Pasta Salad for a Picnic
Bright, fresh, and bursting with Mediterranean-inspired flavors, this Pasta Salad for a Picnic is the ultimate dish for your next outdoor gathering. Featuring tender rotini pasta tossed with a vibrant medley of cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, red bell pepper, black olives, and red onion, this salad delivers both color and crunch. The homemade dressing—a zesty blend of olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, and oregano—infuses every bite with tangy, herby goodness. Finished with creamy feta cheese crumbles and aromatic fresh basil, this make-ahead pasta salad is quick to prepare in just 30 minutes and easy to transport, making it the perfect side dish for picnics, potlucks, or barbecues. Serve it chilled or at room temperature and watch it disappear!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 red bell pepper
- 0.5 cup black olives
- 0.25 red onion
- 0.5 cup feta cheese crumbles
- 0.25 cup fresh basil leaves
- 0.25 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse 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, slice the black olives, and finely chop the red onion.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, dijon mustard, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
In a large salad bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, black olives, and red onion.
Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta salad and toss until well coated.
Gently fold in the feta cheese crumbles and fresh basil leaves.
Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Chill the pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Serve cold or at room temperature, perfect for a picnic or any outdoor gathering.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2210 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 83.9 g | 108% | |
| Saturated Fat | 18.9 g | 94% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5.9 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 50 mg | 17% | |
| Sodium | 2336 mg | 102% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 299.8 g | 109% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 21.0 g | 75% | |
| Total Sugars | 31.3 g | ||
| Protein | 57.8 g | 116% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 589 mg | 45% | |
| Iron | 19.3 mg | 107% | |
| Potassium | 2142 mg | 46% | |
*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.
