Italian Garden Pasta Salad
Bursting with vibrant vegetables and Mediterranean flavors, this Italian Garden Pasta Salad is a colorful, crowd-pleasing dish perfect for any occasion. Made with tender rotini pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, red bell pepper, and tangy black olives, this salad is elevated with the savory richness of grated Parmesan cheese and the aromatic freshness of basil. Tossed in a zesty Italian dressing, it’s the ultimate combination of flavor and texture. Ready in just 30 minutes, this chilled pasta salad is a versatile option for picnics, potlucks, or a light and refreshing meal. Serve it as a side or enjoy it on its own for a taste of Italy in every bite!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 red bell pepper
- 0.5 red onion
- 0.75 cup black olives (sliced)
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 0.25 cup fresh basil leaves
- 0.75 cup Italian salad dressing
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions in a large pot of salted boiling water. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water until completely cool. Set aside.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, peel and dice the cucumber, dice the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Chop the fresh basil leaves and add them to the bowl for a pop of fresh flavor.
Pour the Italian salad dressing over the pasta and vegetables. Sprinkle in the salt and black pepper, then toss everything together until evenly coated.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld together.
Before serving, give the pasta salad a quick toss and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve chilled as a side dish or light meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2363 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 86.4 g | 111% | |
| Saturated Fat | 19.4 g | 97% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 19.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 40 mg | 13% | |
| Sodium | 5000 mg | 217% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 334.1 g | 121% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 27.9 g | 100% | |
| Total Sugars | 53.5 g | ||
| Protein | 69.8 g | 140% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 838 mg | 64% | |
| Iron | 18.8 mg | 104% | |
| Potassium | 2755 mg | 59% | |
*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.
