This vibrant corn and pasta salad is bursting with the fresh flavors of summer, making it a perfect side dish for any meal.
Enjoy this sweet pasta salad recipe that combines tender pasta with juicy tomatoes and sweet corn. It’s a fantastic addition to picnics, potlucks, or a simple weeknight dinner.
This recipe is designed for ease and flavor, bringing together simple ingredients to create a refreshing and satisfying dish. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting in the kitchen, you’ll find this pasta salad straightforward to prepare and absolutely delicious to eat.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Fresh Corn and Tomato Pasta Salad
- Total Time: 25-27 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This vibrant corn and pasta salad is bursting with the fresh flavors of summer, making it a perfect side dish for any meal. Enjoy this sweet pasta salad recipe that combines tender pasta with juicy tomatoes and sweet corn. It’s a fantastic addition to picnics, potlucks, or a simple weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta and corn: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. During the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the fresh or frozen corn kernels to the pot with the pasta. This ensures the corn is tender-crisp and perfectly cooked.
2. Drain and cool slightly: Once the pasta and corn are cooked, drain them thoroughly in a colander. Rinse briefly with cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent the pasta from sticking, but don’t rinse excessively, as you want some starch to help the dressing adhere. Let it cool for a few minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
3. Prepare the vegetables: While the pasta and corn are cooling, halve the cherry tomatoes, finely dice the red onion, and chop the fresh parsley. Place these prepared vegetables into a large mixing bowl.
4. Whisk the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and black pepper until well combined and the sugar is dissolved. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary; you might want a little more sugar for sweetness or vinegar for tang.
5. Combine all ingredients: Add the slightly cooled pasta and corn to the large mixing bowl with the prepared vegetables. Pour the dressing over everything.
6. Toss to coat: Gently toss all the ingredients together until the pasta, corn, and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to get all the dressing distributed.
7. Chill and serve: For the best flavor, cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. This also ensures it’s nicely chilled for serving. Give it another quick toss before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: side dish
- Method: no cook
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
Keywords: pasta salad, corn salad, tomato salad, summer salad, potluck, picnic, vegetarian, easy, quick, side dish
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
You’ll adore this Fresh Corn & Tomato Pasta Salad for its sheer simplicity and incredible flavor. It’s a true celebration of summer produce, featuring sweet corn and ripe tomatoes that shine in every bite. This recipe is perfect for busy families looking for a quick and healthy side dish that doesn’t compromise on taste. It’s also incredibly versatile, making it an ideal candidate for meal prepping or bringing to a gathering. Kids love the sweetness of the corn and the fun shapes of the pasta, making it a family-friendly option that even picky eaters can enjoy. Serve it alongside grilled chicken, burgers, or as a light lunch on its own. It’s a refreshing change from heavier side dishes and a fantastic way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet without a fuss.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients for this Fresh Corn & Tomato Pasta Salad is a breeze, relying on common pantry staples and fresh produce readily available at any grocery store. You don’t need any fancy equipment or hard-to-find items, making this a stress-free cooking experience.
INGREDIENTS:
- 12 ounces small pasta shapes (such as rotini, farfalle, or elbow macaroni)
- 3 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the pasta, any small, sturdy shape will work well. Rotini or farfalle are great because they hold the dressing nicely and are easy to eat. If you’re using frozen corn, there’s no need to thaw it before cooking; it can go straight into the boiling water with the pasta. Fresh corn can be cut directly from the cob. Cherry tomatoes add a burst of sweetness and color, but grape tomatoes or even chopped larger tomatoes will work if that’s what you have on hand. The red onion provides a nice, subtle bite, but if you prefer a milder flavor, you can soak it in cold water for 10 minutes after dicing to reduce its pungency. Fresh parsley brightens up the salad, but fresh basil or chives would also be delicious alternatives. The dressing is a simple vinaigrette, and you can adjust the sugar and vinegar to your taste preferences.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
Preparing this Fresh Corn & Tomato Pasta Salad is remarkably quick, making it an excellent choice for those busy weeknights or when you need a last-minute dish for a potluck.
