Freeze Ahead Italian Pasta Salad
Elevate your meal prep game with this hassle-free Freeze Ahead Italian Pasta Salad—a vibrant medley of tender rotini pasta, fresh cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, sweet red bell pepper, and briny black olives. Tossed in a zesty Italian dressing and sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese and aromatic Italian herbs, this make-ahead salad is designed for ultimate convenience and flavor. Perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, or picnics, this dish can be prepped in under 30 minutes and stored in the freezer until needed. Simply thaw overnight for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing side dish or light meal that’s ready when you are. An easy, delicious way to plan ahead without compromising on taste!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 16 oz Rotini pasta
- 2 cups Cherry tomatoes
- 1 large Cucumber
- 1 medium Red bell pepper
- 1 cup Black olives, sliced
- 1.5 cups Italian dressing
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tsp Dried Italian herb seasoning
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 0.25 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
Cook the rotini pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions, typically about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables: slice the cherry tomatoes in half, peel and dice the cucumber, and chop the red bell pepper into small bite-sized pieces.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, and sliced black olives.
Pour the Italian dressing over the pasta and vegetables. Add the grated Parmesan cheese, dried Italian herb seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Gently toss everything together until well coated.
Portion the pasta salad into freezer-safe containers or zipper-top freezer bags. Ensure there is minimal air inside to prevent freezer burn. Label the containers with the date and contents.
When ready to serve, transfer the container to the refrigerator and allow the salad to thaw overnight. Once thawed, stir thoroughly, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve chilled.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3286 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 135.5 g | 174% | |
| Saturated Fat | 26.6 g | 133% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 37.8 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 40 mg | 13% | |
| Sodium | 7199 mg | 313% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 438.8 g | 160% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 32.8 g | 117% | |
| Total Sugars | 73.2 g | ||
| Protein | 81.6 g | 163% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 769 mg | 59% | |
| Iron | 24.4 mg | 136% | |
| Potassium | 2930 mg | 62% | |
*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.
