Cheesy Pasta Salad
Creamy, vibrant, and irresistibly flavorful, this Cheesy Pasta Salad is the ultimate side dish or light meal for any occasion. Featuring tender al dente penne pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, colorful bell peppers, and briny black olives, this salad is elevated by the richness of cubed Cheddar cheese. The velvety dressing—a perfect blend of mayonnaise, tangy Greek yogurt, zesty lemon juice, and a hint of garlic and paprika—ties it all together, infusing every bite with deliciousness. Topped with fresh parsley for a bright, herbaceous finish, this chilled pasta salad is quick to prepare, taking just 15 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or as a make-ahead dish, this cheesy delight is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
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Ingredients
- 300 grams Penne pasta
- 150 grams Cheddar cheese (cubed)
- 200 grams Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 Cucumber (diced)
- 1 Red bell pepper (diced)
- 100 grams Black olives (sliced)
- 100 grams Mayonnaise
- 100 grams Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley (chopped)
Directions
Step 1
Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside to cool completely.
Step 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to create a creamy dressing.
Step 3
Add the cooled pasta to the mixing bowl and toss to coat evenly with the dressing.
Step 4
Gently fold in the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, black olives, and cubed Cheddar cheese.
Step 5
Sprinkle the fresh parsley over the salad and toss lightly for even distribution.
Step 6
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
Step 7
Remove from the refrigerator, give it a final toss, and serve chilled. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (1178.9g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 2710.9 |
| Total Fat 143.7g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 42.3g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g | |
| Cholesterol 262.1mg | 0% |
| Sodium 3195.5mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 275.8g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 20.1g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 15.0g | |
| Protein 87.3g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 32.1IU | 0% |
| Calcium 1280.5mg | 0% |
| Iron 15.6mg | 0% |
| Potassium 1891.2mg | 0% |
Source of Calories