The Easiest 4-Ingredient Pasta Salad We're Making All Summer

When invited to bring a dish to a cookout or picnic when the buns and drinks are taken care of, may we advise you create this really easy pasta salad with just four ingredients, which you can make in any quantity you choose?

It's a terrific idea to bring cold pasta salad, since it may be prepared in advance. As a matter of fact, preparing it 12 to 18 hours in advance allows the ingredients to mingle and enhance the flavor of this well-liked side dish.

We have a ton of pasta salad recipes on Allrecipes, including a great pasta salad recipe guide, but if you just want to create the easiest one possible, we love this straightforward recipe that begins with

The Easiest Pasta Salad Ever Mini mozzarella balls marinated in olive oil and herbs that are purchased at the store, like those found at Trader Joe's or Aldi, are a fantastic addition to pasta salads. Why? Because utilizing them takes care of the salad dressing and the cheese simultaneously. Given that the marinade and the mozzarella are combined in a same container, they must be considered one component.

Cooked spaghetti is, of course, another need for pasta salad. You want to select bite-sized pasta for this—spaghetti or linguini are not appropriate choices. Using anything that the dressing—that is, the marinade from the mozzarella balls—can adhere to is also a wise idea. Pasta designs include orecchiette, elbow macaroni with ridges, and spiral-shaped fusilli that can hold

What are the final two ingredients? That’s up to you. You can choose two vegetables, one vegetable and a cured meat, or a veggie and fresh herb. (Note: If you’re making the pasta salad ahead of time and using fresh herbs, don’t add until just before serving.)

We do have some suggestions if you want us to do all the thinking for you—which we're happy to do, because you shouldn’t have to think too hard when something is called the “simplest ever.”

Thoughts on the Last Two Ingredients
Try these delicious combos:

chopped marinated artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomato halves that have been drained.
Half a cherry tomato and torn basil leaves (similar to a Caprese pasta salad).
diced bell peppers (orange, yellow, or red) and defrosted frozen peas.
Grape tomatoes cut in half and salami (or pepperoni).
Green onion chopped and bacon.
Chopped roasted red peppers and arugula (from a jar).

Recipe for Four-Ingredient Pasta Salad
Here's how to prepare this pasta salad, in our opinion:

As directed on the package, bring water to a boil and cook the pasta until it's al dente.
Cut up any things you need to cut while the pasta cooks.
Once the pasta has cooked, drain it and transfer it to the bowl where the pasta salad will be prepared.
To prevent the mozzarella balls from melting when they come into contact with the extremely hot spaghetti, let the pasta cool for around ten minutes, stirring it every few minutes.
Add the remaining two ingredients of your choice and the mozzarella balls (without their marinade) after 10 minutes.
Gradually add the marinade until you think you've added enough.

Add a bit extra of the marinade that was set aside if you discover that the pasta has absorbed all of the dressing while it was refrigerated. Once it's all gone, pour some high-quality olive oil over it.

The mozzarella balls will be marinated in a mixture of herbs and salt. Maybe you won't even need salt. If, however, after tasting you think it needs more salt or freshly ground pepper, then add a small amount at a time until you get the flavor to your liking.