Family Favorites - August 2019: Easy Pasta Salad (Egg, Nut, Milk and Fish-Free, Can Be Wheat and Soy-Free)

I decided to keep posting a family favorite recipe from the blog (with any adaptions that we use regularly, if applicable) on the fourth Friday or Saturday of every month this year.  This recipe will be one that we make quite often and that we all enjoy greatly.  This post is the eighth Family Favorites recipe of 2019.  {I apologize for this being late.  We had a very busy end of week and weekend, and I hurt my neck and back, so I haven't been able to post this until now.}

If you have a recipe on your blog that you consider a family favorite that you'd like to share, please comment below with a link to the recipe, and I'll make sure to pop on over and visit your site to check it out (and leave a comment), and hopefully some of my other readers will, too.

This month's Family Favorite recipe is Easy Pasta Salad.  This is simply a re-posting of my original Easy Pasta Salad recipe with a few tips and tricks added in.  This recipe is egg, nut, milk and fish-free (if all your ingredients are), and can be wheat and soy-free (see variations).  It is super simple and fast to make, and is a favorite at potlucks and family get-togethers.  You can customize it in so many ways, too!  You are sure to find at least one combination that will please you and yours!

Easy Pasta Salad

1 box (16 oz.) of your favorite egg-free noodles like elbow macaroni, tri-color rotini, etc.

(Please make sure that you pick a noodle that fits your individual allergen needs!  We always use a tri-color rotini unless we need it to be gluten-free, and then we go with a gluten-free rotini.)

1 bottle (16 oz.) of your favorite Italian dressing

(Please make sure that you pick an Italian dressing that fits your individual allergen needs!)

veggies of your choice in the amount of your choosing, chopped into bite-sized pieces (if needed), such as:

red onion, broccoli, carrots, green pepper, red pepper, yellow pepper, cucumber, squash, cauliflower, radishes, celery, fresh peas (snow or sugar snap or regular), fresh/cooked-and-cooled corn, cherry tomatoes

(Basically use any veggie that you think will taste good with Italian dressing and pasta that fits your allergen needs.  We normally go with red onion, carrot, a few different colors of peppers (generally green, red, yellow and orange), cucumber, cherry tomatoes and celery.)

1. Cook pasta according to desired doneness (I prefer al dente); drain.
      
2. Run the pasta under cold water until it is cool to the touch.
       
3. Combine pasta, veggies and Italian dressing (to taste) in a large bowl, and toss until all pasta and veggies are well-coated and veggies are evenly distributed in the pasta.  (Note: I use about a Cup of each veggie that I want to add to the pasta salad, but you can use as much or as little as you like.  Also, when adding the dressing, start with 1/3 to 1/2 the bottle of Italian dressing, taste, and add more if needed.)
        
4. Chill pasta salad or enjoy right away.  (Note: Pasta salad is best when allowed to sit overnight.)

Variations (Please keep all allergen needs in mind when using substitutions!):

• Wheat/Gluten-Free: Make sure to use a gluten-free Italian dressing (or make your own) and gluten-free pasta and make as directed.
     
• Soy-Free: Use a soy-free pasta and soy-free Italian dressing or make your own dressing (there are tons of recipes for them online) and make as directed.
     
• Seasonal Pasta Salad:  All you need to do is use or add the veggies that are in season to make this pasta salad seasonal.  You can use any combination you want in any amount you want, so have fun playing with flavor combinations! :)  I would not recommend using any veggie that is especially soft, though (i.e. avocado or anything cooked with the exception of corn) as it will definitely change how this pasta salad comes together, but even that is your call.  If you try it, let me know how it goes!  I'd love to know! :)
      
• Even More Options:  You can change the type of dressing, too, if you wish, to a Ranch, Balsamic, French, etc., if you can have them and don't like Italian.  You can even add cheese and/or nuts/seed and/or bite-sized pieces of cooked meat like ham, chicken, turkey, salami, pepperoni, etc. if you like them and can have them.  There are tons of options to choose from!  Have fun playing around with them! :)

See how easy and versatile this recipe is?  It literally takes less than 30 minutes to make from start to finish, and it is full of all kinds of glorious veggies!  If you want to get more veggies in your (or a family member's) diet, give this a try!  It may just be the recipe you're looking for!

I hope you will give this recipe a try soon and that it becomes a family favorite for you, too!