Help! I need to make a really good and simple pasta salad for this weekend. Any recipes?

My daughter is attending a gathering over her coaches house and I thought about having her take a pasta salad. The recipe I usually make is more for the adult taste. The kids are teenagers and can be really picky!!Help! I need to make a really good and simple pasta salad for this weekend. Any recipes?
here's one to try... boil some tri-color spiral pasta, cut up some mild cheddar cheese ( the block form ), a green pepper, and some pepperoni... toss that all together and add some classic italian salad dressing........ this is a hit with my fussy teenage daughters. Make sure pasta is cool first before toss with the rest of the ingredients.......... good luckHelp! I need to make a really good and simple pasta salad for this weekend. Any recipes?
300g pasta (i.e. macaroni, spiral, bowtie, small shells)


1medium cucumber


1/2 small onion


1/2 cup mayonnaise (plus have a bit more in case you want it more creamy, I go by taste so its hard to measure)


salt and pepper





boil pasta till tender and drain, keep in a bowl of ice cold water





while pasta is boiling, slice cucumber in half lengthwise, and use a spoon to scoop out all of the seeds. then slice the cucumber (NOT lengthwise this time) into paper thin slices-- paper thin so it will take some effort!





then do the same with the onion, paper thin slices.





take a bowl that is larger than the amount of cucumber slices you have and fill with cold water and a few TBS of salt. throw the cucumbers in there and swirl around for about 1 minute. Then scoop them out and squeeze squeeze squeeze all the water out and set on a plate.





do the same with the onion slices.





then drain your pasta of the cold water and throw everything together (except leave about a third of the cucumbers out at first just in case there are too many cucumbers), adding more cucumber,mayo, salt, and pepper to taste.





if you wish you can also chop up a boiled egg finely and throw it in the mix.





enjoy!
Chicken pasta salad


medium sea shell noodles (1 pkg) cooked


1 large can chicken or left over chicken cut in cubes


2 green onions chopped finely


1 can sliced black olives


1/2 cup frozen peas thawed


2 celery stalks chopped finely


1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese cut into small cubes


2 tsp poultry seasoning


salt and pepper to taste


mayonnaise to your liking ( I never measure I go by looks)





cook the noodles according to package directions, drain and rinse in water. shake off excess water and place in a bowl, add the other ingredients and mix thoroughly...chill


I make tuna salad the same way except I substitute the poultry seasoning with 2 tsp dill weed and I also add 1/2 cup ranch dressing.


here is another one I made up and the kids love (don't have a name for it...lol)


2 pks cheese tortellini cooked according to directions


1/2 pound mozzerella cheese cubbed


1 pkg pepperoni slices (larger package)


1 can black olives drained


cherry tomatoes


2 green onions chopped


1 sm. green pepper chopped


2 cups of your favorite Italian dressing (our fav is Newman's Own)


cook tortellini according to pkg. directions (be careful not to over cook they will fall apart!) add remaining ingredients and toss with salad dressing, chill in refrig overnight mixing it every once in a while.
PASTA SALAD





Spaghetti or pasta twirls


Broccoli flowerets, raw


Cauliflower, raw


Radishes


Green onions


Cucumbers


Celery


Salt


Salad seasoning


1 bottle Italian dressing





Cook spaghetti or pasta twirls until done. Drain completely. Cut up the rest of the ingredients and add to pasta. Mix well. Add salt, salad seasoning and Italian dressing. Mix again and put in refrigerator. Best when made ahead.
the one i make everyone loves it........in 7tbsp to 6 tbsp mayonnaise......add 3 tbsp milk(cold)...whisk well...add 1 and 1/2 tbsp ketchup......1/2 tsp sugar......whisk well....... add a dash of mustrad sauce if you want a tangy taste....add more ketchup if you like.....season with salt and pepper.......





mix in pasta,boiled cut veggies like potato,carrot and corn and green peas...add boiled chick peas......boliled shredded chciken it tastes really good!......hope you try!...best of luck!
You will boil any kind of pasta.You will mix mayonnaise with ketchup and a little bit mustard. In this you will add little pieces of cheese,hum,corn. Then put it on the pasta and let it for a while in the fridge.
One of the restaurants in our food court makes a great pasta salad. As with most food, you always need to season to taste. If it's bland to you, it will more than likely be bland to those tasting it.





Their recipe consists of:


elbow macaroni (boil w/ salt so the noodles absorb more flavoring, or use chicken broth)


mayo


corn (canned)


diced tomato


cubed ham


chopped green onion (teens may not want this)





So you can add as much or as little as you like of each item. I also suggest using onion powder. Many people do not realize what a difference onion powder can have on a meal.


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Another idea is to buy the pasta salad in a box, the Ranch %26amp; Bacon flavor and add some shredded cheddar cheese.
Zesty Chicken-Pasta Salad





1 (8-ounce) package elbow macaroni


1 (13-ounce) bottle peppercorn-Ranch dressing


2 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken


1 (9-ounce) package frozen sweet peas, thawed


1 (2 1/4-ounce) can sliced ripe olives, drained


1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved


Salt to taste





Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water.





Stir together macaroni and remaining ingredients; chill at least 1 hour.