Every Cookout Needs This Southern Pasta Salad

A vibrant and tangy Southern-style pasta salad featuring a creamy apple cider vinegar base, crispy garden vegetables, and a secret touch of sweet pickle relish to bring that authentic backyard gathering flavor to life.

30 min total Base: 4 servings 380 cal total

Submitted by Mystery Chef AI

Ingredients

Adjust Servings4 servings

1Base: 4 servings32

Fixed ingredients: Rotini pasta, Sweet pickle relish, Apple cider vinegar, Smoked paprika — quantities stay the same regardless of serving count.

Rotini pasta

8 ounces(fixed)

Mayonnaise

0.5 cup

Sweet pickle relish

2 tablespoons(fixed)

Apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon(fixed)

Red bell pepper, diced

0.5 cup

Red onion, minced

2 tablespoons

Smoked paprika

0.5 teaspoon(fixed)

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.

Cook the rotini for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain immediately.

Rinse the pasta under cold running water to stop the cooking process and prevent clumping.

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, relish, and smoked paprika until smooth.

In a large serving bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the diced red bell pepper and minced red onion.

Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture.

Toss everything together gently until every noodle is evenly coated.

Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld perfectly.

💡 Chef's Tip

For the best texture, always rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water to remove excess starch. If the pasta absorbs too much dressing while sitting, stir in an extra tablespoon of mayonnaise before serving to freshen it up.

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