The Best Pasta Salad
This is THE BEST Pasta Salad! I might be a little biased because this is my mom’s recipe and I’ve been eating it for more than 30 years. This pasta salad is filled with cheese, veggies, seasonings, pasta and is tossed in a zesty Italian dressing. So easy and superbly delicious!
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I really don’t know why this pasta salad is so good. It’s very easy and made with simple ingredients. I always thought I loved it so much because my mom made it for every occasion and we ate it all the time growing up. I would get so excited when there was a family get-together that called for a pasta salad dish.
My husband, and anyone’s who’s tried it, also raves about it’s deliciousness, so I realized it’s not just me. This combination of rotini pasta, chunky cheeses, veggies, zesty Italian dressing and seasoning is just amazing! I personally think it comes from the seasoning which is the McCormick’s Salad Supreme Seasoning mix.
Salad Supreme is the ultimate pasta salad seasoning. It contains paprika, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, celery seed, garlic powder, pepper, cayenne pepper, and Romano cheese. I’m pretty sure it’s made with a sprinkle of magic too. 😉
What you’ll need to make the Best Pasta Salad Ever
- 16 Oz box rotini (or bowtie) pasta
- Grape or cherry tomatoes
- 1 head raw broccoli florets
- 1 bell pepper, diced – I like to use half of a red and yellow pepper
- 2 cups cubed cheese, I personally use a combo of cheddar, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack or Swiss
- Optional-diced red onion
- 3 tbsp McCormick Perfect Pinch Salad Supreme Seasoning
- 1 bottle Wishbone Zesty Robusto Italian Dressing
Variations
You may have noticed that this pasta salad is meat-less. That’s how it’s always been made, so I’ve never missed the meat. However you could definitely add chunks of pepperoni, salami, turkey, or any other deli type meats.
You can change up the vegetables in this recipe, use anything you like. Try adding pepperoncini, sliced olives, shredded carrots, just as some ideas. Use any cheese you like. This is a great base recipe to start with and to add your personal twist.
How to make it
Cook your pasta in salted water according to the package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water.
Chop all the veggies and cheese into bite size pieces. Combine the vegetables, cheese, and drained pasta in a large mixing bowl.
Sprinkle in the Salad Supreme and add 3/4 of the bottle of Italian dressing. Give it a good mix.
Refrigerate at least 1 hour, overnight is best though so the flavors get a chance to meld together and the dressing soaks in. I usually prepare this pasta salad the day before I need it.
Before serving add in the remaining dressing and mix.
Perfect as a summer side dish for any occasion!
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Homemade McCormick’s Salad Supreme
If you want to make your own seasoning blend or cannot find it locally, you can easily make it yourself!
Homemade Salad Supreme Seasoning
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (use the shelf-stable kind for longest storage)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for a little kick)
Instructions:
- In a small bowl or spice jar, combine all ingredients.
- Use 3 tablespoons for the pasta salad recipe.
- Mix well and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months.
- Shake or stir before each use, as the Parmesan may settle.
- For a dairy-free version, omit the Parmesan or substitute with nutritional yeast.
More Summer Favorite Recipes
- Crock Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken
- Boat Dip
- Cucumber and Tomato Salad
- Nectarine Prosciutto Salad
- Dill Pickle Potato Salad
- Spike Lemonade Punch
- Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles
- Berry Angel Food Cake
- Caprese Pasta Salad
Video How To Make The Best Pasta Salad
The Best Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 16 ounce box rotini or bowtie pasta any short cut pasta works
- 1 tablespoon salt to salt the pasta water
- 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 1 head broccoli florets chopped small
- 1-2 bell peppers diced
- 2 cups Cheddar, Colby Jack, and Swiss cheese, cut into bite sized cubes (2 cups total with a combination of all 3 cheeses)
- 3 tablespoons McCormick Perfect Pinch Salad Supreme seasoning
- 15 ounce bottle Zesty Robusto Wishbone Italian dressing
Method
- Cook the pasta in salted water, according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained pasta, cheeses, and vegetables. Sprinkle in the Salad Supreme Seasoning and 3/4 of the bottle of Italian dressing. Mix well
- Chill in the refrigerator at least an hour, overnight is better!
- Before serving pour in the remaining dressing from the bottle and mix well.
Nutrition
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going to try this one for a family reunion!!!!!!!!!!1
I hope you love it!
I have made this 3x already great everytime thank you for your mother’s recipe .
Don S.
That makes me so happy!
Hi. I varied it. Used shredded carrot and cucumber instead of peppers. Shredded cheese as I didn’t have cubed. Added green onions and used east side Marios ranch. Didn’t have zesty Italian on hand. Yummy. Yummy. I will try zesty Italian next time because this is awesome recipe.
Sounds delicious! That’s why this pasta salad is so great, you can make it any way you like!
I am the same grew up with this dish but we added black olives and pepperoni and salami. My sisters are throwing me a baby shower next week and guess what I am bringing!! A nice summer dish for sure!!
Yum! It’s the perfect thing for so many occasions! Congrats on your baby!
Looks simple and elegant to serve in a party. I will make one for my husband’s birthday on the 22nd. It should be a blast.
Sounds wonderful! Hope he has the best birthday!
Is the McCormick salad seasoning the same as perfect pinch on the label?
yes
What size bottle of the Wishbone dressing do you use?
it’s the normal 15 ounce bottle
Planning to make this for a party next week. What size bottle of the zesty robusto dressing for 1x recipe?
it’s the normal 15 ounce bottle
I really want to make this for a Canada Day party! It looks delicious!
However, I cannot find the McCormicks Salad Seasoning!
Any suggestions on what other seasoning could be used?
Thanks so much!
you can make your own blend, mix these ingredients together and use 3 tablespoons. I’ll add it to the blog post as well: Ingredients:
1 ½ tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (use the shelf-stable kind), 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon poppy seeds, 1 teaspoon celery seed, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Delicious! Always a hit at our parties
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Made the recipe as it was written and it was a hit! The Mccormick Salad Supreme Seasoning really added a great flavor to the Pasta Salad. Adding to my recipe rotation. Thank-you Stephanie for another amazing recipe!
Can you please tell me the Correct Measurement for the Salad Supreme. Do you use # Tablespoons or 3 Teaspoons of the Salad Supreme Seas. You site is confusing, The wrong amount can Ruin it, Thank You.
If you tap the “jump to recipe” at the very top of the post under the title it will take you directly to the recipe card which is at the very bottom of the page. That’s where you can find all of the measurements and directions. Tbsp is tablespoon; this recipe is 3 tablespoons of the McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning. I have edited the recipe card to spell out tablespoon so there is no confusion in the future. Hope you love the pasta salad when you make it!