5.0 from 3 votes
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!
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
Ingredients
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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Just before serving, toss with reserved dressing to moisten. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Cup of Yum
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
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
% 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.