Description
A colorful and kid-friendly pasta salad featuring rotini or bowtie pasta mixed with fresh vegetables, shredded cheddar cheese, and a creamy tangy dressing. Perfect for lunchboxes, picnics, or a quick and nutritious meal that kids will enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked rotini or bowtie pasta, cooled
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced cucumber
- 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup diced carrots
- 1/4 cup sweet corn kernels
- 1/4 cup diced cooked ham or turkey (optional)
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Prepare the rotini or bowtie pasta according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled to stop the cooking process and avoid clumping.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, shredded cheddar cheese, diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, diced carrots, sweet corn kernels, and diced ham or turkey if using. Mix gently to distribute the ingredients evenly.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
- Toss the salad: Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Gently stir everything together until all ingredients are coated evenly with the dressing.
- Chill and serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Before serving, stir the salad again and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Notes
- This pasta salad is versatile and can be customized with other kid-friendly ingredients such as peas, diced bell peppers, or small cubes of cheese.
- For a lighter version, replace half of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt to reduce fat and add protein.
- Be sure to cool the pasta thoroughly to prevent the salad from becoming mushy.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
