Bright, Fresh, and Full of Flavor: The Ultimate Jar Salads You’ll Crave All Year Long!

If you’re looking for a healthy, easy salad recipes that pack a little more punch than plain salad, these jar salads are a real winner!

These high-protein mason jar salads are always a delight to see in the fridge. I sometimes wrap a plastic fork around the top with some twine and share them.

I love using 16 oz wide-mouth jars for making jar salads, storing leftovers like SOUP, making pickled vegetables, and so many more uses.

And these leakproof lids work well when we go camping, you don’t want any liquids leaking as things get rattled around on the road.

Ingredients

• Pearl couscous (another small pasta to use orzo, ditalini, or elbows)
• quinoa (I used red quinoa)
• chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans)
• cooked diced chicken
• olives (black olives or kalamata olives)
• cucumbers (sliced and cut into quarters)
• tomatoes (small tomatoes or larger tomatoes, diced)
• feta cheese, cubed
• Add mint, chopped greens, and diced red onion if desired

Green Goddess Dressing is so yummy and just about the prettiest green ever!

And I’m listing the yummiest Greek Dressing below.

Using an immersion blender to combine salad dressing will emulsify it, creating a silky smooth and creamy salad dressing.

*Add an egg into the salad dressing to make it extra thick and creamy.

Greek Salad Dressing

• 3/4 cup oil (I use avocado oil)
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• pinch coarse kosher salt and black pepper

Add in some falafel for a fun Greek version. Another option is to add this couscous.

These salads look so appetizing!

All layered and pretty, grab-and-go meals are the secret to eating healthy when life gets busy. Whether you’re headed to the office, wrangling kids at home, heading to the beach, or just trying to keep your week on track, mason jar salads make eating simple, satisfying, and seriously delicious.

All the ingredients will be packed into glass jars or the container of your choice.

Don’t forget the salad dressing. I place the dressing in 2-oz containers.

I use 2-cup glass jars, go ahead and use a 3-cup jars if you want more room to shake them.

I use this mini tart shaper to press down items in the jar to level the ingredients.

You can eat them out of the jar or pour them out into a bowl.

The flavor possibilities are endless!

Greek recipes are some of my all-time favorites.

If I see the word KABOB, I have no self-control and must give it a try.

Greek Pasta Salad recipe here, mix it in a bowl or layer it up in these jars for the best meal prep!

More Greek Inspired Recipes:

• Pickled Turnips
• Mediterranean Marinated Chicken
• Whipped Feta Dip
• Greek Chicken Breasts
• Greek Spiral Cucumber Salad
• Quinoa Tabbouleh
• Greek Pasta Salad
• Greek No-Mayo Potato Salad
• Greek Chicken Meatballs
• Greek Chicken Salad + Tomato Dressing
• Sour Cream Chicken Thighs

When will you be making these mason jar salads? If you have leftover cooked pearl couscous or quinoa, go right ahead and freeze it for next time.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

• Make-ahead friendly – stays crisp for 4-5 days in the fridge.

• Protein-packed thanks to quinoa and couscous.

• Customizable – switch up the veggies or grains to match your mood.

• Perfect for lunch on the go or a quick dinner.

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Jar Salads

Say goodbye to lunch stress and hello to your new favorite meal prep hack, salads in a jar. Make these Green Goddess and Greek Jar Salads with quinoa and pearl couscous or other tiny pasta.

Course Main Course, Salad

Cuisine American, Greek

Keyword chicken, pasta salad, vegetables

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Author Diane Schmidt - createdbydiane.com

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups Pearl couscous or small pasta to use orzo, ditalini, or elbows
• 1 cup quinoa any color
• 1 16 oz can chickpeas/garbanzo beans)
• 1 1/2 lbs cooked diced chicken
• 1 cup sliced olives, black or Kalamata olives
• 2 cucumbers, sliced and cut into quarters
• 1 cup tomatoes, small tomatoes sliced or larger tomatoes diced if desired
• 4 oz feta cheese, diced/cubed, or crumbled
• OPTIONAL: chopped fresh mint, chopped greens/lettuce, and diced red onion

Instructions

• Gather your jars (or container of choice), lids and forks if needed
• Cook couscous according to directions.
• Cook quinoa according to directions.
• Drain and rinse chickpeas
• All other items should be ready to add (cut any other items you'll be adding)
• Start adding items to each jar and press down with a long spoon or tart shaper, creating the layers.
• Place dressing in small containers and place them on top for easy transport.
• Add the lids, tie on the forks if desired with twine or ribbon.
• Place in the fridge until ready to serve. Enjoy!

