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Zesty Summer Pasta Salad

April 30, 2018 by Larisha Campbell 1 Comment

This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It’s a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

Vegan Pasta Salad

There are certain recipes that will remind you of happier times. Like summers ago with your entire family around a grill, jumping in and out of the pool all day, and running around without a care in the world. It’s up to you whether your children will have those same magical memories now. Though it seems like a big feat at times, sometimes food elicits memories of what made it special. By focusing in on those memories, you can remember how to make it special for your own littles. 
This homemade pasta salad is one of those recipes for me. To me, it’s the best pasta salad because of those memories. It’s one very similar to what my aunt used to make at every single summer cookout we had. This easy pasta salad recipe is also one of the few ways my mom could get me to eat vegetables as a child. Since moving to New Jersey though, I see my family less, so I needed to learn to make this Italian pasta salad myself.
cold pasta salad recipe

How to make homemade Italian pasta salad 

For this delicious cold pasta salad recipe there’s just 5 ingredients + the Italian salad dressing. You can choose to buy bottled zesty Italian dressing or we share our zesty pasta salad dressing recipe below. For this vegan pasta salad you need cooked pasta (we use angel hair), cherry tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and zesty Italian dressing. 
The most difficult part of this entire dish is cooking the pasta for 8 minutes. So, if you can cook pasta, you can make this recipe. Add everything to a big bowl and stir, stir, stir, until everything is mixed together well. Refrigerate and done! It’s really that simple to make this summer pasta salad.
homemade summer pasta salad

Summer Pasta Salad Recipe 

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Zesty Summer Pasta Salad
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 

This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It's a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 16 people
Calories: 188 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb angel hair pasta
  • 2 cups homemade Zesty Italian Dressing (recipe below)
  • 1/2 cup carrots, grated (approximately 4-6 large carrots)
  • 1 1/2 cups broccoli, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups cauliflower, finely chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta according to the boxed instructions.

  2. Drain and transfer pasta to a large bowl. 

  3. Add remaining ingredients, except the tomatoes. 

  4. Stir until very well combined. 

  5. Add in the halved cherry tomatoes and give a quick toss (not too much, you don't want to over work the tomatoes). 

  6. Chill in the refrigerate at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. 

  7. Refrigerate any remaining pasta salad for up to 5 days. 

Recipe Notes

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Dressing Recipe

In a large bottle or bowl, combine the following, shake or stir very well. Then, ready for use. Refrigerate any leftovers. 
  • 1 cup olive oil 
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • juice from half a lemon
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/8 cup red onion, finally chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Nutrition Facts
Zesty Summer Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 188 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Sodium 305mg13%
Potassium 222mg6%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 875IU18%
Vitamin C 19.6mg24%
Calcium 21mg2%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Zesty Summer Pasta Salad Recipe for later!

zesty italian summer pasta salad - cold pasta salad - vegan pasta salad
This post was originally published on 5/21/2014.  Same great recipe but our photography skills have greatly improved.  Here’s some of the original photos. 
cold pasta salad recipes from scratch
easy pasta salad
easy pasta salad recipe

Filed Under: Dinner, Home, Recipes Tagged With: pasta salad, recipes, side dish

Caprese Pasta Salad

August 16, 2017 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This Caprese Pasta Salad has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BaronessPatches #CollectiveBias

 

Even as a stay-at-home mom, life is constantly go-go-go. I remember when I got pregnant with our first that Andrew and I decided I wouldn’t be going back to work.  It wasn’t the easiest transition, but we worked hard to make sure it was possible.  I didn’t think it was going to be easy. However, I definitely didn’t think it would be as hectic as it is. We are constantly on the go. Add in the fact that I run a small business from my home and we homeschool and the hectic level goes from 80 to 110 with a quickness.

The dishes pile up faster than normal, the laundry is never ending, something always needs fixed, and there’s always a mess to be cleaned up.  Sometimes, I swear a fairy comes behind me and helps them throw every single thing off of their toy shelves because there’s a mess again faster than I can clean it up sometimes. On top of everything, I have to educate my pre-schooler and make sure she’s actually learning and “Netflix and chill” apparently doesn’t mean I can sit her in front of the TV and watch LeapFrog all day long.

 And then, for some crazy reason, they need fed three times a day.

