Suddenly Salad copycat receipes needed

[Tink3815]

Now that the hot weather is here I love to make make cold salads for dinner. My family loves all flavors of the boxed Suddenly Salad dinners but they are so expensive. I bought a huge bag of the multicolor spiral macaroni at Sams .
I would love receipes that are similar to the box dinner. I never seem to be able to get the spices right when I try to create one.
Thanks

 

[Cindy B]

Are you talking about the green box?

Here in the grocery stores--it is about 99 cents a box and most weeks there is a doubled 35 cent coupon.


I did google up suddenly salad recipe and found some recipes

 

[minniebeth]

The closest I've found the the Suddenly Salad dressing is to use the Good Season's Italian dressing mix to make the salad dressing to mix into the pasta. I like to make it with regular oil and balsamic vinegar.
Then you can add in whatever your family likes.
I add pepperoni, little cubes of mozzarella cheese, carrots, celery, cucumber, green and red pepper. Sometimes olives too.

I know some that throw in tuna or cubed chicken breast too. My kids won't eat with anything else other than how I prepare it above.

I know the bag of pasta from Sam's you are talking about. It's huge! You will be eating a lot of pasta salad this summer!

 

[englishteacha]

I like making pasta salad with Italian dressing, cubed cheese, and pepperoni.

 

[lorac4disney]

I just make the pasta and top it with Italian salad dressing (I prefer the zesty or spicy varieties). I also add whatever suits my fancy (read: whatever I have handy in my pantry). I'll add olives, diced tomato, diced bell pepper, artichoke hearts, etc. I blame my stepdaughter for getting me addicted to the stuff! She always had to have it when she was younger.

 

[lorac4disney]

I almost forgot that I always top it off with a bit of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese.

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

these ideas sound good,except i will have to make the italian dressing from scratch because of the salt.

 

[savannahcat]

If you have an Aldi nearby, they have their own brand of boxed salad mix that tastes just like Betty Crocker. I'd be willing to bet that they're made by the same company. They're around $1 a box.

 

[CTdiznymom]

I make mine using Wish Bone Robusto Italian dressing, spiral tri color pasta, and then I throw in a bag of frozen mixed veggie. Chill and Serve.

I also make a macaroni salad using drained canned tuna, mayo, green relish, shredded carrott, diced celery, S&P.

 

[Janet Hill]

I make mine using Wish Bone Robusto Italian dressing, spiral tri color pasta, and then I throw in a bag of frozen mixed veggie. Chill and Serve.shredded carrott, diced celery, S&P.

Agree the robusto italian really does give the pasta a great flavor. Everyone raves when I make it for potlucks. They want the dressing recipie.

 

[cinnamon-sugah]

I just use wacky mac and 1/2 bottle of Ken's light creamy caesar dressing. Sometimes I chop up a tomato or some bell peppers if I have them. We actually like it better than the suddenly salad.

 

[r&kmommy]

My pasta salad kicks butt, if I do say so myself =o)

Spiral Pasta
I sometimes make it with wheels if my dd requests it or elbows if they're cheaper
1 bottle Ken's creamy cesar salad dressing
the small bottle
2 tomatoes
2 cucumbers
I cut the cukes in half, then in half again and remove the pulpy seedy part because it tends to make the salad watery after a day. If the salad is for a party and it's going to get eaten all up at one time then it's fine to leave them.
black olives
I get the canned large or jumbo and cut them in half (large ones) or thirds (jumbo ones)
baby carrots
I usually cut them in half lengthwise, you can use bigger carrots if you want to cut them into circles - they're certainly cheaper! But I'm lazy and don't have the best knives in the world to cut thin circles LOL!

You can pretty much use whatever veggies you want!!

Cook pasta, drain well, rinse in cold water, add all veggies and dressing (use 1/2 bottle and mix, and then see if you want more dressing... sometimes depending on how much veggies you have a whole bottle can be too much) Chill for an hour. Enjoy!!!

I sometimes add cut up chicken breast to make it even yummier!

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

I found this one on www.recipezaar.com/recipe/print?id=138528

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

Great thread - I just bought a bunch of Spiral pasta at Aldi's and was wondering how to make it into pasta salad. Has any one tried to make one that taste like the ranch bacon suddenly salad?

 

[faith]

Definitely agree with the poster about Aldi's pasta salads in a box. Love the Italian one. I buy their regular Italian dressing to put on it. They have three varieties. For the original poster who can't have salt in their dressing, after you make your own, just boil some of your Sam's pasta, add black olives, shredded cheese, etc what ever your family likes.

 

[uromac]

Here's the Bacon Suddenly Salad copy recipe from Recipeczar that gets rave reviews:

Homemade "suddenly Salad" Recipe #138528
(The bacon ranch one.)

18 min | 10 min prep

SERVES 4

2 cups uncooked shell pasta
4-5 peeled baby carrots, shredded or 1 large regular carrot
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
3/4 cup mayonnaise, more if desired (but NOT miracle whip)
1/2 (1 ounce) packet hidden valley ranch dressing mix
1/4 cup bacon bit (I use Hormel REAL bacon bits or pieces)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
In large bowl, mix mayo, dressing mix, bacon bits, shredded carrots and onion powder. Chill while making the rest.
Cook pasta according to pkg. directions for pasta using the shortest alotted time. (Or cook al dente.).
Drain and cool.
Fold in pasta well. Fold in peas last, carefully.
Chill for several hours.
Serve chilled or room temperature.
Refresh salad if needed with a tiny bit of mayo, but it usually doesn't need it.
Garnish top with more bacon bits/pieces.

ENJOY

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

Here's the Bacon Suddenly Salad copy recipe from Recipeczar that gets rave reviews:

Homemade "suddenly Salad" Recipe #138528
(The bacon ranch one.)

18 min | 10 min prep

SERVES 4

2 cups uncooked shell pasta
4-5 peeled baby carrots, shredded or 1 large regular carrot
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
3/4 cup mayonnaise, more if desired (but NOT miracle whip)
1/2 (1 ounce) packet hidden valley ranch dressing mix
1/4 cup bacon bit (I use Hormel REAL bacon bits or pieces)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
In large bowl, mix mayo, dressing mix, bacon bits, shredded carrots and onion powder. Chill while making the rest.
Cook pasta according to pkg. directions for pasta using the shortest alotted time. (Or cook al dente.).
Drain and cool.
Fold in pasta well. Fold in peas last, carefully.
Chill for several hours.
Serve chilled or room temperature.
Refresh salad if needed with a tiny bit of mayo, but it usually doesn't need it.
Garnish top with more bacon bits/pieces.

ENJOY

That sure sound like it would taste the same - I need to get some Hidden Valley dressing mixes.
thanks

 

[extremesoccermom]

This thread could not have come at a better time I need to make something for a pot luck picnic tomorrow and I was thinking about a pasta salad. I don't really like the Suddenly, salad but a number of ideas on hear sound perfect.

 

[RangerPooh]

Perfect thread. I was wanting this the other day but our Safeway doesn't carry the Pasta Salad anymore.