The post Make-Ahead Magic: Jar Salads and Pasta Salads for Stress-Free Meals first appeared on Created by Diane.

Oh, the many reasons I love this pasta salad. First of all full of veggies, second it comes together quickly making it great for meal prepping food for the week. Third it tastes amazing. It’s one of those recipes you wish you had sooner. I love Mexican food and I’m always looking for a side dish to prep ahead of time that will go with empanadas, tacos, and carne asada.

Pasta salad itself has been for many years be sure to take a look at:

• Classic macaroni salad
• Blt macaroni salad
• Greek pasta salad
• Pepperoni pizza macaroni salad
• Bbq chicken macaroni salad
• Mexican corn macaroni salad

This recipe is not only bursting with fresh flavor it is so colorful, which makes it the perfect summer pasta salad to bring to cookouts, parties, and BBQs.

You’ll need:

• pasta
• black beans
• tomatoes
• peppers
• black olives
• cilantro
• red onion
• cotija cheese
• jalapenos

Now onto the sauce:

the secret is always in the sauce, the sauce is what pulls the whole recipe together, keeps the pasta salad from drying out, and creates a flavor profile that will have you diving your fork in for more.

• sour cream
• mayonnaise
• taco seasoning

This creamy taco pasta salad has a great sauce without being overly heavy tasting. The sour cream and mayo combo on this is perfect. Other options are to use Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream. You can make homemade mayo to make the sauce. Add a dash or two of hot sauce, to make the sauce spicier!

Add some fresh lime juice squeezed over the pasta salad for some zesty fresh flavor!

With all the fresh flavors in this Mexican Pasta Salad, this will go well with summer cookouts. Grill up some Carne Asada, Pollo Asada, or make plenty of Carnitas, and serve up this tasty side dish.

This taco salad without meat is the perfect side dish, a vegetarian option, and a real crowd pleaser.

I prefer making my own taco seasoning for a couple reasons.

I get to control the salt, which I don’t add to the mix, I add salt as needed to the recipe.

Tell me I’m not the only one who loves a delicious pasta salad.

There really are so many reasons for that love…

the fresh ingredients, not too time-consuming, and can be eaten for days or great for a party (that may be the best part)

Be sure to grab my taco seasoning recipe. I’ve tried many store bought varieties, but I really do prefer to make my own.

I put some of the pasta salad into containers, I knew I wanted to have one the next day and other were a couple others. So anyone who opens the fridge knows they are up for grabs. My non-vegetable eater (ok they eat like 3 vegetables) really like it, and I’m telling you, this recipe is jam packed with veggies. I used yellow and orange peppers, so I added peppers to the picky eater veggie approved list. New veggies for the win, and raw… interesting. That goes to prove you never know what someone will like. And my opinion on a picky eaters is just keep trying to give them options. By the way, the picky eater is not young, FYI they are in their 20s and I’m always happy to hear they are enjoying new items.

Add grilled corn for a nice flavor to this meatless taco pasta salad. Add cooked diced chicken to make it a protein packed meal!

NOTE: If you mix everything in the sauce it will not look like bright color toppings, I suggest you mix the pasta with the sauce, then layer on the topping to keep it pretty!