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 10-12 minutes (for pasta and corn)
- Total time: 25-27 minutes
This timing assumes you’ll be chopping your vegetables while the pasta cooks, maximizing efficiency. The cooling time for the pasta is minimal, as this salad is delicious served slightly warm or at room temperature.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Making this Fresh Corn & Tomato Pasta Salad is a straightforward process. Follow these simple steps to achieve a perfectly balanced and flavorful dish.
- Cook the pasta and corn: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. During the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the fresh or frozen corn kernels to the pot with the pasta. This ensures the corn is tender-crisp and perfectly cooked.
- Drain and cool slightly: Once the pasta and corn are cooked, drain them thoroughly in a colander. Rinse briefly with cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent the pasta from sticking, but don’t rinse excessively, as you want some starch to help the dressing adhere. Let it cool for a few minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
- Prepare the vegetables: While the pasta and corn are cooling, halve the cherry tomatoes, finely dice the red onion, and chop the fresh parsley. Place these prepared vegetables into a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and black pepper until well combined and the sugar is dissolved. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary; you might want a little more sugar for sweetness or vinegar for tang.
- Combine all ingredients: Add the slightly cooled pasta and corn to the large mixing bowl with the prepared vegetables. Pour the dressing over everything.
- Toss to coat: Gently toss all the ingredients together until the pasta, corn, and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to get all the dressing distributed.
- Chill and serve: For the best flavor, cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. This also ensures it’s nicely chilled for serving. Give it another quick toss before serving.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This Fresh Corn & Tomato Pasta Salad is wonderfully adaptable, making it easy to customize for different tastes and occasions.
For a kid-friendly twist, you can use fun pasta shapes like wagon wheels or alphabet pasta. If your children are sensitive to red onion, you can omit it or use a very small amount of finely minced green onion instead. Adding a handful of shredded cheddar cheese or small mozzarella balls (bocconcini) can also make it more appealing to younger palates. A sprinkle of crumbled cooked bacon or mini pepperoni can also be a hit.
To vary the flavors, consider adding a can of drained and rinsed black beans for extra protein and a heartier salad. Diced bell peppers (any color) would add more crunch and color. For a touch of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes in the dressing or a finely diced jalapeño would be excellent. A squeeze of fresh lime juice instead of apple cider vinegar can give it a more Southwestern flair. If you want to make it a main dish, grilled chicken, shrimp, or even chickpeas would be fantastic additions.
This pasta salad is a perfect side dish for almost any meal. It shines at summer barbecues alongside grilled burgers, hot dogs, or ribs. It’s also a fantastic companion to roasted chicken, baked fish, or pulled pork sandwiches. For a lighter meal, serve it with a simple green salad. It’s also an excellent option for potlucks and picnics because it travels well and doesn’t require reheating. Garnish with extra fresh parsley or a few basil leaves for a beautiful presentation.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Being aware of these can help you achieve perfect results every time with your Fresh Corn & Tomato Pasta Salad.
One common mistake is overcooking the pasta. Mushy pasta can ruin the texture of a cold salad. Always cook your pasta to al dente, which means it should be firm to the bite. Check the package directions and start testing a minute or two before the suggested cook time.
Another slip-up is not seasoning the pasta water. Salting the water generously before adding the pasta ensures the pasta itself has flavor, which is crucial for a delicious salad. Don’t skip this step!
Not allowing the flavors to meld is another common issue. While you can eat this salad right away, the flavors truly develop and deepen after chilling for at least 30 minutes, or even better, an hour or two. The dressing needs time to soak into the pasta and vegetables.
Finally, over-dressing the salad can make it soggy. Start with the recommended amount of dressing, toss everything well, and then taste. You can always add a little more if needed, but you can’t take it away. If you plan to make it ahead, you might want to hold back a tablespoon or two of dressing and add it right before serving, as the pasta can absorb a lot of the liquid over time.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This Fresh Corn & Tomato Pasta Salad is an excellent make-ahead dish, perfect for meal prep or entertaining. Proper storage ensures it stays fresh and delicious.
To store, transfer the cooled pasta salad to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavors tend to improve over time as they meld, making it a great option for packed lunches throughout the week.
When making it ahead, you can prepare the pasta and corn, chop the vegetables, and whisk the dressing separately. Store them in individual airtight containers in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve, combine everything and toss with the dressing. This method is particularly useful if
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
