Salad Supreme Pasta Salad is easy to make and perfect for a potluck, picnic, BBQ, or family meal! This pasta salad with Salad Supreme seasoning has rotini, an assortment of veggies, mozzarella cheese, zesty Italian dressing, and McCormick Salad Supreme. Learn to how to make a salad supreme pasta salad recipe the whole family will love, get substitutions, nutrition info, and more.
If you’ve been looking for a go-to cold pasta salad that’s simple and cheap, look no further. This supreme pasta salad has a rich and delicious flavor thanks to McCormick pasta salad seasoning and Italian salad dressing.
You may think of zesty pasta salad as summer fare. And sure, pasta salad recipes are a quintessential part of summertime parties and barbecues. But this pasta salad supreme fits just as well on a winter dinner table, among cozy, heartier meals.
Like many pasta side dishes, this pasta salad is a crowd pleaser. Even picky eaters might have difficulty saying no to this one (even though there are veggies in there).
I hope your family enjoys this fun little recipe as much as mine does. It’s the best!
Jump to:
- ➕ How to Make Salad Supreme Pasta Salad
- 🥗 What are the ingredients of pasta salad?
- 😋 What does Salad Supreme taste like?
- ⭐ Pasta Salad Substitutions
- 🍗 What goes with pasta salad?
- ️🌡️ How long can pasta salads be kept in the fridge?
- 📋 Pasta Salad Calories
- 💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
- FAQs
- 👩🏻🍳 Other Salad Recipes
- The Disclaimer…
- 📖 Recipe
➕ How to Make Salad Supreme Pasta Salad
Here are the step-by-step instructions for pasta salad with Salad Supreme:
- Cook pasta to al dente following the package directions. (If you lost the packaging, this post on how long to cook spaghetti can help you out.)
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the veggies and cheese. Quarter the zucchini and cut it into thin slices. Cut the grape tomatoes and small mozzarella balls in half. Dice the orange bell pepper and red onion.
- After cooking, drain the pasta and let it cool. Don’t rinse the cooked pasta; that rinses away some of the flavor. You can add half of the Italian salad dressing now if the pasta is sticking.
- Place the cooked pasta, zucchini, drained corn, mozzarella, pepper, tomatoes, onion, and Salad Supreme seasoning in a large bowl. Stir gently to combine. Add the Italian dressing, and stir again.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley or basil, if desired. This pasta salad can be served chilled or at room temperature. (But don’t leave it at room temp for longer than two hours.)
How much Salad Supreme do you put in pasta salad?
I like to use a ratio of ¼ cup Salad Supreme per 1 lb. dry pasta (454g) in pasta salads. I’ve seen recipes where they used as little as 1½-2 tablespoons seasoning blend per pound of pasta. Let your taste buds guide how much you should use.
🥗 What are the ingredients of pasta salad?
Here’s your shopping list for Salad Supreme Pasta Salad:
- 1 lb. rotini pasta or cavatappi pasta (dry)
- 1 cup thinly sliced zucchini
- 8 ounce can corn, drained (about 1 cup; frozen corn may also be used)
- 6 ounces small mozzarella balls
- 1 diced orange pepper
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
- ⅓ cup diced red onion
- 1 cup Italian dressing (I used light Italian dressing)
- ¼ cup McCormick Salad Supreme seasoning (the secret ingredient!)
- Fresh parsley or fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Get a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post!
I’m using a variety of colorful vegetables here. If you don’t like one or more of them, don’t be afraid to swap them out! I have suggestions for pasta salad variations below.
Here are the pieces of kitchen equipment needed for pasta salad:
- Large pasta pot
- Colander to drain pasta
- Large bowl
- A good knife
😋 What does Salad Supreme taste like?
McCormick describes Salad Supreme as having a “tangy cheesy flavor with a hint of robust earthiness, and just a touch of hot spice.” Judging by all the 5-star Amazon reviews, most people love the flavor of Salad Supreme. Some comment that it brightens up pasta salads, veggies, chicken, fish, and more.
⭐ Pasta Salad Substitutions
This supreme pasta salad recipe is intended to be a side dish. However, if you add more protein, e.g., grilled chicken, turkey, or shrimp, you can make it the main course. Another idea is to use vegetarian protein pasta (such as Banza chickpea pasta) in place of the regular wheat pasta.
I prefer compact pastas for pasta salad, such as rotini, penne, or macaroni. If you’d like to make a linguine or spaghetti pasta salad instead, you can do that too. Or, make a tricolor pasta salad with Salad Supreme for a rainbow pasta salad!
Here are some other things to put in pasta salad if you’d like to mix things up:
- Pepperoni
- Salami
- Black olives
- Cucumbers
- Cheddar cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Romano cheese
- Carrots
- Celery
- Fresh broccoli florets
- Cherry tomato halves
- Cauliflower
- Roasted red pepper
- Red bell pepper
- Green bell pepper strips
- Yellow bell pepper
- Artichoke hearts
🍗 What goes with pasta salad?
