Description
This Easy Italian Pasta Salad recipe is a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a light meal. It features a medley of pasta, fresh vegetables, cheese, and a zesty dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad:
- 12 oz rotini or fusilli pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- ¾ cup black olives, sliced
- ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella balls or cubes
- ½ cup sliced pepperoni or salami (optional)
Dressing and Toppings:
- ½ cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the pasta until al dente, then rinse under cold water.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, red onion, mozzarella, and pepperoni if using.
- Add Dressing: Pour Italian dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
- Final Touches: Mix in Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Customize with additional veggies or omit meat for a vegetarian version.
- Consider using whole wheat or gluten-free pasta as desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1½ cups
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
