Description
This Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Pasta Salad combines creamy, spicy, and cheesy flavors with tender rotini pasta for a flavorful and crowd-pleasing side dish. Perfectly chilled and topped with crispy fried onions, it’s an easy-to-make salad that brings the iconic jalapeño popper tastes to a pasta format.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta Salad
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup diced jalapeños (fresh or pickled)
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Topping
- 1/2 cup crispy fried onions
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Begin by cooking the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Once done, drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to cool it quickly and prevent sticking.
- Make the Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well blended, creating a creamy base for the salad.
- Add the Flavorings: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, diced jalapeños, chopped green onions, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until all ingredients are evenly incorporated and the flavors meld together.
- Combine with Pasta: Gently fold the cooled pasta into the creamy cheese and jalapeño mixture, making sure the pasta is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Transfer the prepared pasta salad to a serving dish and generously top with crispy fried onions. Place the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill and allow the flavors to meld perfectly.
- Enjoy: Serve the Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Pasta Salad chilled and enjoy its creamy, spicy, and crunchy deliciousness.
Notes
- Use fresh jalapeños for more heat and crunch, or pickled jalapeños for a tangier flavor.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeños to control the spice level according to your preference.
- Cream cheese should be softened at room temperature for easier mixing.
- For a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Make ahead tip: This pasta salad can be prepared a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
