Reggano Classic Pasta Salad + Ranch & Bacon Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is versatile. It makes a great side dish, or add some cooked chicken to turn it into a main dish for lunch. Aldi offers two varieties of boxed pasta salad kits as Seasonal Favorites, meaning these products are in stores usually for a longer time compared to weekly ALDI Find (Special Buy) products. These are inspired by the Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad boxed pasta mixes in Ranch & Bacon and Classic styles.

The Reggano Classic Pasta Salad and Reggano Ranch & Bacon Pasta Salad were 99 cents each at the time of publication. Both contain 0 grams of trans fat. The name-brand Betty Crocker pasta salad boxes retailed for $2.39 each at the time of publication. That’s a significant cost savings. My family cannot tell much of a noticeable taste difference between the Betty Crocker brand and the Aldi brand.

Here is a closer look at each of the Aldi pasta salad mixes:

Reggano Classic Pasta Salad

This 7.75-ounce box contains pasta, red bell peppers, and seasoning mix. My family enjoys this pasta salad, which is loaded with lots of dried red bell peppers and has fewer calories than the Ranch & Bacon pasta salad.

A half-cup serving of prepare pasta nets you 250 calories. The front of the box says one serving is only 190 calories, but a closer look at the nutrition label indicates that is for the unprepared mix alone.

To prepare on the stove top, heat 8 cups of water to boiling in a 3-quart saucepan. Add the pasta and vegetable blend and gently boil, uncovered, stirring occasionally about 12 minutes or until the pasta is tender.

Drain and rinse with cold water; shake well to drain completely.

In a separate bowl, combine the seasoning mix, 3 tablespoons cold water, and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add the cooked, rinsed, and drained pasta and vegetable blend. Mix well. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

To prepare in the microwave, in a bowl, stir together the seasoning packet, vegetable oil, and water. Set aside. Fill a 2.5-quart microwaveable casserole dish (with handles) with 4 cups of hot water. Pour pouch of pasta and vegetable blend into the hot water and stir. Microwave uncovered on high for 16-17 minutes or until pasta is tender. Microwave times vary. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water and add it to the seasoning and oil mix and stir.

Optional stir-in ideas include adding 1/2 cup of chopped fresh tomatoes or vegetables (olives would go well with this), or adding 1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken, turkey, roast beef, or ham.

The back of the box also includes a recipe:

Greek Spinach-Pasta Salad with Feta and Beans

Ingredients:

• 5-6 oz. fresh baby spinach
• 15-oz. can of Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
• 4 oz. crumbled feta cheese
• 1 tablespoon snipped fresh oregano

Preparation:

1. In a large bowl, stir in prepared pasta, spinach, and beans.
2. Top mixture with feta and snipped fresh oregano.
3. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for one hour to chill.

Reggano Ranch & Bacon Pasta Salad

This 7.5-ounce box contains pasta, vegetable blend, and seasoning mix, and it contains imitation bacon chips. This is my family’s favorite of the two pasta salad kit options. It has good ranch flavor, and the imitation bacon chips add a nice salty crunch, although it does pack more calories than the Classic Pasta Salad mix.

A half-cup prepared serving nets you 300 calories. The box front indicates one serving is only 150 calories, but that is for the unprepared mix.

To prepare on the stove top, in a 3-quart saucepan, heat 8 cups of water to boiling. Add pasta and vegetable blend and gently boil, uncovered, stirring occasionally about 12 minutes or until the pasta is tender.

Drain and rinse with cold water; shake well to drain completely.

In a separate bowl, combine the seasoning mix and 1/2 cup of mayonnaise. Add the cooked, rinsed, and drained pasta and vegetable blend and mix well. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

To prepare in the microwave, in a bowl, stir together the seasoning packet and mayonnaise and set aside. Fill a 2.5-quart microwavable casserole dish (with handles) with 4 1/2 cups of hot water. Pour the pouch of pasta and vegetable blend into the hot water and stir. Microwave uncovered on high for 15-17 minutes or until pasta is tender. Microwave times may vary. Drain and rinse the pasta and shake well to drain completely. Then add the seasoning and mayonnaise blend and stir well.

Stir-in ideas include 1/2 cup of chopped fresh tomatoes or vegetables, or 1 1/2 cups of chopped cooked chicken, turkey, roast beef, or ham.

This box also includes a recipe:

Smoky BBQ Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup frozen corn
• 1/4 cup smoky BBQ sauce
• 1/2 cup cooked cubed chicken
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• lettuce leaves

Preparation:

1. In a large bowl, stir together seasoning packet, mayonnaise, and BBQ sauce.
2. Stir in prepared pasta, corn, chicken, and tomatoes.
3. Line serving plate with lettuce leaves.
4. Top with salad mixture; sprinkle with green onions.
5. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for one hour to chill.

The Verdict:

Aldi’s Reggano Classic Pasta Salad and Ranch & Bacon Pasta Salad are both solid. They work well as a side dish for a lunch or cookout, or add some protein to make them a full meal. I like to throw in a handful of fresh veggies such as diced tomatoes, peppers, or cucumber to up the game a bit. These pasta salad mixes tend to be in stores during the warmer months, just when you may want them for barbecues and picnics.