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Taco Pasta Salad

Get ready to dive into this fresh flavored pasta salad with all sorts of Mexican flavors. Colorful and perfect for dinner or a party!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword pasta,, vegetables, vegetarian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 12 minutes minutes

Total Time 22 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Author Diane Schmidt – createdbydiane.com

Ingredients

• 1 lb pasta reduce carbs by using 1/2 lb pasta
• 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 6 oz can black olives sliced
• 1 cup diced peppers, yellow/orange baby peppers or bell peppers
• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 12 pieces cilantro stems and leaves, chopped
• 2-4 tablespoons cotija cheese
• 1 whole jalapeno, diced (optional) remove seeds for less spice
• 3/4 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup is 6 oz
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup is 6 oz
• 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
• pinch salt and pepper to taste I prefer coarse kosher salt and coarse black pepper

Instructions

• Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and soak in cold water for 5 minutes, drain
• In a bowl, prepare sauce, mix sour cream and mayo with taco seasoning. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Cut/prep all remaining ingredients, beans, tomatoes, peppers, olives, onion, cilantro, jalapeno (if using) and crumble the cheese.
• Blot pasta with paper towels if it's really wet, so the sauce with stick to the pasta.
• Choose to chill pasta then mix the remaining ingredients before serving. Or you can mix it all together, I like this recipe to remain colorful and place the remaining ingredients in a separate container and layer the ingredients before serving.
• Keep chilled until serving.

Notes

If you want more “sauce”  add an additional 1/4 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup mayo and 1 tablespoon taco seasoning. This comes in handy if you make it ahead of time and certain varieties of pasta absorb more sauce than others.

The post The Ultimate Taco Pasta Salad Recipe first appeared on Created by Diane.

I’m all about pasta salad, just saying those words makes my mouth water.

This is a fun twist on Caesar Salad, it turns it into a tasty meal.

This pasta salad is more than pasta, it includes salad… which you don’t typically find leafy greens in pasta salad recipes. I use Romaine lettuce, kale is another great option.

This recipe revolves around this easy homemade Creamy Caesar Dressing it’s one of my tasty go-to salad dressing recipes.

Let’s start with the main pasta salad ingredients

• Romaine lettuce
• shaved Romano or Parmesan Cheese
• Croutons
• Homemade Creamy Caesar Dressing
• pasta
• cooked chicken (grilled, sauteed, or rotisserie chicken breast)

Depending on how many servings you’re looking for this recipe can be easily customized, I made 4 servings with 1/2 lb of pasta, you can easily add the whole pound and some more salad dressing to make more filling servings or additional servings.

This has become one of my go-to pasta salad recipes. It takes minutes to prep, it’s great for making lunches ahead of time. It comes together so easily you can make it if someone stops by and you’re sitting and chatting and decide to make some lunch!

Adding cooked chicken to this recipe is just perfect for when you want that added protein a meal.

Get ready to dive your fork into this deliciousness!

BIGGEST tip when making this pasta salad- do not toss the lettuce in the dressing. It will wilt the greens and they’ll become soggy. You’ll want to keep the lettuce as crisp as possible. And you can even enjoy this the next day. Super-Bonus! The croutons will get less crisp if they are in the container for a leftover, it’s often better to place them in a bag and put that into the container so they stay crunchy when eating it at a later time.

Pasta salads that have been refrigerated develop a deeper flavor.

To do that for this recipe, mix the pasta with some dressing and refrigerate it, you can cut and prep out the other items and keep them separate, and mix just before serving. That way you can add some additional salad dressing if needed. It’s also nice to drizzle some Caesar Dressing over the top of the final dish too.

This recipe can certainly be enjoyed when just made! Be sure to soak the pasta in cold water for 3 minutes, so the pasta is cold. Then blot the pasta dry with paper towels so the salad dressing won’t slip off! Or place the pasta in a salad spinner!

More great summer salad style recipes to try

• potato salad
• macaroni salad

If you’d like more info on enjoying resistant starch… and reasons why pasta get better once completely chilled, read this.

Add this to your meal prep for fun lunches, to take to the park, or beach, or to drop by to see a friend. If you’re not serving immediately do not add the croutons, place them in a bag and tuck them inside the container when you take it out of the fridge to keep them crunchy.

