• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Momcrieff

Recipes | Gardening | DIY | My 1920's house

  • About Me
    • Contact me
  • My 100 year old home
  • Recipes
    • Four Ingredients or Less!
    • Appetizers
    • Main Dish
    • Soups
    • Baked Items
    • Desserts & Treats
  • Gardening
    • Spring Gardening
    • Fall Gardening
    • Gardening And Landscaping
    • Planters / Containers
    • Misc. & Chores
  • DIY
    • DIY
    • Valentine's Day
    • Spring
    • Fabulous Fall!
    • Christmas & Winter
  • Misc.
    • Vacations
      • Family Vacation
    • Home Ownership
  • Nav Social Menu

  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • my-1923-house
  • Easy Recipes
  • Gardening
  • DIY
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
  • Yum
  • ×

    Home » Easy Recipes » Salads and Dressings

    Pasta Salad Bar - Build your own pasta salad!

    Published: Jun 21, 2022 · Modified: Jan 18, 2023 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A pasta salad bar is a great idea whenever you have a group of people over.  This is of my favorite recipes for picky eaters.  One of the reasons I love the change of seasons is that I rotate some of our meal staples during different seasons.  This works so well with seasonal produce!  I often did this for family meals.  When the kids choose their own ingredients to make meals, they tend to eat them! It becomes the best pasta salad ever!

    Build Your Own Pasta Salad Bar!

    In my opinion, cold pasta salads are wonderful when you are grilling out. And this one, everyone can get exactly what they want!

    pasta salad with asparagus, tomatoes and cheese this to Pinterest

    A pasta bar is a wonderful summer meal or side.  It's your choice to serve this as a main meal or as a side.  What you put out as the options, and how much determines if this pasta salad recipe is the main meal or as a side.

    This is great to serve for Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day celebrations. Or any 'just because' or family celebrations.
    It is also nice having this during seasons other than summer. Anytime you have a group of people and need to serve a meal, this does not disappoint!
    Below, I provide many suggestions of items you can use. Please don't think you need to supply guests with everything. Have at least one item from each category and a few vegetable selections.

    Why I love serving this!

    Not only can the kids choose what to put into their salads that they like (I had them choose at least two veggies), but this can be catered to different eating preferences and food diets. So many people are eating gluten-free or whole wheat, provide a selection of pastas so folks can accommodate their dietary choices. If you know your guests have a strong preference for a certain eating plan, provide more of those foods. This easy pasta salad recipe is awesome because it gives vegetarians and vegans a delicious and flavorful variety to their meals.

    pasta salad with feta onions and olives

    This can also be a frugal (cheap meal). It is a great way to use up what you have in the fridge so what you have doesn't have anything go to waste.

    Ingredients:

    These are all suggestions and you can choose what you would like to offer. I broke the ingredient suggestions down by type.

    Pasta

    I usually offer two types of pasta when there is a crowd. Choose your favorites or select what works for the food preferences of your guests.
    Macaroni (elbow)
    Rotini
    Whole wheat
    Gluten free
    Small cheese tortellini

    Protein

    If the pasta salad is a side dish, I usually only offer eggs and a cheese or two as the protein selection. If it's a main meal, shrimp, cut up chicken or steak are great options.
    Grilled shrimp
    Cut up grilled chicken (rotisserie works great as a time saver or in the winter)
    sliced or quartered hard-boiled eggs
    Pepperoni bites (my kids loved those)

    Cheeses

    Feta
    Cubed cheddar
    Mozzarella (fresh small balls, or cubed)
    Parmesan (grated)

    Fresh Vegetables

    You can have so much fun with appetizing looking colors! Use what you have, what is in season or what you are growing in your garden! To make eating easy, try to cut or cube your veggies so they are of similar size.
    Cucumbers - sliced or cubed
    Tomatos (cherry tomatoes or full sized tomatoes cut into cubes)
    Carrots - sliced
    Onions - chopped my favorite to serve is red onion because on the color
    Red Pepper - cut up
    Green Pepper - cut up
    Radishes
    Asparagus (steamed to crisp tender and cooled)
    Zuchini
    Corn (boiled and sliced off the cob, cooked from frozen, or canned)

    Canned or Preserved Veggies and beans

    The bean are a nice vegan and vegetarian protein option.
    Black beans
    Chick peas
    Corn
    sliced or whole kalamata olives (seed removed!)

