About Cold Pasta Salad Recipe
Cold Pasta Salad Recipe | Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe | How to make cold pasta salad with step-by-step photos and video: This creamy cold pasta salad Recipe is perfect for summer lunches, potlucks, or as a light dinner. Loaded with crunchy vegetables and tossed in a smooth and flavorful creamy dressing, it’s both refreshing and satisfying.
When the weather gets warm, nothing feels better than a cool and refreshing dish. That’s when a cold pasta salad recipe becomes the perfect choice. It’s light, creamy, and packed with colourful vegetables, making it a great option for summer picnics, lunchboxes, or even a quick dinner. Whether you call it a cold pasta salad, chilled pasta, or pasta cold salad, this dish is sure to become your new favourite.
I remember the first time I tried a creamy pasta salad recipe at a family get-together. My aunt had made a big bowl of it using leftover spaghetti pasta salad and added a mix of fresh veggies from her garden. It was chilled just right, and the pasta salad cream dressing had soaked into the pasta beautifully. Since then, making chilled pasta salad with different vegetables and flavours has become a go-to idea for our weekend meals.
This easy cold pasta recipe uses simple ingredients like boiled pasta, chopped vegetables, and a creamy homemade dressing. It’s one of those vegetable pasta salad recipes that you can customise according to what you have at home. Add some bell peppers, sweet corn, carrot, cucumber, or baby tomatoes, and you’ve got a quick and delicious dish that’s both filling and fun to eat. You can even use different pasta types, including macaroni, penne, or spaghetti.
If you’re looking for healthy and tasty vegetable pasta salads, this recipe is perfect. Serve it fresh or after chilling it in the fridge—either way, it tastes amazing. It’s also great for potlucks and parties because cold pasta salad dishes are easy to prepare in advance. Give this creamy and colourful cold pasta salad recipe a try, and let it become a new family favourite at your table too.
More Delicious Recipes to Try!
If you enjoyed this Cold Pasta Salad Recipe or Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe, you might also love some of my other easy, quick, and satisfying dishes perfect for warm weather or light meals. Here are a few handpicked recipes you can try next:
Masala Macaroni Indian Style
Mango Maggi
Corn Tikki Chaat
Eggless Omelet Sandwich
Paneer Grilled Sandwich
If you’re a fan of fusion and innovative snacks, don’t miss my other fun and easy snack recipes like Maggi Bread Balls, Sooji Masala Balls, Noodle Spring Rolls, and Square Samosa.
Step-by-Step Recipe
Step 1: Boil the Pasta
1. Boil 4–5 cups of water in a large pot. Add ½ teaspoon salt and a few drops of oil.
2. Add 2 cups of pasta and cook according to the packet instructions until al dente (firm to the bite).
3. After the pasta is cooked, strain it and immediately run it under cold water to cool it down and prevent further cooking.
4. Set it aside to cool completely.
Step 2: Prepare the Vegetables
5. While the pasta cools, wash and chop all the vegetables: cucumber, bell peppers, carrot, cherry tomatoes, and onions.
6. Boil the sweet corn if not already done. Let it cool.
Step 3: Combine Everything
7. In a large mixing bowl, add cooled pasta, finely chopped ¼ cup cucumber, ½ cup bell peppers, ¼ cup boiled and cooled sweet corn, ¼ cup carrot, ½ cup onions, and ¼ cup cherry tomatoes.
8. Further, add 1 tsp lemon juice (or vinegar), salt to taste, ½ tsp black pepper powder, 1 tsp sugar / sugar-free, 1 tsp mixed herbs (oregano, thyme, basil).
9. Now add ½ cup mayonnaise, and ½ cup greek yogurt (or Fresh Cream).
10. Gently toss everything together until the pasta and veggies are well coated with the creamy dressing.
Step 4: Chill and Serve
11. Transfer the creamy cold pasta salad to a bowl, cover it, and place it in the refrigerator for 1–2 hours to let the flavours blend and chill properly before serving.
12. Garnish with fresh chopped coriander or parsley before serving.
Tips and Variations for Creamy Cold Pasta Salad Recipe
1. You can add boiled and chopped eggs or shredded grilled chicken for a non-veg version.
2. Replace mayonnaise with hung curd or vegan mayo for a lighter or dairy-free version.
3. Add cheese cubes or grated cheese for an extra-rich taste.
Tips to Make It Weight-Loss Friendly
1. Use whole wheat or quinoa pasta instead of regular pasta for added fibre and nutrients.
2. Swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or hung curd to reduce fat and calories.
3. Add more raw vegetables like cucumber, bell peppers, and carrots to increase volume and fiber.
4. Use low-fat or homemade dressing with lemon juice, herbs, and yogurt.
5. Watch portion size – stick to a small to moderate bowl as part of a balanced meal.
Recipe Card
Cold Pasta Salad Recipe | Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Pasta (fusilli, penne, or macaroni)
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- ½ cup Greek yogurt (or Fresh Cream)
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice (or Vinegar)
- Salt to taste
- ½ tsp Black Pepper Powder
- 1 tsp Sugar / Sugar-Free
- 1 tsp Mixed Herbs (oregano, thyme, basil)
- ¼ cup Cucumber (finely chopped)
- ½ cup Bell Peppers (finely chopped – red, yellow, green)
- ¼ cup Boiled Sweet Corn
- ¼ cup Carrot (finely chopped)
- ½ cup Onions (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup Cherry Tomatoes
- Fresh coriander or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Boil water in a large pan with a little salt and oil. Add pasta and cook until al dente as per packet instructions.
- Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Let it cool completely.
- While the pasta cools, wash and chop cucumber, bell peppers, carrot, cherry tomatoes, and onions. Boil the sweet corn, drain, and let it cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, add cooled pasta, all chopped vegetables, and sweet corn.
- Add lemon juice or vinegar, salt, black pepper, sugar, and mixed herbs.
- Then add mayonnaise and Greek yogurt or fresh cream.
- Mix gently until everything is well coated.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least one hour. Chilling enhances the flavors. Garnish with fresh coriander or parsley just before serving, and enjoy your creamy cold pasta salad.
You Might Also Like My Other Recipe Categories:
Easy Salad Recipes
Quick Snack Recipes
Homemade Beverage Recipes
Kid-Friendly Recipes
Weight Loss Friendly Recipes
Recipe Conclusion
This creamy cold pasta salad is a quick, refreshing, and satisfying dish perfect for hot days. Loaded with crunchy veggies and a rich, tangy dressing, it’s easy to make and loved by all. Serve it chilled for the best taste, great for picnics, potlucks, or a light lunch.