Crunchy Creamy Sweet - Easy Recipes for Busy Parents

Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

June 18, 2018 by Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet Leave a Comment

Italian Pasta Salad Recipe – rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, pepperoni and fresh mozzarella tossed with homemade Italian dressing. Perfect side dish to your summer dinners!

On a hot summer day, I find myself craving a cold pasta salad full of fresh vegetables and tossed with delicious homemade dressing. This Italian Pasta Salad is currently our go-to, along with it’s Greek version (I will share it soon!) and the super popular BLT Pasta Salad. You can make it ahead of time and serve for lunch or a light dinner, or simply as a side dish. It’s always a hit!

This Italian Pasta Salad is perfect for potlucks and BBQ summer parties. You can easily make a big batch to feed a crowd!

Instant Pot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Recipe

June 11, 2018 by Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet 13 Comments

Instant Pot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Recipe – pulled chicken with sweet pineapple BBQ sauce cooked in pressure cooker. Perfect served as sandwiches!

One of the fastest chicken dinners I make during summer is a slow cooker BBQ chicken. It is as easy as placing chicken in the crock pot and topping it with BBQ sauce. I jazzed up the idea and converted it to use in my Instant Pot and now I have a new family favorite! And it’s as easy yet much faster to make!

This Instant Pot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken is the perfect summer dinner! You do not need to stand over a hot grill or heat up the house with an oven. Simply add chicken, pineapple with juice and BBQ sauce to your IP and let it cook.

Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon

June 8, 2018 by Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet 6 Comments

Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon – green peas, cheddar, red onion and bacon tossed with light Ranch dressing. Great summer side dish for potlucks!

The under-rated green peas get a center stage in summer’s favorite side dish! This Creamy Pea Salad is a great way to enjoy them, paired with cheese, bacon and creamy dressing. It’s perfect served cold with BBQ meat, sandwiches or mixed with cooked pasta for a great lunch salad.

This Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon is a crowd-pleaser and can be made a day ahead. If you are worried about the onion overwhelming the dish, simply store it separately and add just before serving. I used my favorite creamy dressing recipe from the BLT Pasta Salad. It’s perfect!

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