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Creamy Pasta Salad

Creamy pasta salad with colorful vegetables tossed in a tangy mayonnaise-sour cream dressing for a cool, vibrant side. Rotini or bow-tie pasta is rinsed with cold water, chilled for at least 2 hours, and finished with a quick toss before serving.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Creamy pasta salad base
  • 1 lb rotini or bow-tie pasta
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 0.5 cup sour cream
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup cucumber, diced
  • 0.5 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 0.5 cup celery, diced
  • 0.5 cup shredded carrots
  • 0.25 Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Cook rotini or bow-tie pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and cool it quickly.
  2. Spread the cooled rotini or bow-tie pasta in a thin layer on a sheet pan to cool further for even chilling. Refrigerate briefly while you prepare the dressing.
Make the creamy dressing
  1. Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and Dijon mustard together until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble and chill
  1. Add the cooled rotini or bow-tie pasta to the dressing and toss to coat. Fold in cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, celery, and shredded carrots.
  2. Toss until everything is evenly coated and the vegetables are well distributed. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours so the flavors meld.
Finish and serve
  1. Right before serving, toss again to loosen the dressing. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper to taste if needed.

Notes

For best texture, rinse the pasta well with cold water so it stays firm when mixed and chilled. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 4 days; freezing is not recommended because the creamy dressing can break. For a lighter option, swap half the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt to keep the tang while reducing richness.