Be sure to check out more pasta salad recipes here:

• Greek Pasta Salad
• Green Goddess Pasta Salad
• Feta Basil Balsamic Pasta Salad
• Creamy Lemon Pasta Salad
• Pesto Zucchini Pasta Salad

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Caesar Pasta Salad

Your favorite Caesar Salad turned into a meal with chicken and pasta, totally delicious! And tips for it to stay crisp for meal prep.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Author Diane Schmidt – createdbydiane.com

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound Cellentani pasta or similar spiral pasta use a lb if you want more pasta
• 6-8 large romaine lettuce leaves chopped
• 1-1 1/2 lbs cooked chicken breast, chopped grilled, sauteed, or rotisserie chicken breast
• 1/3 cup Romano or Parmesan Cheese, shaved additional 1 oz grated cheese for dressing if desired
• pinch salt and pepper to taste you'll add to both the dressing then the pasta salad
• 1 cup homemade creamy caesar dressing recipe follows
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic or garlic paste
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1/2- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 4 dashes hot sauce for zing

Instructions

• Prepare the pasta according to package directions, and drain.
• Soak in cold water for 3 minutes, to completely chill the pasta.
• Prepare the dressing while the pasta cooks.
• Mix the sour cream, mayo, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and salt and pepper until blended. (for extra cheesy dressing add 1 oz grated Romano or Parmesan Cheese.
• Blot the pasta dry with a paper towel so the dressing will coat that pasta and not "slip" off. Add 1/2 the dressing to the pasta and stir well.
• In a medium bowl, add 1/2 the dressing to the pasta and stir well. Add more dressing as needed as desired.
• If serving immediately mix a couple of tablespoons dressing with the chicken and stir that into the pasta, stir in the chopped lettuce, top with grated cheese and croutons, salt and pepper, and serve.
• I usually prepare the pasta the day ahead when making pasta salad and allow the dressing time to absorb a bit, then add additional dressing before serving.
• In this recipe do not mix the lettuce with the dressing until closer to serving. Add additional dressing if desired.
• When meal prepping place the dressed pasta in the bottom of the dish, add the lettuce and cheese on top. Place the chicken on top. Then place the croutons in a bag, and tuck it inside the container so they stay crunchy.
• Top with salt and pepper and serve.

The post Caesar Pasta Salad first appeared on Created by Diane.

Pasta salads are the ultimate in every way…

Simple to make, and provide the ultimate item for a party, lunch, and meal prep.

It’s so great to have an arsenal of pasta salad recipes,

recipes so delicious you’ll make them again and again!

from the most classic pasta salad… Macaroni Salad to new fun flavors you’re dying to try,

• Caprese Pasta Salad fun Italian pasta salad recipes
• Broccoli Pasta Salad Get in your veggies in this yummy pasta salad
• Green Goddess Pasta Salad best past salad recipe ever!
• Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Salad a tasty recipe with the nutty roasted flavor
• Mexican Corn Pasta Salad like Mexican street corn made into a meal
• Creamy Lemon Pasta Salad always a favorite!

If you like things that sound like salad but aren’t full of leafy greens give some of these a try:

• Chicken Salad
• Potato Salad
• Seafood Salad
• Egg Salad
• Shrimp Salad or try this dressing for Shirmp Salad
• Avocado Caprese 

and if you want a fun salad option make these salad dippers!

If you want a fun leafy green salad with a twist make this Taco Salad

I am a huge pasta salad fan!

Some really great flavor options come from the sauce… pesto, balsamic, lemon, Greek, green goddess, and Thai peanut sauce

and for the Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad for the pepperoni lovers… this recipe has a delicious tomato dressing it’s a true winner!

unconventional Pasta Aalad, with Tuna and Zucchini.

And if you want a lower carb options use 1/2 roasted cauliflower, quinoa, or diced zucchini in place of some or all of the pasta.

Buy or make Pesto… and give this fun pesto tomato pasta salad a go, and you like it spicy try this Jalapeno Pesto Recipe.

Oh the PASTABILITITES:

• BBQ chicken macaroni salad
• Caesar pasta salad (coming soon)
• Mexican Taco Pasta Salad (coming soon)
• BLT Pasta Salad perfect for when a bacon craving comes!
• Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad- super fun, kids love it, the tomato salad dressing tastes amazing.
• Zucchini Balsamic Pasta Salad
• Buttermilk BLT pasta salad 
• Shrimp macaroni Salad
• Buttermilk pesto

Have you found one you want to make next…

• Feta Basil Balsamic Pasta Salad
• Pesto Zucchini Pasta Salad
• Roasted Cauliflower, quinoa Pasta Salad
• Pesto Sund Dried Tomato Pasta Salad
• Greek Pasta Salad
• Lemon Feta Pasta Salad

Pasta salads have beem around for decades, one we’ve all see again and again at most bbq’s and served on the side of sandwiches and such is 

macaroni salad…  I have that, and so many more! Shrimp Macaroni Salad

Choose the pasta shape that suits your liking, smooth noodles are great for mayo based dressings, pasta with grooves and pinches parts are great for oil/vinegar based dressings 

Pesto is amazing for cold pasta salad make it or buy it in the refrigerated section.

