Description
This Kid Friendly Pasta Salad is a colorful and creamy dish that’s easy to customize with simple ingredients kids love. Featuring tender pasta combined with cubed cheddar cheese, sweet vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, corn, and a mild creamy dressing made from mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, and lemon juice, it’s perfect as a lunch, side dish, or for lunchboxes.
Ingredients
Pasta Salad
- 12 oz rotini or bow-tie pasta
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup sweet corn, drained
- ¼ cup diced red bell pepper
- ¼ cup sliced black olives (optional)
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the pasta according to package directions until tender but still slightly firm. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool and stop the cooking process.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, milk, lemon juice, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Combine pasta with ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, then add the cubed cheddar cheese, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, shredded carrots, sweet corn, diced red bell pepper, and optional sliced black olives.
- Add the dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta and vegetables mixture.
- Toss the salad: Gently toss everything together until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
- Chill before serving: Refrigerate the pasta salad for 20 to 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
Notes
- Use fun-shaped pasta such as shells, wheels, or bow ties to make the salad more appealing to children.
- Add diced ham, turkey, or cooked chicken for extra protein.
- Omit any vegetables your children don’t enjoy and substitute with their favorites.
- Keep the salad chilled for lunchboxes to ensure freshness and safety.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish, Lunch, Kid-Friendly
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
