Pasta Salad For A Crowd Food

PASTA SALAD FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
• While pasta is boiling, steam broccoli, one bag at a time, in a microwave per directions on the package, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Rinse cooked pasta in a colander until completely cool. Return to the pot. Add broccoli, tomatoes, salad dressing, Cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix well. Refrigerate until chilled, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Serve cold.

CLASSIC PASTA SALAD (FOR A CROWD)

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente pasta. Drain and rinse with cold water until pasta is room temperature. Place pasta in a large bowl.
• Add cherry tomatoes, pepperoni, onion, bell pepper, mozzarella, parmesan, and olives to the bowl. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, add olive oil, vinegar, italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
• Pour vinaigrette over pasta salad, then toss to coat. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. Pasta salad will keep for 3-4 days, refrigerated in a sealed container. Pasta WILL continue to soak up the dressing the longer it sits, so it may need a splash of olive oil and vinegar if it has been sitting for several hours.

CLASSIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Strain pasta and run it under cold water to stop the cooking process; you don't want it to be mushy. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
• Add salad dressing, pepperoni, salami, Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, feta cheese, black olives, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion to the pasta; toss to combine.
• Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

PASTA SALAD FOR 100

Steps:

• Combine chopped veg. and chill.
• Boil pasta in water with a small amount of cooking oil.
• Drain well, and rinse with cold water.
• Drain again and pour into a large mixing bowl.
• Mix the dressing ingredients together.
• Stir the vegetables and dressing into the drained pasta.
• Chill, stir again before serving.

GRILLED BBQ CHICKEN PASTA SALAD FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Marinate the chicken breasts in the 1 cup BBQ sauce (or more) for up to 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, combine all dressing ingredients except for the BBQ sauce.
• Refrigerate until ready to dress the salad.
• This is an excellent all-purpose dressing that can be used for any potato or pasta salad.
• It will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.
• Grill chicken on a gas grill set to med-high for about 8 minutes a side until juices run clear, basting with more BBQ sauce as they cook.
• You can also use leftover cut up chicken or bake it in the oven.
• Set chicken aside to cool.
• Cook pasta in rapidly boiling salted water for 10 minutes or according to package directions.
• Drain and rinse with cold water.
• While the pasta cooks, cut up the vegetables for the salad and place in a large bowl.
• When the chicken is cool enough to handle, cut it into strips or cubes and place in the large bowl with the veggies.
• Add the cooked pasta to the bowl and mix well.
• Add enough dressing and additional BBQ sauce (around 1/2 cup or more to your liking) until the salad is dressed to your preferred consistency.
• Cover and chill for several hours or overnight.
• When time to serve, add more dressing or BBQ sauce as needed if the salad has dried out a little.

* CROWD PLEASER PASTA SALAD *

Steps:

• In a bowl add drained pasta, tomatoes, peppers, cheese and cucumbers.
• In carafe mix 1 italian dressing packets prepared as directed-with 3 Tablespoons water and 1/2 cup oil.
• Add to carafe, 1 packet of dry ranch dressing (NOT DIP)and add to pasta salad.
• Put in refrigerator overnight, salad will be dry when you take out the next morning. Add another italian dressing packet prepared as directed and 1 ranch dressing packet to bowl.

EASY PASTA SALAD FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients., Drain pasta and rinse in cold water; add to the spinach mixture. Toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA SALAD FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Boil pasta in salted water until al dente.
• Prepare vegetables as listed.
• Drain and rinse all canned items.
• Combine pasta, cheese, canned items, and fresh vegetables in a very large mixing bowl.
• Add 3/4 of the bottle of salad dressing ( I use Bernstein's Restaurant Recipe Italian) and stir to combine.
• Add parsley for extra color, add a splash of red wine vinegar (optional) to "brighten" the flavor.
• The next day, add the remaining salad dressing before serving, and stir thoroughly.