I recently went on a weekend trip to San Diego with three of my old college roommates. It had been about 14 years since we were roommates and now we have 14 kids between us! To say that our lives have changed since those college days would be an understatement; we are all busy moms now. We truly enjoyed the time we had to rejuvenate and reconnect.

At one point during our many conversations on the trip, we talked about cooking for our families and some of the challenges that go with it. My friend, Heidi, told me about one of her family’s favorite go-to-dinners that even her 3-year-old twins enjoy. They often have a “Build-Your-Own Pasta Salad Night.” I thought it was a brilliant idea so I tried it with my family, and now I have to share...

To accomplish a Build-Your-Own Pasta Night you begin by choosing your family’s favorite pasta. My family loves farfalle pasta that my kids call “butterfly pasta.” Cook the pasta and set aside. Next, you need to chop up some of your family’s favorite veggies to go with the pasta. Tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, celery, and carrots are all great choices, but really anything you enjoy. Next choose some protein to go with your pasta salad. Pepperoni, cubed ham, cubed cheese, or hard-boiled eggs are just a few ideas. And lastly, pull out a couple bottles of your family’s favorite salad dressings.

When it’s time for dinner, everyone gets their own bowl and starts creating. You start with a bowl of pasta, then add your favorite veggie and protein toppings. Finish off your pasta salad by pouring your favorite salad dressing on top. How easy is that? And why have I never thought of this before?! For my salad, I went Italian style. I had my pasta bowl topped with pepperoni, olives, chopped veggies, and then poured my favorite Olive Garden Italian dressing on top. It was delicious and I was so enthusiastic about eating it that I almost forgot to snap a picture before it was gone.

In addition to being a simple meal, this is a perfect meal for spring/summer. It is light, fresh, and tastes amazing served cold. I will admit that my kids weren’t too excited about mixing all of their pasta and toppings together into one big salad. However, they still enjoyed picking out the things they liked to put on their plates and just ate them all separately. (That is considered a dinner win at my house, and now we know that even picky eaters can enjoy this meal).

Do any of you do this with your families? What are some of your favorite pasta salad creations? I hope you all get the chance to enjoy a Build-Your-Own Pasta Salad Night at your house!