Best Pasta Salad Recipes (2024)

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The basic formula for making pasta salad is simple, so memorize these tips and yours will always be top notch:

• Short pastas work best in pasta salad. Try penne, rotini, shells, wagon wheels or whatever else you keep on hand.
• 6 to 7 ounces of uncooked pasta will yield 4 cups of cooked pasta and serve 4 to 6 people.
• Always follow package directions to cook pasta al dente, which means tender but firm to the bite.
• Unless specified, do not rinse pasta after draining or sauces won’t cling. Sometimes pasta is rinsed for cold salads, so follow your recipe.
• Chilling in the fridge makes your pasta salad even better as it allows the flavors to develop. Follow the chill time specified in your recipe.
• To give your pasta salad an extra bright zing, add a sprinkle of chopped, fresh herbs or squeeze of citrus before serving.

Want to create your very own pasta salad recipe? We’ve got an easy framework you can follow so it’s just a matter of slotting in the ingredients you have and seasonings you desire.

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