Easy Pasta Salad For Two

This easy pasta salad recipe for two is the perfect side dish to serve when you are grilling out hot dogs and hamburgers. The light and cool flavors of the pasta salad pair perfectly with the hot grilled meat.

Best of all, it is a super easy recipe that is made in 20 minutes. But what I love most about this recipe is that it is versatile so that you can adjust the ingredients to fit your taste preferences.

Switch up the ingredients by choosing whatever vegetables that you have on hand. Or add cubed cheese instead of shredded cheese and throw in a few olives if you like them.

However, there is one ingredient that must remain in this dish. And of course that is the pasta itself!

Although you also have a choice when it comes to which type of pasta to use as well. I have tested a variety of pastas to see which one holds up the best.

I have a prefer to make pasta salad with a specific variety of pasta. However, you can choose to make yours with any of the varieties that I mention below.

What Type of Pasta Makes The Best Pasta Salad

After testing this recipe with various types of pasta I found that the short, spiral pasta varieties work best. There are three different shapes of spiral pasta noodles.

Fusilli, rotini and cavatappi are all great choices. The curves of the spiral pasta are the perfect medium to hold both the dressing and bits of vegetables that are scattered throughout.

In fact, the more complicated the shape, the better chance that the ingredients will stick to the surface. Although the size of the individual pasta noodles matters as well.

Because rotini noodles are the smallest of the spiral shaped noodles, I prefer to use them this easy pasta salad recipe. They are the perfect size for holding the diced vegetables in this recipe.

However, if you want to chop the vegetables in larger pieces, you may want to choose the slightly larger fusilli noodles or the longer cavatappi noodles.

Although other people also like to use farfalle (bow-tie), penne, or rotelle (wagon-wheels) as well. Therefore, the choice of the type of pasta that you use really comes down to personal preference.

However, if you new to making homemade pasta salad for two, I would highly recommend rotini pasta!

Tips For Making Pasta Salad

1. Do Not Use Fresh Pasta

Although I love to make Homemade Pasta when making hot dishes such as Spaghetti, Chicken Parmesan or Beef Tips & Noodles, for this recipe stick with dried pasta.

The reason is that fresh pasta is soft and is much more delicate than dried pasta. If you tried to use it in this easy pasta salad recipe for two it will become soggy and fall apart when tossed with dressing and other ingredients.

2. Slightly Undercook The Pasta

Because the pasta will absorb the dressing and the liquid that comes off the vegetables you need to make sure that the pasta isn’t overcooked. Otherwise the pasta will become too soft and fall apart when tossed.

To keep the pasta firm, yet tender, cook the pasta to al’ dente consistency. This will allow the pasta to hold up when it is coated in the dressing and also as it chills.

If you aren’t a fan of firm pasta, here is an alternative method to making sure that the pasta is tender enough to your liking. Cook the pasta in hot boiling water that has been salted.

Then cook the pasta 1 minute less than what the instructions state.

3. Don’t Pour Cold Water Over The Pasta

Although I used to run cold water over the drained pasta to stop the cooking process, there is another easy method that will ensure that the texture of the pasta salad for two turns out perfect every time.

Once the pasta is cooked to the desired tenderness quickly drain the pasta and then spread it in a single layer on a baking sheet sprayed or brushed with olive oil. This method will allow the pasta to quickly cool without sticking to each other.

Then add the noodles as instructed in the recipe below. However, be sure to add them at the right time (see tip #4.)

4. Add The Dressing Over Room Temperature Pasta

When it is time to pour the Italian dressing over the pasta salad, be sure to do it while the noodles are at room temperature.

Cold pasta won’t absorb the dressing as well. And hot or warm pasta will absorb it too quickly.

Therefore, for the best texture and taste it is best to add the dressing once the pasta has cooled to room temperature.

Easy Pasta Salad For Two

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 2/3 cup uncooked spiral pasta
• 1/4 cup peeled and diced cucumber
• 1/4 cup diced sweet red pepper
• 1/4 cup diced celery
• 1/4 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 6 slices pepperoni, chopped
• 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 teaspoon dry Ranch salad dressing mix
• 1/3 cup Zesty Italian salad dressing

Other Optional Ingredients or Frequent Ingredient Substitutions:

• sliced black olives
• sliced carrots
• chunks of cheddar, Mozzarella, Swiss cheese
• red onion
• ham
• green onion
• chives
• broccoli
• zucchini

INSTRUCTIONS

To make this easy pasta salad for two you must first cook the pasta. Do this by cooking the pasta according to package directions for al’ dente consistency.

Or if you like the pasta to be slightly more tender, cook the pasta according to the package directions for tender pasta minus 1 minute. Then immediately drain the pasta and then place it in single layer on a baking sheet brushed or sprayed with olive oil.

In a large bowl add the diced cucumber, red pepper and celery and mix to combine. Then add the diced pepperoni, shredded cheddar cheese and dry Ranch dressing mix to the bowl and toss to combine until the ingredients are well distributed.

Once the pasta is at room temperature (but not cold) add it to the bowl with the vegetables. Then drizzle the Italian dressing over the top of the noodles.

Toss until everything is coated and combined well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving for the best results.

There you have it, a great pasta salad recipe for two that you can make all summer long!

Enjoy! Mary

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