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Easy 5-Ingredient Cold Pasta Salad for School Lunches

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A simple, kid-approved cold pasta salad made with just five ingredients. Perfect for make-ahead school lunches, it comes together in minutes and tastes even better the next day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups dry pasta (about 250g), such as rotini, fusilli, or farfalle
  • ½ cup Italian dressing (120ml)
  • 1 cup frozen peas (150g)
  • 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese (about 120g)
  • ½ cup mini pepperoni (about 60g)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions, adding one extra minute. Drain and rinse briefly with cold water. Shake off excess water.
  2. Prep add-ins: While pasta cooks, cube cheddar cheese into small pieces. Measure out frozen peas and mini pepperoni.
  3. Combine while warm: Transfer drained pasta to a large mixing bowl. While still warm, add frozen peas, cubed cheese, and pepperoni. Toss gently.
  4. Add dressing: Pour about half the Italian dressing over the pasta mixture and toss to coat evenly. Add more dressing if needed, but reserve some for refreshing later.
  5. Chill and rest: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to let flavors meld.
  6. Portion and pack: Divide into individual containers (about 1 cup per serving). Add a small ice pack to lunch bags to keep cold. If dry, drizzle with extra dressing before serving.

Notes

Salt pasta water generously. Don’t overdress; start with half the dressing and add more as needed. Let rest overnight for best flavor. Keep cold with an ice pack. Double the batch for meal prep. Freeze without cheese; add fresh cheese after thawing.

Nutrition

Keywords: cold pasta salad, school lunch, 5-ingredient, make-ahead, kid-friendly, easy lunch

Find it online: https://livelybite.com/easy-5-ingredient-cold-pasta-salad-for-school-lunches/