Recipe Box, Smokey Chipotle Pasta Salad

I am participating in the Mystery Ingredient Club over at Rattlebridge Farm today. The mystery ingredient this time is chipotle.
Once I started looking around, I found chipotle in so many different things…I ultimately decided to try a pasta salad recipe from the Pioneer Woman. I did change a few things, if you want to see her version click here
Now I must confess, I am a huge wimp in the heat department ^^’ All my recipes tend to be on the mild side, so feel free to kick up the heat in this pasta if it suits you!
I chose to use Chipotle Gouda because I felt I could control the heat more easily with cheese rather than using the actual peppers
I paired it with some Smoked Gouda, which is in the original recipe
I also added some sauteed squash, do it quickly over medium high heat to get some color on it~but slow down before you try to take a picture of it 🙂
The dressing is just milk, mayo, vinegar and salt and pepper
Pour it over the cooked tortellini in a large bowl
Add tomatoes and cheese
toss in the squash
fresh basil is a perfect final touch~

Smokey Chipotle Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 20 oz. cheese tortellini pasta [I used Buitoni fresh pasta from the dairy case]
- 1 pint grape tomatoes halved
- 2 oz. Chipotle Cheddar* cheese cubed
- 2 oz. Smoked Gouda* cheese cubed
- 1 medium zucchini sliced and quartered
- 1 large or 2 small yellow squash sliced and quartered
- 1 T olive oil
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup whole or 2% milk
- 4 T vinegar
- salt and pepper
- fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions and drain well. Let cool.
- Saute squash in olive oil over medium high heat cook and brown.
- Mix mayonnaise with milk and vinegar and season with salt and pepper.
- Place tortellini in a large bowl and toss with dressing. Add cheese, squash and tomatoes. Toss gently to combine. Refrigerate for several hours before serving. Garnish with basil leaves or chiffonade~
Notes
for another printable version of Smokey Chipotle Pasta Salad click here
Later this week I’ll show you the recipe for the Healthier Heart Tarts pictured with the Smokey Chipotle Pasta Salad
Be sure to check out all these amazing chipotle recipes! Just click on the blue frog and you will see all the entries! You can also link up right from here if you have a chipotle recipe you’d like to share!
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I will be joining:
Comments
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Lovin’ the chipotle cheddar Jenna! Yep, I think the cheese would help tame some heat too and your salad sounds like a perfect lunch:@)
Hey Jenna, Like you I’m lightweight when it comes to spicy and heat in my food. This looks easy and delicious and perfect for the hot weather. I’m sure this will be a hit here. Your photography is beautiful, love the way you photographed this presentation.
Happy Summer
Oh thank you Emily! The cheese really makes the salad~
Ooh Jenna, I will look for the chipotle cheddar as I bet it adds a wonderful kick! Your pasta salad is a complete meal with the tortellini and veggies. Thanks for the inspiration, as always.
Thank you Kitty, so sweet!
Jenna, this is fabulous! I needed a recipe for a summery pasta with a bit of heat. Your photos are so beguiling, I just wish I could be right there to sample this salad. I’m going to look for chipotle gouda at Publix. I don’t know if you received my emails, so can you send your address? I’ve got a little gift for you.
I’m in the wimp club with you. I can take a little heat, but too much destroys my taste buds! I love the idea of chipotle gouda! Great inspiration. I have zucchini and basil growing in the garden so this will be a perfect recipe to recreate. So fun partying with you!
Chipotle cheese sounds perfect!
Jenna, Your lunch tray looks delicious and so appealing with your pasta salad!I love the combination of the Chipotle Cheddar and Smoked Gouda. I see you’ve cracked open the Duke’s Mayo finally 🙂
I did it just for you! You guilted me into it, and rightly so 🙂
I’d love to try the chipotle cheese! The pasta salad would be something different for my lunch. Printing it now.
This looks so fresh and delicious! So a great picnic recipe!
Thanks Mallory!
It looks delicious, so nice and fresh! I am sorry to say I discovered chipotle is not our thing, but we gave it a shot!
Yummy! Thanks for another salad recipe to add to our summer meals. This looks delicious.
Thank you Sarah!
I love pasta salad for summer meals, so refreshing. Thanks for the recipe and Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me.
Your pasta salad looks delicious. A very clever way of controlling the heat.
Madonna
MakeMineLemon
I am always looking for pasta salads such as this to take on a picnic. A hunk of french bread and a bottle of wine with this salad would be absolutely devine! Thank you for the recipe.
Chipotle has been my new favorite flavor, I love it on so many things, Your salad looks delicious, I will be making it soon! Pinned.
Hugs,
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile
This sounds delicious! Will have to look out for some chipotle gouda – I’m sure I can find it somewhere in Melbourne, Australia. Will be keeping this for summer BBQ’s! Thank you for sharing and giving me some salad inspiration
Your welcome!
This pasta salad looks amazing! I love the combination of flavors you’ve got going on here. Wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing at my Creative Ways Link Party! Hope to see you again this week!
Blessings,
Nici
I need this recipe! Looks great! Pinning! Thanks for linking up with the Four Seasons Blog Hop! Sandra from Scrumptilicious4You
This looks really yummy! Can’t wait to give this recipe a try. I made a super yummy Greek pasta salad. I have the recipe posted on my blog, if you’d like to check it out: http://sweetseatstreats.wordpress.com/2014/07/02/easy-greek-pasta-salad/