Description
Bright, colorful, and bursting with flavor, the Exquisite Italian Dressing Pasta Salad is the perfect dish for your summer picnics. This customizable salad combines fresh vegetables, pasta, and a zesty dressing to create a refreshing side that elevates any outdoor gathering. With its vibrant hues and delightful textures, this pasta salad is sure to impress your guests while being simple to prepare ahead of time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, peeled and diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced (any color)
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- ¾ cup Italian dressing (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped (optional)
- Sliced pepperoncini peppers (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced bell pepper, and sliced red onion.
- Add the sliced black olives and shredded Parmesan cheese to the vegetable mixture.
- In a separate bowl, mix the Italian dressing with chopped basil (if using). Pour over the pasta salad and toss until well coated.
- If desired, add sliced pepperoncini peppers and mix gently.
- Cover the salad with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 15mg