Ellie's Elbow Pasta Salad

Brighten up your table with Ellie’s Elbow Pasta Salad, a colorful and creamy dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or simple weeknight meals. This irresistible recipe combines tender elbow macaroni with a medley of fresh vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion, all tossed in a zesty homemade dressing of mayonnaise, sour cream, dijon mustard, and a splash of lemon juice. Boldly seasoned with salt and pepper and topped with shredded cheddar cheese, this pasta salad strikes the perfect balance between tangy and savory. Quick to prepare and easy to make ahead, it’s a crowd-pleasing side dish that’s best served chilled and garnished with fresh parsley for a burst of herbal freshness. Whether you’re hosting or looking for an on-the-go lunch idea, this creamy pasta salad is guaranteed to be a hit!

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 0.5 small red onion
• 0.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 0.5 cup mayonnaise
• 0.25 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, and finely chop the red onion.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled macaroni, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Step 4

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables. Toss everything together until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing.

Step 6

Taste the pasta salad and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt or pepper as needed.

Step 7

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 8

Before serving, stir the pasta salad again and garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

Step 9

Serve chilled and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(995.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2137.9

Total Fat 123.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 27.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 206.9mg	0%
Sodium 3401.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 210.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 13.7g	0%
Total Sugars 25.1g
Protein 49.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 558.1mg	0%
Iron 9.2mg	0%
Potassium 1013.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 51.7%

Protein: 9.2%

Carbs: 39.1%