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French Dressing Pasta Salad

French dressing pasta salad with a tangy-sweet Catalina-style coating and crunchy chopped vegetables. Cook, rinse cold, toss with French dressing, then chill so the flavors meld for a classic retro picnic salad.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta Salad Base
  • 1 lb elbow macaroni or rotini
  • 1 cup French dressing (Catalina)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup cucumber, diced
  • 0.5 cup green bell pepper, diced
  • 0.5 cup red onion, diced
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, cubed
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Cook the elbow macaroni or rotini according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and keep the pasta from getting sticky.
Toss the salad
  1. Combine the pasta with the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, green bell pepper, red onion, and cheddar cheese in a large bowl. Toss gently to distribute the vegetables and cheese evenly.
Coat with French dressing
  1. Add the French dressing (Catalina) and toss until everything is well coated. Make sure all pasta pieces look lightly orange-red and glossy.
Season
  1. Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste. Toss again so the seasoning is evenly mixed through the pasta.
Chill
  1. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to develop. Cover the bowl so the salad stays fresh while it chills.
Finish before serving
  1. Toss again before serving and add more dressing if needed. The pasta should look freshly coated rather than dry.

Notes

Pro tip: rinse pasta until truly cold so it absorbs dressing without turning mushy. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; give it a quick toss and splash in a little extra French dressing before serving. Freezing isn’t recommended since vegetables and cheese can lose texture. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cheddar and a lower-sugar French dressing.