There are so many options for pasta shapes when making pasta salad, a classic pasta salad is macaroni salad using large elbows, they cook up nicely and well and are soft and thin. Other elbow shapes can be thick and small and will result in a little chewier pasta salad.

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and rinse the pasta in cold water. Soak the pasta in cold water to speed up the chilling process. Drain well and blot pasta with paper towels if needed to dry noodles so “sauce” does not slide off the noodles.

Toss the pasta with the sauce or salad dressing.

Add additional items or chill pasta while you finish peppering the remaining ingredients.

Large elbow noodles are smooth and make for great pasta salads, making the pasta ahead of time allows you to get recipes ready easier, and dinner on the table faster, and cooked macaroni is always great to have extra of so you can make Macaroni and Cheese!

If you chill it overnight the pasta can/will absorb extra sauce, especially if it’s not oil based salad dressing, so having a small portion reserved is ideal, so you can add it and retoss the pasta.

Since the pasta is the item that absorbs most of the dressing you can choose to layer or toss the items into the pasta and any sauce before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste.

If you’re making a pasta salad that uses Mayo, try making homemade mayo for a delicious sauce without the added sugar and preservatives.

What to eat with Classic Macaroni Salad?

This is the perfect pasta salad great for cookouts, and BBQs,  and to serve alongside hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken beef, pork… the possibilities are endless.

Thai Peanut Noodles – this recipe is delicious, add some chopped cooked chicken for added protein!

Looking for a pasta alternative for a hearty cold vegetable salad… give this Sweet Potato Thai Peanut Salad a try.

• Pepperoni Pizza Macaroni Salad – a pizza lover’s dream pasta salad
• Pesto Pasta Salad – a party favorite
• BLT Macaroni Salad – brighten up any day with this one
• Mexican Corn Macaroni Salad – SO fantastic you’ll be sure to make it often
• Feta Basil Balsamic Pasta Salad – one of my all-time favorites
• Lemon Dill Tuna Pasta Salad – a veggie-filled pasta salad
• Thai Peanut Noodles – my road trip favorite
• Lemon Pasta Salad with Asparagus – lemony and yummy
• BBQ Chicken Macaroni Salad – my kids love this one, and it’s just about the most perfect dish for a BBQ

In the mood for more pasta… check out these pasta sauce recipes

And when you want to keep it super simple toss some rinsed pasta with olive oil, salt, and pepper (add crushed red pepper flakes for a little spice) mix well, and add sliced grape tomatoes, fresh basil, and Romano or Parmesan cheese. 

How long does pasta salad stay in the fridge?

Pasta Salad is good for 3-5 days in the fridge.

What to eat with pasta salad?

A fork nice crusty toasted bread is always a great option. Fun additions to pasta salads can be the toppings, cheese, seeds, croutons, herbs and spices. Add cooked chopped chicken to add some protein.

The post Pasta Salad Recipes first appeared on Created by Diane.

You can never go wrong with pasta salad… 

Let me repeat that (just kidding) there are so many options. Cold pasta has Resistant Starch, which if you haven’t heard is considered good for low-carb eaters, and diabetics as it’s resistant to digestion and acts like soluble fiber… good news there.

If you love the thought of pasta salad be sure to check out these other pasta salad recipes. 

Be sure to check out my latest video… this recipe is in it!

Continue reading: Greek Pasta Salad

The post Greek Pasta Salad first appeared on Created by Diane.

And this recipe is packed full of protein and flavor. 

I give options to make this a power-packed high-protein meal, which wins every time… pasta while remaining high protein… YES!

Use high-protein pasta; I like Barilla’s protein pasta, and the addition of quinoa is great, as it adds additional protein as well. The chick peas have protein, and so does the cheese.

