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garden pasta salad

(2 ratings)
lkyoder34 avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Laura Yoder
@lkyoder34
Brunswick, GA

Just another one of my concoctions. I came up with this salad when looking in the crisper drawer and seeing all of the fresh vegetables that I had to use up.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

This is the perfect name for this pasta salad because with all the fresh veggies it literally tastes like summer. There are so many textures and flavors going on. Ham adds a little heartiness while peas add a pop of sweetness. The two types of cheese pair perfectly with the light and tangy Italian dressing. If you're making this ahead of time, we suggest not adding the lettuce until you're ready to serve or it will get soggy. Serve this as a side or a light lunch.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(2 ratings)
yield 8 serving(s)
prep time 30 Min
method Refrigerate/Freeze

Ingredients For garden pasta salad

  • 1 c
    frozen peas, thawed
  • 1 md
    sweet onion, chopped
  • 2
    green onions, sliced thin
  • 1 c
    sliced celery
  • 2 md
    tomatoes, chopped and seeded
  • 1 md
    green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 md
    red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 c
    shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 can
    black olives, drained (3.8 oz)
  • 16 oz
    corkscrew pasta, cooked and drained
  • 1 c
    diced smoked ham
  • 1 bottle
    Italian dressing (16 oz)
  • 1/2 c
    grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 - head
    iceberg lettuce, torn into small pieces

How To Make garden pasta salad

  • Draining cooked pasta.
    1
    Cook and drain pasta. Add it to a large mixing bowl.
  • Peas, onions, green onions, and celery in bowl with pasta.
    2
    Toss in peas, onions, green onions, and celery.
  • Bell peppers, tomatoes, and black olives added to bowl.
    3
    Toss in green and red bell peppers, tomatoes, and black olives.
  • Adding ham to bowl.
    4
    Toss in ham.
  • Adding cheese to pasta salad.
    5
    Toss in cheddar cheese.
  • Stirring in lettuce.
    6
    Toss in lettuce.
  • Pouring Italian dressing into salad.
    7
    Toss to coat mixture with the Italian dressing.
  • Sprinkling with Parmesan cheese.
    8
    Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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