends, Megin! Are you ready to impress everyone at your next BBQ? Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

• Kraft Zesty Lime Vinaigrette

• Kraft Parmesan Pesto Vinaigrette

Both of the dressings I used are Kraft, but other brands make similar flavors.

• 1 box mini bowtie pasta

• 1 bag cheese tortellini

• 1 salami sausage, cubed

• 1 full container of cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

• 1/4 cup pepperoncini (more if you like spice)

• 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced

• 1-2 orange bell peppers, chopped

• 1 cup of mozzarella pearls, chopped

• 1 small can sliced black olives

Step 1:

Prep everything! Cook the bowtie pasta and tortellini, following the directions on the box. While those are cooking, chop and slice your veggies.

Step 2:

Once your veggies are chopped and sliced, add them to a large bowl with 1/3 cup of each dressing. Set in the fridge to marinate for at least 20 minutes, or longer if time allows. See picture below if you want to see how I cut up the variety of veggies. 

This is Meg’s secret step! Mixing the dressings and letting the veggies marinate for as long as possible is key.

Step 3: Now, mix everything together! Before adding the veggies to the pasta, I like to pour a little olive oil over them so they don’t stick together. Add more dressing to taste. This is not a measurable amount; I just add a little of each dressing until I get that perfect pasta salad texture. Do your thing! 

This pasta salad recipe is best served cold. 

And BOOM, you just made the most talked about pasta salad at the BBQ. Also, these ingredients would taste great with Olive Garden Italian Dressing as well! That's what I use when I can’t find my fave Kraft Zesty Lime Vinaigrette (I use it in so many dishes and marinades).  

I’ll admit, I always add too much dressing in step 3. My husband likes to remind me that less is more. Can you see my eyes rolling into the black abyss? I’m from Flavortown, and he is from Plainville. It’s fine, I just add more dressing to my plate. Haha!

I hope you enjoy this yummy summer pasta salad recipe! Happy summer! Life feels almost normal, isn’t that weird?!

Always and Whatever

Xo