Pasta Salad

There’s something magical about childhood flavors. Those dishes we grew up eating may have come out of a box or a can, but they hold a special place in our hearts. For me, one of those nostalgic bites is pasta salad. As a kid, I eagerly anticipated the tangy, herby, slightly creamy concoction that my family served straight from a boxed mix. It was quick, simple, and utterly satisfying.

Fast forward to adulthood, and I found myself longing for that familiar taste but with a grown-up twist. After a few tries and tweaks, I created my own version of the classic pasta salad. Friends and family regularly request this dish whenever summer barbecues are on the horizon, and I’m always happy to share.

What makes this pasta salad so special is its perfect balance of freshness and nostalgia. The tender macaroni noodles are tossed with finely diced red pepper, celery, and red onion, adding a crisp texture and vibrant color. Fresh herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme bring an aromatic depth that boxed mixes can only dream of. And the dressing? It’s a harmonious blend of creamy and tangy that ties everything together beautifully.

Pasta Salad

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

  

Dry Ingredients

• 1/2 tsp Sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp Paprika
• 1 tbsp Onion Powder
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp White Pepper
• 1 tsp Celery Salt
• 1 tsp Basil
• 1 tsp Oregano

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 tbsp Fresh Thyme
• 1 tbsp Fresh Oregano
• 1 tbsp Fresh Basil
• 2 tsp Garlic finely chopped

Pasta

• 3 cups Macaroni
• 1 tbsp Kosher Salt

Vegetables

• 1/2 cup Red Pepper finely diced
• 1/2 cup Red Onion finely diced
• 1/2 cup Celery finely diced
• 2 tbsp Jalapeno finely diced, optional

Instructions

 

Cook Pasta

• Bring 4L of water to a boil. Add 1tbsp of kosher salt.
• Add 3 cups of pasta, boil pasta uncovered for one minute less than the instructions on the package indicate.
• Drain pasta.

Prepare Remaining Ingredients

• If you are crunched for time, do the following steps while the water is heating up and/or the noodles are boiling.
• Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients. Combine the dry and wet ingredients. Set aside until the pasta is cooked.
• Finely dice the red pepper, red onion, and celery. Set aside until the pasta is cooked.

Final Assembly

• As soon as the pasta is drained, add the mixture of dry and wet ingredients, stir well. Add vegetables, stir well.
• Put in a serving container and refrigerate for 1-2hrs.

Keyword pasta, salad