Description
Elevate your summer gatherings with this vibrant cold pasta salad, featuring perfectly cooked pasta, crisp vegetables, and a zesty Italian dressing. This dish is not just a side; it’s the star of the show! Ideal for picnics and potlucks, this refreshing salad is easy to prepare, customizable, and bursting with flavors that will impress even the pickiest eaters.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz rotini or penne pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1 cup bell peppers (any color), sliced
- 1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- While the pasta cools, chop the vegetables: halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, slice bell peppers, and finely chop red onion.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta and chopped vegetables. Drizzle with Italian dressing and mix well.
- Add grated Parmesan cheese and torn basil leaves; gently toss to combine.
- Cover the bowl or transfer to an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Chilling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (150g)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 10mg