Description
This festive Christmas Pasta Salad combines roasted cinnamon sweet potatoes, apple, white cheddar cheese, and dried cranberries with a tangy balsamic maple dressing. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it's colorful, flavorful, and easy to prepare.
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 and spray a sheet pan with non-stick spray, setting it aside for the sweet potatoes.
- Prepare sweet potatoes: Peel and dice the sweet potatoes, then toss them in a bowl with cinnamon until evenly coated.
- Roast sweet potatoes: Spread the cinnamon-coated sweet potatoes evenly on the prepared sheet pan and roast for 35 minutes. Remove and allow to cool completely.
- Cook pasta: Boil the Christmas-shaped pasta according to the package directions. Drain and let 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 fully combined. Set aside.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cooled roasted sweet potatoes, cooled cooked pasta, diced apple, cubed white cheddar cheese, dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, finely diced red onion, and baby arugula.
- Toss with dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and mix gently until everything is well coated and evenly distributed.
- Serve: Serve the salad immediately to enjoy the fresh, vibrant flavors.
Notes
- Use any shaped pasta if Christmas shapes are unavailable.
- Walnuts can be toasted for a nuttier flavor before adding.
- To make ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss just before serving to maintain freshness.
- Substitute honey for maple syrup if preferred.
- For a crunchier texture, add celery or toasted pumpkin seeds.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
