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Easy Creamy Pasta Salad

A delightful and easy-to-make creamy pasta salad filled with fresh veggies and a luscious dressing, perfect for gatherings and picnics.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Dressing
  • 1 pound ditalini pasta (or shell pasta) or any pasta of choice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh Veggies
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced
  • ½ medium red onion, finely chopped
  • ¾ cup frozen peas, thawed
  • ½ cup celery, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional)
  • ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, cubed (optional)

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the ditalini pasta until al dente according to package directions.
  2. Drain and rinse with cold water. Toss with olive oil and set aside to cool completely.
Making the Dressing
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
  2. Add sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, and paprika; mix well.
  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and let rest for 10 minutes.
Preparing the Veggies
  1. Dice the cucumber, halve cherry tomatoes, chop the red onion, bell pepper, and celery.
Mixing Everything Together
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, prepared vegetables, and parsley.
  2. If using, add hard-boiled eggs and cheddar cheese.
  3. Pour the dressing over the mixture and gently fold until everything is coated.
Chilling
  1. Cover with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.
  2. Stir before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Mix in extra dressing before serving to maintain creaminess.