Easy Pasta Salad – Super Healthy Kids

This Easy Pasta Salad is full of contemporary flavors and tossed in a easy basil and citrus dressing. It’s the type of salad that retains you coming again for an additional chunk. So mild and scrumptious, it’s certainly one of our favourite weeknight meals throughout the hotter months and all the time a success at potlucks!

Why We Love This Easy Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is certainly one of my household’s favorites as a result of it tastes scrumptious, it’s an effective way to make use of up ripe tomatoes, and it’s a great dinner to serve to the entire household. Plus, one batch feeds a crowd, so it’s an ideal dish to share with associates.

The dressing is so mild and refreshing and is completely good with contemporary summer time produce. This salad can be tremendous adaptable. Use no matter veggies you could have readily available, or toss in some grilled hen. I extremely suggest leaving these tomatoes in although.. they pair completely with the contemporary basil and mozzarella. I used grape tomatoes right here since that’s what we favor, however you should use any that you simply like or have readily available—Roma, heirlooms, or different cherry tomatoes of any colour.

Ingredients for Easy Pasta Salad:

• Pasta– I used farfalle (bowtie) pasta, however you’ll be able to actually use any pasta you could have readily available.
• Mozzarella– I like utilizing contemporary mozzarella on this salad. If you could find them, the mozzarella pearls work nice.
• Feta Cheese– The feta provides a pleasant salty chunk to the salad.
• Tomatoes– I like to make use of cherry tomatoes right here, however roma, heirloom, or grape tomatoes all work properly.
• Bell Peppers– I used an orange for added colour, however any colour will do!
• Cucumbers– I like utilizing thin-skinned English cucumbers. If utilizing a daily cucumber, peel and take away the seeds earlier than chopping and including to the salad.
• Basil– This salad requires each contemporary and dried basil.
• Lemon– Go for contemporary! You’ll use the juice and the zest for the dressing. Bottled lemon juice will work in a pinch, however you’ll get a a lot brighter taste with a contemporary lemon.
• Olive Oil– Olive oil is nice, however a variety of occasions I’ll use avocado oil as an alternative.
• Honey– Honey provides only a trace of sweetness to the dressing.
• Apple Cider Vinegar– I’ve solely made this with apple cider vinegar, however I’m guessing that purple or white wine vinegars would work nice too.
• Salt & Pepper– To season.

How to Make Easy Pasta Salad

1. Cook the pasta based on the bundle instructions. Drain and rinse in chilly water, then put in a massive bowl.
2. Whisk collectively the dressing elements in a small bowl or shaker bottle.
3. Chop the greens into chunk sized items and put within the bowl with the pasta. Add the cheese.
4. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.

Tips & Suggestions

Substitutions

This pasta salad is basically scrumptious within the fundamental model proven right here, however listed below are a couple of variations you would do to customise it for your loved ones:

• Make it dairy-free by utilizing white beans or chickpeas as an alternative of the cheese.
• Add shredded hen or chunks of tuna to spice up the protein.
• Change up the veggies! Try zucchini, contemporary peas, asparagus, sliced carrots or child spinach.
• Swap out the pasta for spinach or romaine for a scrumptious inexperienced salad.

We find it irresistible virtually any method, so experiment and see what your loved ones likes!

Storing

You can retailer this salad in an air-tight container within the fridge for 3-5 days. If it will get just a little dry, merely toss with a bit of additional dressing earlier than serving.

Serving Suggestions

This salad makes a light-weight and scrumptious dinner, however we additionally like to serve it with this Lemon Grilled Chicken, Easy Artisan Bread, Sweet Spinach Muffins, or with a contemporary smoothie.

More Tasty Salads to Try: