Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
This Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad is about to become your new favorite pasta salad! It’s like your favorite Strawberry Spinach Salad but 1000X better! This Pasta Salad is a fresh and bright medley of textures and flavors in every bite. It’s bursting with rotini pasta, strawberries, avocados, mandarin oranges, pears, spinach and macadamia nuts all smothered in bright, sweet and tangy Poppy Seed Dressing infused with lemon juice and lemon zest.
Servings 6 - 8 servings
Ingredients
Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad
- 12 oz. Great Value Rotini
- 2 cups packed Great Value baby spinach
- 1 lb. strawberries sliced or chopped
- 4 mandarin oranges peeled, segmented
- 2 Avocados chopped
- 1 pear chopped
- 1 4 oz. pkg. Great Value macadamia nuts
Poppy Seed Dressing
- 1/2 cup Great Value canola oil
- 1/4 cup Great Value sugar
- 3 tablespoons Great Value apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 2 teaspoon dry minced onion
- 1 teaspoon dried mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients to a medium bowl or measuring cup and whisk together with a fork. Chill at least 30 minutes up to 24 hours.
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente – don’t overcook! Rinse and drain pasta in cool water. Add pasta to a large serving bowl and toss with a little of the dressing to keep it from sticking together.
Serving immediately/within one hour
- Add all of the salad ingredients to the pasta. Add desired amount of chilled dressing and gently toss to combine. Serve immediately or chill one hour.
Serving later
- Add strawberries and Mandarin oranges to pasta and toss with half of the dressing, cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve, add pears, avocados, spinach, macadamia nuts, and remaining dressing. Toss to combine. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Don't miss the "how to make" recipe video at the top of the post!