Easy Pasta Salad with Mayo, Lemon, and Basil

User Reviews

5.0

3 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    30 mins

  • Additional Time

    2 hrs

  • Total Time

    2 hrs 30 mins

  • Servings

    6 people

  • Calories

    417 kcal

  • Course

    Side Dish, Salad

  • Cuisine

    American

Easy Pasta Salad with Mayo, Lemon, and Basil

Full of fresh, flavorful ingredients, this easy pasta salad recipe is a popular side dish for picnics, potlucks and cookouts!

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Ingredients

Servings

FOR THE SALAD

  • 8 ounces uncooked medium shells or other short pasta (such as elbows, ditalini, rotini, or penne)
  • ½ cup diced broccoli florets
  • ½ cup frozen peas, thawed
  • ½ cup finely diced sweet red bell pepper
  • ½ cup diced cucumber
  • ¼ cup sliced green onions

FOR THE DRESSING

  • 1 cup mayonnaise (I prefer Duke's brand)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil leaves
  • 1 small clove garlic, finely minced or grated (or sub with ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley
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Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions, adding the broccoli florets to the pot of boiling water during the final 30 seconds of cooking. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside to cool completely.
  2. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, broccoli, peas, red bell pepper, cucumber and green onion. In a separate small bowl, prepare the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, basil, garlic, sugar, ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper.
  3. Pour half of the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Store the remaining dressing in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
  4. Just before serving, toss with reserved dressing to moisten. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • Tip: Thaw the peas quickly by placing the frozen peas in a colander. When you drain the pasta and broccoli florets, pour the hot pasta and water over the peas in the colander. They will thaw almost instantly when the hot pasta hits them!

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1/6 of the recipe Calories 417kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 33g (11%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 29g (45%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 16mg (5%) Sodium 244mg (10%) Potassium 203mg (6%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 603IU (12%) Vitamin C 31mg (34%) Calcium 23mg (2%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 417 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/6 of the recipe
Calories 417kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 33g 11%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 29g 45%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 16mg 5%
Sodium 244mg 10%
Potassium 203mg 4%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 603IU 12%
Vitamin C 31mg 34%
Calcium 23mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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5.0

3 reviews
Excellent

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