Description
A festive and colorful Christmas Pasta Salad featuring roasted cinnamon sweet potatoes, Christmas-shaped pasta, fresh apples, white cheddar cheese, dried cranberries, walnuts, and baby arugula, all tossed in a flavorful maple-balsamic dressing. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as a vibrant side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 2 sweet potatoes, diced and roasted
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 8 oz cooked pasta, Christmas shapes
- 1 Honey Crisp apple, diced
- 6 oz white cheddar cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
- 2 handfuls baby arugula
Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a sheet pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Peel and dice the sweet potatoes and transfer them to a bowl. Toss with cinnamon until evenly coated.
- Roast Sweet Potatoes: Spread the diced sweet potatoes evenly on the prepared sheet pan. Roast in the oven for 35 minutes or until tender and slightly caramelized. Remove from oven and let cool.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the Christmas-shaped pasta according to package instructions. Drain and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, maple syrup, and salt until well combined. Set the dressing aside.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cooled roasted sweet potatoes, cooked and cooled pasta, diced apple, cubed white cheddar cheese, dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, finely diced red onion, and baby arugula.
- Toss Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss until everything is well coated and evenly mixed.
- Serve: Serve the Christmas Pasta Salad immediately as a festive side or main dish.
Notes
- Roasting the sweet potatoes ahead of time allows them to cool and develop a sweeter flavor.
- Using Christmas-shaped pasta adds a fun, seasonal touch to the dish.
- Substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds for different nutty flavors.
- For a creamier dressing, add a tablespoon of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt.
- This salad can be served chilled or at room temperature based on preference.
- Make sure the pasta and sweet potatoes are fully cooled before combining to prevent wilting the arugula.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
