Layered Picnic Pasta Salad

Brighten up your outdoor gatherings with this stunning Layered Picnic Pasta Salad—a vibrant, flavor-packed dish that’s as beautiful as it is delicious! Perfectly al dente rotini is layered with crisp spinach, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, sweet yellow bell peppers, and tangy red onions, then topped with shredded cheddar cheese for a burst of richness. The creamy, zesty dressing combines mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, and fresh lemon juice for a tangy kick that ties everything together. Served in a clear glass bowl, this salad’s colorful layers make it a true show-stopper, while the one-hour chill time allows the flavors to meld perfectly. Ideal for potlucks, picnics, or barbecues, this make-ahead pasta salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser!

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 300 grams pasta (rotini or fusilli)
• 200 grams cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 large cucumber, diced
• 1 small red onion, finely diced
• 1 medium yellow bell pepper, diced
• 100 grams baby spinach leaves
• 100 grams shredded cheddar cheese
• 150 grams mayonnaise
• 120 grams sour cream
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Step 1

Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside to cool completely.

Step 2

Prepare the vegetables by halving the cherry tomatoes, dicing the cucumber, finely dicing the red onion, and chopping the yellow bell pepper.

Step 3

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing. Set aside.

Step 4

In a large, clear glass bowl or trifle dish, begin layering the salad. Start with a layer of cooked pasta at the bottom.

Step 5

Add a layer of baby spinach leaves on top of the pasta, followed by a layer of cucumbers.

Step 6

Next, add a layer of cherry tomatoes, then a layer of diced red onions, and a layer of yellow bell peppers.

Step 7

Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the vegetables.

Step 8

Drizzle the creamy dressing over the salad, ensuring it covers the top layer evenly.

Step 9

Garnish with chopped fresh parsley for added color and flavor.

Step 10

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

Step 11

Toss the salad gently just before serving or serve it layered for a beautiful presentation.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1472.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2381.4

Total Fat 169.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 47.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 314.2mg	0%
Sodium 2476.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 173.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 15.1g	0%
Total Sugars 30.2g
Protein 55.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1134.0mg	0%
Iron 8.3mg	0%
Potassium 2136.1mg	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: 62.4%

Protein: 9.2%

Carbs: 28.5%