One of the best things that I’ve found to help my sanity is meal planning, simple, wholesome dinners where we can come together as a family and have a moment where the chaos is at bay for a few minutes. Sometimes, when I actually have life together, I love getting in the kitchen with our kids. We love making a delicious meal from scratch.  Other nights though, I’m scrambling when my pre-schooler comes to me and says she’s ready for dinner. Often, I realize I never thawed out meat. It’s night like these that I’ve grateful for Red Baron and my list of simple side dishes to go alongside it.  One of my favorite side dishes with Red Baron is a simple Caprese pasta salad.

One of my favorite side dishes is this Caprese Pasta Salad

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:148]

Motherhood is no easy flight. Luckily, the Red Baron Baroness knows that it takes a village of accepting and embracing our imperfections.  Head over to read more stories about motherhood realities like my story here.

Filed Under: Dinner, Home, Recipes Tagged With: pasta salad, recipes, side dish

Italian Ham Pasta Salad

August 22, 2016 by Larisha Campbell 1 Comment

Homemade-Italian-Ham-Pasta-Salad

For many of you, school has already started.  For the rest, it’s right around the corner. For all, the chaos of everything has already begun. Within a few weeks, you will likely be scratching your head wondering what in the world to put in that lunchbox or what to make for dinner in the 30 minutes you have between end of school, extracurriculars, and bedtime.  Here’s your answer.

This Italian Ham Pasta Salad has a little bit of everything that will make everyone happy. What I love, is that it’s 8 minutes of cooking, 10(ish) minutes of chopping, and BAM! DONE!. You have a delicious, protein packed, vegetable filled dish, that even picky ones will eat some of it.

WATCH SKIBS MAKE IT!!

I grew up never knowing I liked pasta salad. My aunt would make a pasta salad at every get together, but it wasn’t until I was in my teens that I tried it.  Once I did, I couldn’t get enough of it.  It was one of those things that you prayed was at every get together. And it was always gone if you went to grab a take home plate which always annoyed you. Luckily, I watched my aunt make her pasta salad enough that I can make it myself now. Here’s that pasta salad recipe.

Even though I still, to this day, love her pasta salad dearly, I wanted something more. Something fresher. Something packed with protein to fill us up. Thus, you get our Italian Ham Pasta Salad. Skibs and I got into the kitchen and got to work.  She almost did this recipe entirely by herself.  I had to chop and help with mixing at the end, but otherwise, it was all her. She absolutely loved making this Italian Ham pasta salad because of that too.

 

making homemade pasta salad

Baby was with us too.  On my back, babywearing, as normal. She was just enjoying eating as usual.

baby in the kitchen

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Italian Ham Pasta Salad
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb tri-color rotini cooked
  • 1 lb cooked ham cubed
  • 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes cut into thirds
  • 1/2 each: red green, orange, and yellow bell pepper, cut into small cubes
  • 1 cucumber skin on, cut into slices or half slices
  • 4 oz colby jack cheese cubed
  • 4 oz fresh mozzarella cubed
  • 1/8 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups homemade zesty Italian Dressing see below
Italian Dressing
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • juice from half a lemon
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/8 cup red onion finally chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients.
  2. Stir well until all the ingredients are covered with dressing.
  3. Cover bowl with lid, or foil, and place in the fridge for at least 4 hours (up to overnight).
  4. Save remaining Italian dressing for another recipe or serve on the side.

Italian-Ham-Pasta-Salad

I am hosting Mini Chef Mondays along with 8 fabulous bloggers! Read how Mini Chef Mondays started.

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Be sure to check out each of their Mini Chef posts as well!

  • Falafel Recipe // Courtney’s Sweets
  • For Mom: Delicious Breakfast Bowl // Momma Lew
  • Crunchy Apple Peanut Butter Wrap // Finding Zest
  • Italian Ham Pasta Salad // We’re Parents
  • Canned Tuna Sushi for Kids // Eating Richly
  • Roasted Vegetable Hummus Wraps // Giggles, Gobbles and Gulps
  • Vegetarian Quinoa Chili // Vegging at the Shore
  • Healthy Smoothie Ideas for Back to School // O’Boy! Organic
  • Homemade Superhero Lunchables // My Mini Adventurer

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Filed Under: Dinner, Home, Kids In The Kitchen, Recipes Tagged With: dinner, ham, lunchbox, pasta salad, recipes, salad


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