Catalina Pasta Salad
Bright, tangy, and irresistibly colorful, Catalina Pasta Salad is the ultimate chilled side dish that brings bold flavors and vibrant ingredients to your table. Featuring tender rotini pasta coated in zesty Catalina dressing, this easy recipe is loaded with a medley of fresh veggies like crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crunchy red bell peppers. A sprinkle of sharp shredded cheddar cheese and briny sliced black olives adds richness and depth, while a touch of fresh parsley ties everything together with a pop of freshness. Perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or a light meal, this pasta salad is easy to prepare in just 30 minutes and tastes even better after chilling, as the flavors meld into a harmonious burst of tangy-sweet perfection. Serve as a crowd-pleasing side dish or a refreshing main course for warm-weather gatherings.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup Catalina salad dressing
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 0.5 medium red onion
- 0.5 cup black olives (sliced)
- 0.75 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 0.25 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp parsley (fresh, chopped)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, thinly slice the red onion, and drain the black olives if needed.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and shredded cheddar cheese.
Pour the Catalina dressing over the salad ingredients and toss well to coat everything evenly.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste, and sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the top.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serve chilled as a side dish or light main course. Garnish with additional parsley if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
261 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 10.3 g | 13% | |
| Saturated Fat | 4.3 g | 21% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 15 mg | 5% | |
| Sodium | 619 mg | 27% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 35.9 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.4 g | 8% | |
| Total Sugars | 13.5 g | ||
| Protein | 7.3 g | 15% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 128 mg | 10% | |
| Iron | 1.1 mg | 6% | |
| Potassium | 204 mg | 4% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
