Description
Pasta salad is a vibrant, refreshing dish that brings together perfectly cooked pasta, crisp vegetables, and creamy feta cheese, all tossed in a zesty Italian dressing. This quick and easy recipe is ideal for summer picnics, potlucks, or family gatherings. In just 20 minutes, you can create a customizable salad that pleases any crowd. Whether served as a main dish on a bed of greens, paired with grilled proteins, or enjoyed as a side at barbecues, this pasta salad never disappoints. Prepare it ahead of time to allow the flavors to meld for an even tastier experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 medium English cucumber (chopped)
- 1 pint grape tomatoes (halved)
- 1 small bell pepper (chopped)
- ¼ cup finely diced red onion
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- ¼ cup sliced black olives (optional)
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- â…” cup crumbled feta cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- While the pasta cools, chop the cucumber, grape tomatoes, bell pepper, and red onion into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the chopped vegetables and Italian dressing. Toss well.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Gently fold in crumbled feta cheese.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to blend.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 20mg