Layered Pasta Salad — Colorful, Creamy, & Crowd-Pleasing 🥗
Introduction
Layered Pasta Salad is a vibrant, make-ahead dish that’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, or casual family dinners. With its colorful layers of pasta, crisp veggies, creamy dressing, and optional bacon or cheese, it’s both visually stunning and satisfyingly flavorful. The best part? You can prepare it ahead of time, letting the flavors meld while you focus on other dishes. Every scoop delivers a mix of textures—from tender pasta to crunchy veggies—making this salad a guaranteed hit.
Ingredients
Salad Layers
- 3 cups rotini or shell pasta (cooked, drained, and cooled) (300 g / 10.5 oz)
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved (225 g / 8 oz)
- 1 cup cucumber, diced (120 g / 4.2 oz)
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced (any color) (120 g / 4.2 oz)
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped (60 g / 2 oz)
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed (150 g / 5 oz)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (100 g / 3.5 oz)
- 6–8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled (optional)
- 2 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce (90 g / 3 oz)
Creamy Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise (240 ml / 8 fl oz)
- ¾ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt (180 ml / 6 fl oz)
- 1 tablespoon sugar (12 g)
- 1–2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar (5–10 ml)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions
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