Cheesy Pasta Salad
Creamy, vibrant, and irresistibly flavorful, this Cheesy Pasta Salad is the ultimate side dish or light meal for any occasion. Featuring tender al dente penne pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, colorful bell peppers, and briny black olives, this salad is elevated by the richness of cubed Cheddar cheese. The velvety dressing—a perfect blend of mayonnaise, tangy Greek yogurt, zesty lemon juice, and a hint of garlic and paprika—ties it all together, infusing every bite with deliciousness. Topped with fresh parsley for a bright, herbaceous finish, this chilled pasta salad is quick to prepare, taking just 15 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or as a make-ahead dish, this cheesy delight is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 300 grams Penne pasta
- 150 grams Cheddar cheese (cubed)
- 200 grams Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 Cucumber (diced)
- 1 Red bell pepper (diced)
- 100 grams Black olives (sliced)
- 100 grams Mayonnaise
- 100 grams Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley (chopped)
Instructions
Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside to cool completely.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to create a creamy dressing.
Add the cooled pasta to the mixing bowl and toss to coat evenly with the dressing.
Gently fold in the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, black olives, and cubed Cheddar cheese.
Sprinkle the fresh parsley over the salad and toss lightly for even distribution.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
Remove from the refrigerator, give it a final toss, and serve chilled. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
353 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 24.7 g | 32% | |
| Saturated Fat | 8.0 g | 40% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 34 mg | 11% | |
| Sodium | 575 mg | 25% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 21.6 g | 8% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.5 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 3.1 g | ||
| Protein | 12.0 g | 24% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 226 mg | 17% | |
| Iron | 1.2 mg | 7% | |
| Potassium | 245 mg | 5% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
