Pasta Salad (with Vegetarian or Vegan options)
Makes (homes):
8 portions
Makes (centers):
48 portions
Ingredients (homes):
- 4 cups vegetables, diced, such as zucchini, tomatoes, cucumber, or black olives
- 4 cups cooked enriched rotini (about 8 ounces weight dry)
- 8 fluid ounces Italian salad dressing
- 2 Tablespoons dry Ranch dressing mix
- Choose your protein:
- - 1 pound 3 ounces (weight) fully cooked boneless, ham, diced
- - OR 1 pound (weight) natural cheese, cubed or shredded
- - OR 4 cups black beans, canned, rinsed, and drained
Ingredients (centers):
- 1 gallon + 2 quarts vegetables, diced, such as zucchini, tomatoes, cucumber, or black olives
- 1 gallon + 2 quarts cooked enriched rotini (about 2 lb. 14 oz. weight dry)
- 3 (16 fl. oz.) bottles Italian salad dressing
- 3/4 cup dry Ranch dressing mix
- Choose your protein:
- - 6 pounds 13 ounces (weight) fully cooked boneless ham, diced
- - OR 6 pounds (weight) natural cheese, cubed or shredded
- - OR 1 gallon + 2 quarts black beans, canned, rinsed, and drained
Directions:
- Place veggies, pasta, and both dressings in a bowl. Toss to coat.
- Portion pasta salad: 1 cup (ages 6+), 3/4 cup (ages 3-5) or 1/2 cup (ages 6+)
- Serve the protein portions:
- Ham/Cheese: 1 ounce (weight) for ages 1-2, 1 1/2 ounces for ages 3-5 and 2 ounces for ages 6+.
- Beans/Vegan: 1/4 cup (#16 scoop) for ages 1-2, 3/8 cup (#10 scoop) for ages 3-5, and 1/2 cup (#8 scoop) for ages 6+
Serve:
1 portion = 2 oz. eq. meat/meat alternate, 1 oz. eq. grain, and 1/2 cup veggies.
Tip: Use whole wheat rotini to count as your whole grain for the day!
Meal:
Lunch & Dinner
CACFP Credit:
Grain
Meat & Meat Alternate
Record on your menu as:
Mixed Vegetables (Vegetable Food List # 162)
Rotini Pasta (Bread and Bread Alternate Food List # 28)
Ham OR (Meat and Meat Alternate Food List # 41)
Cheddar Cheese OR (Meat and Meat Alternate Food List # 80)
Black Beans (Meat and Meat Alternate Food List # 64)
Source:
From DCR Calendar, July 2026; From: Adrienne, DCR Dietitian