

In the summer, it doesn’t get much better than dinner off of the grill and a side of homemade macaroni salad. This macaroni salad recipe is quick and easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. Or roast your chickpeas for extra crunch.Macaroni Salad with egg, sweet pickles and a creamy dressing is a delicious side dish that’s perfect for summer BBQ’s and potlucks.

Swap out the arugula for spinach, or leave it out altogether if you prefer a higher pasta: veggie ratio.Fresh oregano would be lovely in place of the mint in this salad, and thyme would also be a great addition. Try a caprese combo. Use halved mini mozzarella balls in place of the feta.To make this recipe more of a Greek pasta salad, add kalamata or black olives and a half cup of thinly sliced red onion. Make it gluten-free! Use gluten-free pasta or quinoa in place of traditional noodles.Make it vegan! Use olives or sun dried tomatoes in place of the feta.This pasta salad is fantastic as-is, but feel free to change it up to match your tastes or the ingredients in your pantry.

Add more lemon if you prefer a tangier salad, toss in more greens if you’re all about the veggies, and always, always salt to taste. Like most salad recipes, this one is super flexible, so be sure to taste and adjust it to your liking before serving. The pine nuts will keep their crunchy texture and the herbs will be extra fresh, pretty, and flavorful.

Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water.Making this recipe is a breeze! Just follow these simple steps: The dressing is easy to make: it’s a zesty mix of olive oil, lemon, garlic, Dijon, herbs & seasonings – I like to use herbes de Provence but Italian seasoning would be equally good in its place. This recipe is easy and fresh – along with the pasta, I toss in juicy cherry tomatoes, tangy feta cheese, a generous handful of arugula, chickpeas for protein, pine nuts & little cucumbers for crunch, and lots of fresh parsley and basil. I’ve made many pasta salads before (see here and here), but I realized that I didn’t have a really good classic pasta salad with a vinaigrette dressing on the site. Note: if you do decide to make this in advance, toss on some whole basil leaves before serving to make your salad instantly prettier. I took extra care to make sure that all of this week’s recipes are not just easy, but also easy to make in advance… because I totally get that you don’t want to be futzing with your salad when you could be spending time outside with your friends.
BEST MACARONI PASTA SALAD RECIPE FULL
It comes together in no time, it’s full of fresh ingredients, and it packs a flavorful punch. Today’s recipe is a picnic-perfect pasta salad! Every cookout needs a great pasta salad, and this is the one that I’ll be making all summer long.
