Creamy Italian Pasta Salad
Elevate your summer gatherings with this irresistible Creamy Italian Pasta Salad, a vibrant and flavorful side dish that's as creamy as it is refreshing. Packed with tender rotini pasta, crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet red bell peppers, tangy black olives, and rich mozzarella cheese, every bite bursts with fresh, Mediterranean-inspired ingredients. The star of the dish is its luscious dressing—a perfect blend of creamy mayonnaise, tangy sour cream, and zesty Italian seasoning that coats each ingredient in indulgent flavor. With a sprinkle of fragrant basil and a cool chill from the fridge, this make-ahead dish is ideal for picnics, potlucks, or easy weeknight dinners. Ready in just 30 minutes with minimal prep, this easy-to-follow recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Rotini pasta
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
- 1 Cucumber
- 1 Red bell pepper
- 0.5 Red onion
- 0.5 cup Black olives (sliced)
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese (cubed or shredded)
- 2 tbsp Fresh basil leaves (chopped)
- 0.75 cup Mayonnaise
- 0.5 cup Sour cream
- 0.25 cup Italian dressing
- 0.5 tsp Garlic powder
- 0.5 tsp Dried oregano
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 0.25 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package instructions, about 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, thinly slice the red onion, and chop the basil leaves.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and mozzarella cheese. Toss gently to combine.
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Italian dressing, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to create the creamy dressing.
Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables in the large mixing bowl. Toss everything together until well-coated and evenly mixed.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Before serving, give the salad a quick toss and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with extra chopped basil, if desired.
Serve cold and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2987 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 237.2 g | 304% | |
| Saturated Fat | 73.6 g | 368% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 6.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 283 mg | 94% | |
| Sodium | 4964 mg | 216% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 154.2 g | 56% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 13.7 g | 49% | |
| Total Sugars | 36.4 g | ||
| Protein | 83.7 g | 167% | |
| Vitamin D | 4.0 mcg | 20% | |
| Calcium | 1932 mg | 149% | |
| Iron | 8.6 mg | 48% | |
| Potassium | 1347 mg | 29% | |
*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.
