Chefs Pasta Salad Recipes

BEST POTLUCK PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a large stockpot with water and bring to a boil over HIGH heat. Salt the water with about a tablespoon of salt. Add pasta and cook until just al dente (according to package instructions).
• Drain pasta and toss with a light drizzle of olive oil. Set aside to cool slightly.
• While pasta is cooling, chop tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. Set aside in a large mixing bowl and add capers to the bowl.
• Add dressing ingredients, except for olive oil, to a bowl and whisk to combine. While whisking, slowly pour in the olive oil, and continue whisking until completely combined. Taste and adjust salt and pepper accordingly.
• Add the cooked pasta and crumbled feta cheese to the large bowl with the vegetables. Pour dressing over the top and toss to combine.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours, up to 2 days.
• Serve cold or at room temperature, and enjoy!

CHEF'S SALAD

Steps:

• Tear the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and put into a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss with 1/2 cup of the dressing. Divide the lettuce among 4 large individual serving bowls. Arrange the cheese, meats, eggs, and avocado, like the spokes of a wheel, on top of each salad. Scatter the tomatoes, cucumbers, and croutons on top. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and pass the remaining dressing at the table.

CHEF JOHN'S CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk 1 cup mayonnaise, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl until well blended; whisk in sugar. Stir in celery, red bell pepper, carrot, onions, and jalapeno and poblano peppers. Refrigerate until macaroni is ready to dress.
• Bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain but do not rinse. Allow macaroni to drain in a colander about 5 minutes, shaking out moisture from time to time. Pour macaroni into large bowl; toss to separate and cool to room temperature. Macaroni should be sticky.
• Pour dressing over macaroni and stir until dressing is evenly distributed. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or, ideally, overnight to allow dressing to absorb into the macaroni.
• Stir salad before serving. Mix 1 tablespoon mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon water into salad for fresher look.

PASTA SALAD WITH TOMATOES, CUCUMBERS AND GRILLED GREEN ONION-CRUSHED OLIVE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to high.
• Toss the scallions in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the scallions until the bulbs are tender and the greens are well charred, 6 to 8 minutes, turning every couple of minutes. Set aside to cool. When the scallions are cooled, chop them finely.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package instructions.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar and mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil. Add the scallions and toss to coat.
• When the pasta is finished cooking, drain and add to the vinaigrette. Add the olives, tomatoes, red onion, provolone, dill, parsley and arugula. Toss to combine.

CLASSIC CHEF'S PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Pour pasta (from box) into 3-quart saucepan 2/3 full of boiling water. Gently boil uncovered 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta. Rinse with cold water; drain well.
• In large bowl, stir together seasoning (from box), mayonnaise and Dijon mustard to make dressing.
• Add pasta, cheese, chicken, ham and spinach to dressing mixture in bowl; toss to gently coat. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until serving.

CHEF JOHN'S ANTIPASTO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil. Cook fusilli in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain thoroughly in a colander, but do not rinse; stir to release heat. Allow to cool in the colander for 5 to 10 minutes.
• While pasta cools, add garlic and anchovy to a large mixing bowl. Use a whisk or fork to crush the anchovy and garlic into a paste. Add Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano, and thyme and whisk to combine. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking constantly, until dressing is smooth, thick, and coats the back of a spoon.
• Pour cooled pasta into the bowl of dressing and toss with a large spoon until well coated.
• Stir red onion, jalapeno, pepperoncini, red pepper, artichokes, black olives, green olives into the salad. Add salami, pepperoni, and ham; mix thoroughly. Add Provolone cheese. Mix with a spoon thoroughly to combine. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, 3 to 12 hours.
• Remove from the refrigerator, add chopped parsley and tomatoes, and mix thoroughly. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed.

JAMIE OLIVER'S BEST PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil.
• Throw in the pasta and garlic and simmer for about 5 minutes or until al dente, and drain.
• Put the garlic to one side for the dressing.
• Put the pasta in a bowl.
• Chop the tomatoes, olives, chives, basil and cucumber into pieces about half the size of the pasta and add to the bowl.
• Squash the garlic cloves out of their skins and pound in a pestle and mortar.
• Add the vinegar, oil and seasoning.
• Drizzle this over the salad, adding a little more seasoning to taste.

THE PERFECT PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, rice vinegar, salt, sugar, and cayenne together in a large bowl for about 30 seconds. Whisk in olive oil in 1-teaspoon increments until emulsified. Whisk in tarragon, dill, parsley, chives, and thyme. Remove and reserve 1/2 of the dressing in a separate small bowl.
• 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. Add snow peas, carrots, peas, and broccoli about 2 minutes before the pasta is done. Drain pasta and veggies well, but do not rinse.
• Transfer hot pasta mixture to the vinaigrette in the large mixing bowl and toss well to combine. Let rest for 5 minutes and toss again. Toss occasionally until the mixture is almost room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, green onions, salt, and the reserved dressing and toss well.
• Wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours before serving. Toss and adjust seasoning before serving.

THE NAKED CHEF'S PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil; add pasta and garlic. Simmer for about 5 minutes or al dente, and drain.
• Mix the EVOO to the white wine vinegar while whisking until blended. Pour over pasta.
• Add all other ingredients.