    Canned or Preserved Veggies and beans

    Added flavorings! Use a store bought salad dressing or one you've made yourself.
    I like serving this in a lidded jar so folks can shake up the dressing.
    Italian Dressing
    Greek Dressing
    Fresh basil
    It is also nice to offer a fresh chopped herb for a final flavor addition and a pretty color topping.
    Fresh parsley
    Fresh green onions
    Fresh chives.

    a planter with colorful plants
    FREE SIGN UP

    Looking for DIY ideas for beautiful planters? You will receive lots of ideas and inspiration. Plus, tutorials on how to plant planters.

    How to serve

    I usually end up putting all my soup and cereal bowls out. People can choose the size of salad they'd like. Larger bowls are great when this is a main meal and will allow people to toss thier salad.A hint, cook and cool the evening before. It makes serving this meal so much easier!
    Cook pasta according to package directions. Most noodle/pasta packages provide instructions to prepare pasta to an al dente stage (firmer). You do NOT want to overcook the pasta since it is the base for this salad.
    Pasta bar options.

    Instructions:
    Prepare and cool your pasta. I recommend doing this the night before! I like using elbow macaroni type pasta for this. But, use what you have! The most important thing is, do not overcook. After you have cooked it, drain it and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Place in a large bowl add some salad dressing or some olive oil and gently mix to gently coat the pasta. This will prevent your pasta from sticking as it cools.  To cool faster, place in the fridge.

    Decide on the toppings you would like. I have provided some suggestions above. But, the sky is the limit!
    It's a great idea to prep your veggies the night before too! That way this is easy to serve and you
    It all depends on what your guests like or, you can do a theme. For example, I love making a Greak type pasta salad. Easy to do by just selecting cucumbers, red onions, olives, and feta cheese. By all means swap out the dressing to Greek!

    Pasta bar - Greek themed pasta salad.

    Kids can easily enjoy this with some cubed cheese for protein. If it's just your family, cut up string cheese. Just make sure there are a few veggies that they like. And, tell them the rules - they can add cheese cubes and they need to add a vegetable (or two).

    Everyone can find something they like!  And, this is not an expensive option.  Look in your fridge and start from there : ) !

    Below is the printable recipe card.

    pasta salad options

    Pasta Salad Bar - Build your own pasta salad!

    A pasta salad bar is a great idea whenever you have a group of people over.  This is of my favorite recipes for picky eaters.  One of the reasons I love the change of seasons is that I rotate some of our meal staples during different seasons.  This works so well with seasonal produce!  I often did this for family meals.  When the kids choose their own ingredients to make meals, they tend to eat them!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Calories:
    Author: Susan Moncrieff

    Ingredients

    • Please note that I am offering quite a few selections for your salad bar. Choose just a few of your favorites and let your family and friends put together their own pasta salad!

    Pasta

    • I usually offer two types of pasta when there is a crowd. Choose your favorites or select what works for the food preferences of your guests.
    • Macaroni elbow
    • Rotini
    • Whole wheat
    • Gluten free
    • Small cheese tortellini

    Protein

    • If the pasta salad is a side dish I usually only offer eggs and a cheese or two as the protein selection. If it's a main meal, shrimp, cut up chicken or steak are great options.
    • Grilled shrimp
    • Cut up grilled chicken rotisserie works great as a time saver or in the winter
    • sliced or quartered hard-boiled eggs
    • Pepperoni bites my kids loved those

    Cheeses

    • Feta
    • Cubed cheddar
    • Mozzarella fresh small balls, or cubed
    • Parmesan grated

