Description

This Tasty Broccoli Pasta Salad is a refreshing, creamy side dish perfect for summer gatherings. Featuring al dente rotini pasta combined with crisp broccoli florets, fresh vegetables, shredded cheddar cheese, and a tangy dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, and apple cider vinegar, this salad offers a delightful balance of flavors and textures. Quick to prepare and easy to customize, it’s both a versatile and crowd-pleasing dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad

8 oz rotini or bowtie pasta
2 cups fresh broccoli florets, chopped small
½ cup red onion, finely diced
½ cup shredded carrots
½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup sunflower seeds (optional)

Dressing

½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

Cook the pasta and broccoli: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the chopped broccoli florets to the boiling water with the pasta. Drain both together and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let the pasta and broccoli cool completely.
Prepare the dressing: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), apple cider vinegar, honey, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
Combine ingredients: Add the cooled pasta and broccoli to the bowl with the dressing. Then include the finely diced red onion, shredded carrots, halved cherry tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, and sunflower seeds if using. Gently toss everything until the salad is evenly coated with the dressing.
Chill the salad: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Serve chilled for the best taste and texture.

Notes

This salad can be made a day ahead and tastes even better after chilling in the refrigerator.
For a lighter version, use all Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise and sour cream.
Add grilled chicken to turn this salad into a hearty main dish.