Description
Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing: An Incredible Ultimate Recipe
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces rotini or penne pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumbers, diced
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced (red, yellow, or green)
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, cubed (optional)
- 1 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried basil)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- While the pasta is cooking, wash and chop the cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, red onion, and olives. Set them aside in a large mixing bowl.
- In the mixing bowl with the chopped vegetables, add the drained pasta, mozzarella cheese (if using), and fresh basil.
- Pour the Italian dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss everything together until well combined, ensuring the dressing evenly coats all the ingredients.
- Taste the salad and season with salt and pepper as desired. Adjust the dressing if you prefer a bolder flavor.
- For the best flavor, let the salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.
- Toss the salad again before serving to refresh the ingredients. Transfer to a serving dish or individual bowls for easier serving.
Notes
- Feel free to customize with your favorite vegetables
- Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free option
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Pasta Salad, Italian Dressing, Salad Recipe