Description
This Creamy Broccoli Rotini Pasta Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. It combines tender rotini, crisp broccoli, and a zesty sweet-tangy dressing. The secret is a 3-hour chill, allowing the pasta to absorb the flavors while the broccoli stays perfectly crunchy.
Ingredients
The Salad Base
- 16 oz package rotini pasta
- 1 lb fresh broccoli (florets only, chopped small)
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
The Signature Dressing
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Pasta: Boil rotini until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Cool completely.
Prep: Chop broccoli into small bite-sized florets. Finely dice the red onion.
Dressing: Whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until sugar is dissolved.
Combine: Toss pasta, broccoli, and onion in a large bowl. Pour dressing over and coat evenly.
Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Stir again before serving.
Notes
Rinse for Success: Rinsing cold pasta removes surface starch, keeping the dressing glossy and preventing the pasta from clumping.
Uniformity: Chop broccoli to match the size of the rotini for a balanced bite.
Absorption: If the salad seems dry after chilling, stir in 1–2 tbsp of mayo or a splash of milk before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish / Salad
- Method: No-Cook (Pasta assembly)
- Cuisine: American Picnic Classic
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cup
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: creamy broccoli pasta salad, rotini broccoli salad recipe, sweet and tangy pasta dressing, picnic side dishes, make ahead pasta salad, raw broccoli salad with pasta