Description
This Easy Pasta Salad is a colorful, flavorful dish that comes together in just minutes. Packed with crisp vegetables, tender pasta, and a zesty Italian-style dressing, it’s perfect for summer cookouts, meal prep, or a refreshing side. Customizable and always a crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 12 oz rotini pasta (or your favorite short pasta)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely sliced
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup cubed cheddar or mozzarella (optional)
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: fresh parsley or basil, chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, olives, and cheese if using.
- Pour in Italian dressing and toss until everything is well coated.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to blend.
- Garnish with fresh herbs if desired and serve cold.
Notes
- Use gluten-free pasta to make it gluten-free.
- Try adding protein like grilled chicken, chickpeas, or salami for a heartier salad.
- Pasta shapes like penne, farfalle, or fusilli work great too.
- Make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Details
Nutrition
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
