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A Nerd Cooks » Side Dishes

Lauren's Pasta Salad

Aug 3, 2015 · Modified: Feb 26, 2023 by Lauren Pacek · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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This pasta salad--which I have named after myself--is a family and friend favorite. In particular, my in-laws really enjoy it. I am officially in charge of providing the pasta salad for all of the gatherings among that side of the family.

Lauren's Pasta Salad | A Nerd Cooks

It's delicious and couldn't be easier to throw together. Just chop some veggies and cheese, boil some pasta, and there you have it. It's also easy to double or triple the recipe for feeding large crowds.

You can also customize the vegetables and cheese to suit your tastes. Maybe you're not crazy about celery. If so, just leave it out. Switch up the colors of the bell peppers as you see fit. You could also add some diced red onion to the mix!

I blogged about this pasta salad almost 4 years ago, and felt like it was time to give it a face lift. In fact, this was only the second recipe that I ever blogged about!  

✨ Recipe

Lauren's Pasta Salad | A Nerd Cooks

Lauren's Pasta Salad

Lauren Pacek
This pasta salad is a family and friend favorite. It's a classic recipe that can be tweaked to suit your tastes.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 422 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 16 oz. Rotini pasta
  • kosher salt
  • 2 bell peppers chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • 4 ribs of celery chopped
  • 8 oz. block of sharp cheddar cheese cubed
  • 16 oz. bottle of Italian dressing
  • 3 tablespoon McCormick Perfect Pinch Salad Supreme Seasoning

Instructions
 

  • Put a large pot of water on the stove to boil. Once it comes up to a rolling boil, add the box of pasta and salt, and cook according to directions on the box. After the pasta is cooked through, drain it in a colander. Set aside and allow it to cool.
  • Add the bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, celery, and cheese to a large bowl. Add the cooled pasta and toss everything together.
  • Add about half of the bottle of Italian dressing and the Salad Supreme Seasoning. Mix it all together and taste. Add more of the seasoning or salad dressing if you think it needs it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 422kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 15gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 857mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8g

Disclaimer: Nutritional information is a generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Lauren's Pasta Salad | A Nerd Cooks
Lauren's Pasta Salad | A Nerd Cooks

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I love it when you share my recipes!

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    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Meg

    August 06, 2015 at 11:05 am

    I love Italian dressing-based pasta salads -- they never fail to make my mouth water! I make a similar one, and yours sounds delicious. You can't go wrong with a big bowl of this at a summer get-together!

    Reply
    • A_Nerd_Cooks

      August 06, 2015 at 11:07 am

      Thanks, Meg! I agree =) You definitely cannot go wrong with this.

      Reply
  2. agnesstramp

    August 04, 2015 at 3:28 pm

    Wow, girl! You are a real chef. This recipe is so easy and quick to make! Definitely recommend it to my friends. Perfect snack for Saturday party it is :-).

    Reply
    • A_Nerd_Cooks

      August 04, 2015 at 3:39 pm

      Hey, thanks! Yup, very quick and easy. Just a bonus that it's tasty, too 😉

      Reply
  3. Joanne

    August 04, 2015 at 7:56 am

    Definitely perfect for family gatherings! Or...dinner. Tonight. 😛

    Reply
  4. Our Foodie Appetite

    August 03, 2015 at 11:37 am

    This looks really good!! We have a family recipe for pasta salad too and my grandma makes it for every single event. It's always a hit! This recipe looks great too! http://www.ourfoodieappetite.com/lubo-review-virginia-beach-chicks-beach/

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Lauren! I'm the recipe developer, photographer, and writer here at A Nerd Cooks. I'm a 30-something wife, mom, and scientist with a passion for mixing cocktails, brewing buzzy coffee drinks, and making other delicious beverages at home.

More about me →

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