Easy Classic Pasta Salad
A vibrant and versatile pasta salad that brings friends and family together, perfect for gatherings and meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces pasta (rotini or penne)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by boiling a large pot of salted water. Once bubbling, add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
- While the pasta cooks, chop the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion.
- Drain the cooked pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped veggies, black olives, and mozzarella. Toss gently.
- Whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl then taste it.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
This salad is perfect for potlucks and can be made ahead of time. Allow flavors to meld for the best taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: pasta salad, easy salad, party salad, vegetarian pasta salad