This is my favorite high-protein pasta salad, and to boost the protein more, I add cooked, shredded chicken!

The lemon and chives add a fresh element that complements the creaminess and lightens the heaviness that pasta can have. And it’s made using my homemade green goddess dressing which will knock your socks off! Simply put, this recipe is a keeper.

I’ve added quinoa and chickpeas to boost the nutrition in this – one cup of quinoa has eight grams of protein and five grams of fiber. It’s a complete protein, which means it has all nine essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce. And one cup of chickpeas contains a whopping 30 grams of protein. Plus, it’s great for your bones as it contains calcium, magnesium, and fiber. It’s also been connected to good mental health. By combining these two powerful ingredients, you get a pasta salad you can feel good about.

And a pasta salad I can feel good about is kind of a thing for me. I have lots of recipes with pasta and nutrition at the heart!

Continue reading: How to Make Green Goddess Pasta Salad Recipe

The post How to Make Green Goddess Pasta Salad Recipe first appeared on Created by Diane.

This recipe is FULL of a whole head of cauliflower, it’s kinda hard to see as it’s the same color as the pasta, wow… but it’s in there and super yummy. It’s roasted so it has a delicious nutty flavor, and with the pasta and quinoa, it’s really a delicious combo. 

The dressing is full of lemon and mint and saffron, and other yummy ingredients that make this whole dish so delicious. It may look simple, but the flavor combinations are so great together, this could easily become your new go-to recipe. 

It’s perfect for on the go eating, pack it in glass jars with a lid for lunch, you can prep them out at the beginning of the week and you’re all set for easy meal prep. If you prefer a spice to your meals, add in some crushed red pepper flakes to the dressing.

Continue reading: Roasted cauliflower, quinoa, pasta salad

The post Roasted cauliflower, quinoa, pasta salad first appeared on Created by Diane.

You can hardly ever go wrong with pasta, especially when you add one of the most nutritious vegetables out there – Broccoli.

This green bundle contains lots of fiber, and for a vegetable, it has a significant amount of protein – 2.5 grams per cup. Broccoli also contains Omega threes, vitamin A, C, B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. It promotes weight loss and is great for heart health, so there’s a lot of healthy reasons to love it! 

But aside from the health perks, broccoli tastes good. It has a peppery flavor and when combined with the basil in the pasta salad, OH MY, it’s amazing! But there’s so much you can do with this amazing green vegetable. The ultimate in creamy comfort, my Broccoli and White Bean Soup is perfect for cozy evenings indoors. And if you need your kids to eat their vegetables, a struggle in almost every family, this Broccoli Cheddarella Baked Ziti is just the ticket! I have loads of recipes packed full of broccoli to explore right here on my food blog, you’ll never run out of ideas. 

Continue reading: Broccoli Pasta Salad

The post Broccoli Pasta Salad first appeared on Created by Diane.

Zucchini may get a bad rap… but it’s one of my favorite vegetables and has been since I was a kid. I grew up with a large garden and zucchini was one of the heroes of the garden every year. Not only is zucchini high in vitamin C and fiber. It’s a nutritious eat, and it takes on the flavors of mustard and oregano in this dish – giving this pasta dinner a savory and satisfactory crunch. 

And I say dinner but this can be used for lunch too! It’s perfectly prepared ahead of time and left to chill in the fridge, in fact when the ingredients are left to mellow a bit, it tastes even better! Make it ahead, and enjoy it with all its deliciousness at a time that’s convenient for you, whether it’s a quick lunch or the end of a busy day! 

Continue reading: Zucchini Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

The post Zucchini Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette first appeared on Created by Diane.

All summer long I make shrimp salad,

and thought I’d amp it up a bit and turn it into a delicious macaroni salad,

Macaroni Noodles are not all the same, some absorb more “sauce ” than others,

some are smaller have a grooved texture that will absorb more, I used large elbows that are smooth and perfect for the creamy sauce. 

Fresh mayo is always best, it tastes great, it has a real smoothness add additional lemon juice to this recipe for a great fresh lemony flavor.

Continue reading: Shrimp Macaroni Salad

The post Shrimp Macaroni Salad first appeared on Created by Diane.