Description

A bright, refreshing, and simple pasta salad featuring tender rotini or bowtie pasta tossed with crisp vegetables, kalamata olives, and a tangy, herb-packed Italian dressing. Perfect for quick weekday meals, picnics, or potlucks, this flavorful salad bursts with vibrant colors and textures for an easy and satisfying dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

8 oz rotini or bowtie pasta

Vegetables

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup bell peppers (any color), chopped
1/3 cup kalamata olives, sliced if large

Dressing & Cheese

3/4 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Herbs

2 tbsp fresh basil or Italian parsley, chopped

Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Begin by boiling salted water and cooking your choice of pasta just until al dente. Avoid overcooking so the pasta retains enough bite to hold the dressing well.
Prepare the Veggies: While pasta cooks, rinse and chop the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and bell peppers into bite-size pieces. Thinly slice the olives if necessary, and chop fresh herbs for garnish.
Mix the Dressing and Combine: Drain the pasta and transfer it to a large bowl. While still warm, toss with the Italian dressing to allow the noodles to absorb the flavors fully.
Add Vegetables and Cheese: Gently fold in the chopped vegetables, olives, freshly grated parmesan, and herbs. Mix until everything is evenly coated with dressing and start to chill if desired.
Chill and Serve: For best flavor, refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld beautifully together before serving.

Notes

Don’t Overcook Pasta: Keep it al dente so your salad has perfect texture and won’t become mushy when chilled.
Use Fresh Herbs: They brighten the overall flavor and make a marked difference in your salad’s aroma.
Toss While Warm: Mixing the pasta with dressing while still warm helps it absorb more flavor deeply.
Adjust Dressing Amount: Start with less and add more if needed — you want flavorful but not soggy.
Chill Before Serving: Allow the salad to rest in the fridge so the tastes marry perfectly.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Appetizers
Method: Boiling
Cuisine: Italian-inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 280
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 520mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 34g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 7g
Cholesterol: 10mg

Keywords: pasta salad, Italian dressing, rotini pasta, bowtie pasta, picnic salad, quick salad, veggie pasta salad, easy Italian salad