Easy Broccoli Pasta Salad
Before I get to this delicious pasta salad, I have to show you what M came home with from school yesterday. Her class made Valentine gifts for us. The first is her tiny handprint on a white tile. I think it’s suppose to be a coaster? Not sure. Maybe a hot plate? Either way its adorable.
The second in came in this little box…
The box reads…
A Valentine Hug to you
Wrap these hands around you
Whenever I’m away so you can
have a hug from me anytime of day!
It’s her two little hands tied at the ends of a string that’s the entire length of her wing span. So it’s like a little hug. So cute! This made me smile the rest of the day 
After I opened M’s gift I made a couple of salads. My favorite (and regular) lunch at home is a turkey sandwich with some sort of side salad. Each week I like to make one or two side salad’s to have on hand. This week I’ll be showing you my two favorites. Today it’s Easy Broccoli Pasta Salad. I love this salad because its so simple yet so flavorful. Bonus is M loves it too
Here’s how to make this simple salad….
Step 1:
I like to use Barilla Plus Rotini for this salad.
Step 2:
Step 3:
If you’re not a huge fan of onions you can use one instead of two.
Step 4:
The pine nuts can be toasted before hand for added flavor. If you don’t have time to toast them, the salad still tastes great with them plain.
Step 5:
Stir in olive oil until mixed though.
Step 6:
Add salt & pepper to taste. I start out with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper, then add more to taste if needed.
Store the salad in an airtight container and chill for at least 2 hours before serving. The longer this chills, the better it tastes.
This salad will last up to a week.
This can also be made into a meal by adding some chicken or salmon to the mix
I love pasta salads, but I don’t really make them much any more. I have no idea why. I think I got burned out on them when I was pregnant with Jay. This one looks so good! I think I need to get back in to them again. Love the hands…those kinds of things are so sweet.
i haven’t had a pasta salad in weeks…i’ll have to try this version! so pretty and green
This does look easy- LOVE the addition of pine nuts for flavor and crunch!
Yummmmm, so healthy and delicious looking. Just think, in a year, you’ll have another valentine
I love pasta salad because it’s so easy! However, it’s been forever since I’ve eaten pine nuts. I hear about how rotten ones can leave a metallic taste in your mouth for months and it freaked me out.
(That paper “hug” is such a cute idea!)
The pasta salad looks great! The tiny Valentine’s hands are so adorable they are making me weepy. I’m a sap.
I love, love the handprint on the tile! Precious.
I love having salads that I can make ahead of time for lunch. This looks fresh and tasty!
I love how vibrant the broccoli is here!!
And those hands– TOO sweet!
When I’m doing my regular routine with making a meal plan and shopping and prepping on Sunday, I always make at leats one side salad for B and I to eat that week. I try and make a little something different everytime depending what I brought home from the store.
I adore pasta salads, this looks wonderful! Simple and wonderful!
What’s not to love…pasta and broccoli!!! I will have to make this for Erin and myself!
…by the way….LOVE the handprint and the “hug”….those were always my favorites from my kids!
that looks delicious. question – no acid?!?
I never used any acid with this recipe and it tastes great every time. Red wine vinegar would be a nice addition
just added broccoli to the grocery list =) love it!
and omggg the handprint tile is adorable!!! I would seal it with gloss varnish and use it as a coaster! <3
I love how simple this is!
That little wingspan is SUCH a cute idea! How precious!
I love, love, love that little hug. What a gift!
What adorable gifts! And that pasta salad sounds delicious, and oddly enough I have all of those ingredients in my fridge/pantry.
Wonderful recipe! Pasta + broccoli is one of my favorite go-to meals. I will try this version next time!