Easy Pasta Salad with Mayo, Lemon, and Basil

Square overhead shot of an easy pasta salad with mayo on a rustic wooden picnic table.

5 from 1 vote

Easy Pasta Salad with Mayo, Lemon, and Basil

Full of fresh, flavorful ingredients, this easy pasta salad recipe is a popular side dish for picnics, potlucks and cookouts!

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword cold pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, easy pasta salad, easy pasta salad with mayo, pasta salad with mayo

Prep Time 30

Chilling Time 2

Total Time 2 30

Servings people

Calories 417kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

FOR THE SALAD

8 ounces uncooked medium shells or other short pasta (such as elbows, ditalini, rotini, or penne)
½ cup diced broccoli florets
½ cup frozen peas, thawed
½ cup finely diced sweet red bell pepper
½ cup diced cucumber
¼ cup sliced green onions

FOR THE DRESSING

1 cup mayonnaise (I prefer Duke's brand)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil leaves
1 small clove garlic, finely minced or grated (or sub with ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder)
1 teaspoon sugar
Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions, adding the broccoli florets to the pot of boiling water during the final 30 seconds of cooking. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside to cool completely.
In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, broccoli, peas, red bell pepper, cucumber and green onion. In a separate small bowl, prepare the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, basil, garlic, sugar, ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper.
Pour half of the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Store the remaining dressing in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
Just before serving, toss with reserved dressing to moisten. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes

Tip: Thaw the peas quickly by placing the frozen peas in a colander. When you drain the pasta and broccoli florets, pour the hot pasta and water over the peas in the colander. They will thaw almost instantly when the hot pasta hits them!

Nutrition