Description

This vibrant Tri-Color Rotini With Cherry Burst pasta salad is a stress-free potluck contribution or delightful weeknight meal, offering irresistible creamy-sweet-tangy flavor. It’s perfect for busy families, potluck hosts, or easy meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

1 box (12-16 oz) tri-color rotini
1 cup mayonnaise, full-fat recommended
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
0.5 cup red onion, finely diced
1 cup celery, finely diced
0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp sugar
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Cook Rotini: Bring a large 6-quart stockpot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add rotini and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water immediately to stop cooking and cool quickly.
Prepare Vegetables: While pasta cooks and cools, halve cherry tomatoes, finely dice red onion and celery, and chop fresh parsley.
Whisk Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
Combine Ingredients: Add cooled rotini, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, celery, and chopped parsley to the dressing. Gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. For best taste, chill 2 hours or more, or even overnight.

Notes

Premium options include organic mayonnaise or gluten-free rotini. Budget-friendly swaps: store-brand mayo or dried parsley (use 1/3 fresh amount). For best flavor, use summer cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley. For quick prep, cook pasta and chop veggies ahead. For a healthier version, use light mayo or a mayo-yogurt blend and add extra vegetables. Ensure pasta is al dente, thoroughly drained, and fully cooled to avoid mushy or watery salad. Adjust seasoning (salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard) to taste for optimal flavor.

Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Mixing
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1.5 cups (200 g)
Calories: 400 calories
Sugar: 5 g
Sodium: 550 mg
Fat: 20 g
Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 16.5 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 38 g
Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 7 g
Cholesterol: 15 mg

Keywords: pasta salad, rotini, cherry tomatoes, easy meal, potluck, creamy, summer, quick, make-ahead, vegetarian