Pasta salads are great for many things: barbecues, side dishes, camping, and meals. There are literally thousands of different recipes out there, surely enough to keep you busy all summer long. Here are some of our favorites. All are formatted to serve a small crowd. 

*Note on food safety: Do not place hot pasta in your refrigerator to cool, it can raise the interior temperature of the fridge to unsafe levels. Instead, keep in strainer and mix with ice and cold water until chilled*

Basic Pasta Salad

Serves 10-12

1 #             Tri Color Rotini Noodles 

1 ea.          Small Onion, Dices

1½ c.         Small diced cheese 

1 c.            Sliced olives

1 c.            Diced green pepper

8 oz.          Sliced Pepperoni 

1-15 oz.     Bottle, Italian Dressing

½ tsp.        Salt 

½ tsp.        White pepper

-Boil pasta in salted water for 7-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and cook completely 

-Combine pasta with remaining ingredients, stir well

-Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving

Tuna Macaroni Salad

Serves 10-12

1#                  Elbow macaroni

2-3 cans.       Tuna fish in water, drained

1 ea.              Small onion, diced

4-6 stalks       Celery, small diced

4 Sprigs         Green onion, diced (whites and greens)

2 c.                 Mayonnaise 

1 tsp.              Salt

½ tsp.             Black pepper

½ tsp.             Garlic powder 

-Boil pasta in salted water for 6-8 minutes until al dente. Drain and cool completely. 

-Combine remaining ingredients, stir and mix with pasta

-Cover and refrigerate one hour before serving. 

Couscous Salad 

Serves 8-10

8 oz.        Couscous 

2 ea.        Roma tomatoes, diced small

1 ½ c.       Red onion, diced

4 sprigs.   Green onion, diced (whites and greens)

6 oz.         Feta cheese, crumbled

3 oz.         Raw, whole pine nuts 

      Dressing

⅓ c.          Lemon Juice

½ c.          Extra virgin olive oil

3 tbsp.      Rice vinegar

1 tbsp.      Minced garlic

1 tsp.        Salt

½ tsp.        Black pepper

-Cook and cool couscous completely

-For the dressing, whisk together all ingredients until well combined (can use a food processor or blender). Set aside.

-Combine all ingredients, mix well. Top with dressing

-Cover and refrigerate for one hour before serving