Description
Classic Pasta Salad is a simple and refreshing dish made with tender pasta, crisp vegetables, and a tangy Italian dressing, perfect for any picnic, BBQ, or potluck.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 12 oz rotini or elbow pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, black olives, bell pepper, and cheddar cheese.
- Pour Italian dressing over the salad and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Toss until everything is well combined and evenly coated with dressing.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld.
- Garnish with fresh parsley before serving if desired.
Notes
- Tri-color pasta adds extra visual appeal to the salad.
- Add diced salami or pepperoni for a heartier version.
- Best when made a few hours ahead to allow the flavors to develop.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 10mg