Enjoy this quick salad in less than 30 minutes.
Personalized Pasta Salad
Ingredients
2 cups uncooked pasta, such as macaroni or rotini
½ cup salad dressing
2 cups cooked, cubed protein (see Notes)
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 medium bell pepper (any color), cut in 1-inch pieces
½ medium red onion, diced
1 can (4 ounces) sliced black olives
Directions
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
- Measure 6 cups of water into a large sauce pan.
- Bring water to a boil over high heat and add pasta. Cook until tender (about 8 to 10 minutes), stirring occasionally. Drain. Rinse with cold water to cool quickly. Drain well.
- Add dressing to pasta and toss lightly.
- Add protein and vegetables and toss again.
- Chill until ready to serve.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes
- Try cooked beans, tofu, chicken, beef, pork, tuna, salmon, turkey, shrimp, or hard-boiled egg for the chicken.
- Try Food Hero's Red Wine Vinaigrette for your salad dressing.
You might also like...
Mix and Match Grain Bowl
Mix and Match Grain Bowl
Make a simple, delicious and healthy meal for any time of day with ingredients you have on hand and these mix and match ideas.
Prepare:
varies
Cook:
varies
Makes:
4 servings
Superhero Shepherd's Pie
Superhero Shepherd's Pie
Try this mix of vegetables and ground beef topped with mashed potatoes for a comforting meal.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
60 minutes
Makes:
10 cups
Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti Squash
Learn how to bake or microwave spaghetti squash, then top with your favorite sauces or seasonings!
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
45 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Black-Eyed Pea Salad
You’ll love the fresh flavors, textures and versatility of this salad that features black-eyed peas.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Makes:
6 cups
Vegetarian Borscht
Vegetarian Borscht
Borscht is a soup that was first made in Eastern Europe hundreds of years ago. This variation includes beets with cabbage, beans and other vegetables.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
50 minutes
Makes:
12 cups
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
This variation of an old and much-loved recipe can be changed in many ways depending on the ingredients you have on hand.
Prepare:
30 to 45 minutes
Cook:
1 hour
Makes:
12 rolls

Comments
I thought this would be a great summer lunch recipe. I personalized it a little more and added canned artichoke hearts, grape tomatoes, and green onions. I used a balsamic vinegarette dressing and topped it with a little more balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper for added flavor. I used store-bought rotisserie chicken, which made this a quick and easy recipe. So flavorful, simple, and quick!
I used this recipe at an after school program and I had the kids choose their own add ins to the pasta so it was truly personalized. They loved it!