Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

party pasta salad

Recipe by
Mary Gelfond
Haymarket, VA

One thing that makes this "holiday" pasta salad is your choice of pasta. For Halloween I used black cat pasta. Your serving bowl can reflect the season. As a special addition you can buy "character" picks, which are often used on cupcakes. I bought a set with ghosts, witches, and skeletons. Place the picks into the cheese cubes before placing in salad. If you are in a hurry, you can use your favorite bottled dressing.

yield serving(s)
prep time 30 Min
cook time 15 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For party pasta salad

  • 1 lb
    specialty pasta
  • 1 md
    cucumber, seeded
  • 1 sm
    orange or red pepper, diced small
  • 1 can
    black olives
  • 6-8 oz
    cheese, cubed
  • LEMON VINAIGRETTE SALAD DRESSING
  • 1/4 c
    red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp
    dijon mustard
  • 1
    lemon, zest and juice
  • 1 Tbsp
    honey
  • 1 Tbsp
    fresh dill, or 1 tsp prepared dill

How To Make party pasta salad

  • 1
    Cook pasta as directed on package. Drain, cool under running water. Drain when cool.
  • 2
    Add, cucumber, peppers and olives.
  • 3
    While pasta is cooking, mix vinaigrette ingredients. Shake well. Pour over cooled pasta. (add to taste)
  • 4
    Put pasta salad into serving bowl. Cool in refrigerator until ready to serve.
  • 5
    Place colorful toothpicks into cubes of cheese and place into salad.
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