    Fresh Vegetables

    • You can have so much fun with appetizing looking colors! Use what you have what is in season or what you are growing in your garden! To make eating easy, try to cut or cube your veggies so they are of similar size.
    • Cucumbers - sliced or cubed
    • Tomatos cherry tomatoes or full sized tomatoes cut into cubes
    • Carrots - sliced
    • Onions - chopped my favorite to serve is red onion because on the color
    • Red Pepper - cut up
    • Green Pepper - cut up
    • Radishes
    • Asparagus steamed to crisp tender and cooled
    • Zucchini
    • Corn boiled and sliced off the cob, cooked from frozen, or canned

    Canned or Preserved Veggies and beans

    • The bean are a nice vegan and vegetarian protein option.
    • Black beans
    • Chick peas
    • Corn
    • sliced or whole kalamata olives seed removed!

    Dressings and other flavor boosters

    • Added flavorings! Use a store-bought salad dressing or one you've made yourself.
    • I like serving this in a lidded jar so folks can shake up the dressing.
    • Italian Dressing
    • Greek Dressing
    • Fresh basil
    • It is also nice to offer a fresh chopped herb for a final flavor addition and a pretty color topping.
    • Fresh parsley
    • Fresh green onions
    • Fresh chives.

    Instructions

    • Prepare and cool your pasta. I recommend doing this the night before! I like using elbow macaroni type pasta for this. But, use what you have! The most important thing is, do not overcook. After you have cooked it, drain it and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Place in a large bowl add some salad dressing or some olive oil and gently mix to gently coat the pasta. This will prevent your pasta from sticking as it cools.  To cool faster, place in the fridge.
    • Decide on the toppings you would like. I have provided some suggestions above. But, the sky is the limit!
    • It's a great idea to prep your veggies the night before too! That way this is easy to serve and you
    • It all depends on what your guests like or, you can do a theme. For example, I love making a Greak type pasta salad. Easy to do by just selecting cucumbers, red onions, olives, and feta cheese. By all means swap out the dressing to Greek!

    Notes

    This is a great meal when trying to use up what you have in the fridge.  It's a great way to use up those odds and ends that aren't enough to make a family meal!  Use what you have.  Cut up string cheese.  Make

     

    Other Family Favorites

    Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
    Summer Watermelon Salad

    Pin this to your Pinterest board!

    Originally published May 14, 2016. Updated many times : ).

    More Easy Recipes

    • Monkey Bread with Rhodes dough
    • Easy Ham & Swiss Cheese Casserole
    • 3 ingredient blueberry yogurt muffins
    • Easy Vegetable Soup with cabbage
    649 shares
    • Share2
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Maria

      June 21, 2022 at 1:21 pm

      5 stars
      Nice idea for summer party

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    I'm Susan Moncrieff! I love sharing easy recipes, especially those that take less than 30 minutes and have less than 5 ingredients. I'm passionate about gardening and creating flower planters. My home is 100 years old and sometimes you will see it in my posts! It was a true fixer upper and I love it!

    More about me →

    Subscribe to Momcrieff

    Trending Articles...

    • Peanut Butter Cookies - 3 Ingredients
    • Raised Garden Beds
    • 2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins
    • Knob and tube wiring
    • Shortbread cookies
    • How to plant flower pots
    • Banana chocolate muffins - 3 ingredients.
    • Three Ingredient Peach Cobbler

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Susan Moncrieff
    • Advertising and Disclosures
    • Contact

    Categories

    • My 100 year old home
    • Easy Recipes
    • Gardening
    • DIY
    • Misc

    Most Popular

    • 25 Outdoor Planters
    • My Raised Garden Beds
    • My white kitchen remodel 
    • Knob and tube wiring
    • Three Ingredient Peach Cobbler
    • Deconstructed cabbage rolls

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023

    © Copyright 2020 Momcrieff · All Rights Reserved ·

    649 shares
    • 2