Here are a few main dishes that go with pasta salad:
️🌡️ How long can pasta salads be kept in the fridge?
Pasta salad lasts in the fridge for up to 3-4 days if covered in plastic wrap or kept in a covered container. Do not leave pasta salad out at room temperature for longer than two hours. Refrigerate it!
Should Salad Supreme be refrigerated?
Yes, McCormick Salad Supreme seasoning should be refrigerated after opening to preserve freshness. This seasoning contains cheddar cheese and other dairy products that can spoil if not under refrigeration.
Does pasta salad freeze well?
I do not recommend freezing this pasta salad recipe because the fresh veggies will go limp when defrosted. If you need a smaller portion, simply cut the recipe in half.
📋 Pasta Salad Calories
This Salad Supreme pasta salad has 315 calories, 45.9 grams net carbohydrates, and 11.9 grams protein per serving. Nutrition information will vary depending on your portion size and the type of salad dressing used. Light Italian dressing was used here; substituting with regular Italian salad dressing will significantly increase the calories and fat.
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). This pasta salad gets most of its calories from carbs, without much protein to help you stay full. I know that I’m not alone in finding pasta salad extremely easy to overeat.
This attribute can actually be great for kids and active adults who struggle to get enough calories in. You can use a whole grain pasta for more fiber, but yes, that may negatively impact the taste. Using half regular pasta and half whole wheat pasta may be an acceptable compromise for some people.
I made in effort to include lots of colors in this pasta salad from the variety of vegetables. More veggie colors equal a greater variety of phytochemical pigments that may positively benefit your health.
If you substitute any of the veggies in this recipe, try to add a new one of the same color. It’s a healthy way to eat the rainbow!
One downside of this recipe is the Salad Supreme seasoning counts as an ultra-processed ingredient. Unfortunately, a salt-free Salad Supreme seasoning is not currently available from McCormick. This seasoning has 55mg of sodium per ¼ teaspoon, so you may be able to fit small amounts in low sodium diets.
FAQs
Salad Supreme is not discontinued, and it is not listed on McCormick’s discontinued page. There was a rumor it was discontinued because of difficulties finding it during the pandemic. If you can’t find this seasoning in local grocery stores, you can buy it on Amazon here.
No Salad Supreme? No worries! You can make your own seasoning for pasta salad using the copycat McCormick Salad Supreme recipe here.
To prevent soggy pasta salad, make sure you don’t overcook the pasta! Follow the pasta’s package directions to cook your pasta to a perfect al dente, and drain it well. You may also want to try only using half the dressing, adding the other half right before serving.
Yes, you can make pasta salad ahead, and letting it rest overnight gives the flavors time to meld. To keep the pasta salad from drying out, cover the container it is in with plastic wrap.
Pasta needs to be cooked just right to make a delicious, creamy pasta salad. Undercooked pasta won’t hold the salad dressing, and overcooked pasta may become a mushy mess. Some suggest cooking pasta a little past al dente helps the pasta absorb more dressing.
McCormick Perfect Pinch Salad Supreme seasoning says it is gluten free on the front of the packaging. Since formulations can change, check the nutrition label of the product you bought to ensure it’s safe for your diet. This seasoning is not vegan, because it contains dairy.
👩🏻🍳 Other Salad Recipes
Here are some other recipes for salad you may enjoy:
- Meal Prep Salads for Weight Loss
- Summer Berry Salad
- Orange Chicken Salad with Strawberries
- Popcorn Chicken Salad Recipe
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The Disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to my overnight oats no sugar post. Let's get cooking!
📖 Recipe
Salad Supreme Pasta Salad Recipe (with McCormick Seasoning)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. dry pasta 454 grams
- 1 cup zucchini (quartered and thinly sliced)
- 1 cup grape tomatoes
- 6 ounces small mozzarella balls 170 grams
- 1 medium orange pepper
- ⅓ cup red onion
- 8 ounces canned corn, drained (about 1 cup corn)
- 1 cup Italian salad dressing
- ¼ cup Salad Supreme seasoning
- fresh parsley or fresh basil (for optional garnish)
Instructions
- Cook pasta to al dente following the package directions. (If you lost the packaging, this post on how long to cook spaghetti can help you out.)
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the veggies and cheese. Quarter the zucchini and cut it into thin slices. Cut the grape tomatoes and small mozzarella balls in half. Dice the orange bell pepper and red onion.
- After cooking, drain the pasta and let it cool. You can add half of the Italian salad dressing now if the pasta is sticking.
- Place the cooked pasta, zucchini, drained corn, mozzarella, pepper, tomatoes, onion, and Salad Supreme seasoning in a large bowl. Stir gently to combine. Add the Italian dressing, and stir again.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley or basil, if desired. This pasta salad can be served chilled or at room temperature. (But don’t leave it at room temp for longer than two hours.)
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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