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Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad Recipe for Any Occasion

Creamy Coleslaw Pasta Salad

A cool, creamy pasta salad with crunchy coleslaw vegetables and a sweet-tangy mayonnaise dressing. This make-ahead side dish serves 8 and is ideal for picnics, potlucks, cookouts, and family meals.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 1 minute
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Vegetables
  • 8 ounces Elbow macaroni or small shell pasta
  • 14 ounces Prepared coleslaw mix
  • 1/2 cup Finely chopped red onion
  • 1/2 cup Finely chopped celery
  • 1/2 cup Diced green bell pepper
  • 1/4 cup Chopped fresh parsley, optional
Creamy Dressing
  • 1 cup Mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup Granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup Apple-cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Celery seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni according to the package directions until just tender, usually 8–10 minutes.
  2. Drain the pasta thoroughly, then rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking and remove excess starch. Let it cool completely before adding it to the dressing.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar, apple-cider vinegar, yellow mustard, celery seed, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
  4. Add the cooled pasta, prepared coleslaw mix, red onion, celery, green bell pepper, and parsley to the bowl.
  5. Stir gently until every ingredient is evenly coated without crushing the cabbage or overworking the pasta.
  6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Stir again immediately before serving to distribute the dressing.

Notes

For the creamiest texture, reserve a few tablespoons of dressing and stir it in just before serving. Pasta and cabbage absorb dressing while chilling, so this refreshes the salad. Keep refrigerated and avoid overcooking the pasta.