Perfect Zesty Pasta Salad
Bright, refreshing, and bursting with bold flavors, the Perfect Zesty Pasta Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for any occasion. Featuring tender rotini pasta tossed with vibrant cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, crunchy red bell pepper, tangy red onion, and savory black olives, this pasta salad is as colorful as it is delicious. A generous sprinkle of creamy crumbled feta cheese and a zesty Italian dressing tie everything together, while a hint of fresh parsley adds a herby finish. Ready in just 25 minutes, this quick and easy recipe is perfect for potlucks, picnics, or as a make-ahead lunch. Simply refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the flavors meld, and enjoy a perfectly seasoned salad that’s loaded with Mediterranean-inspired goodness.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 0.5 medium red onion
- 1 cup black olives
- 0.75 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 0.75 cup Italian dressing
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 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 package instructions until al dente (about 8-10 minutes).
Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water to cool it down. Set aside.
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 slice the black olives.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and black olives.
Add the crumbled feta cheese to the bowl.
Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to combine, ensuring all the ingredients are evenly coated.
Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley, salt, and black pepper over the salad. Toss again to distribute the seasonings.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed by adding more salt, pepper, or dressing to taste.
Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Before serving, give the salad one final toss and garnish with extra parsley, if desired. Enjoy your Perfect Zesty Pasta Salad!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2526 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 98.5 g | 126% | |
| Saturated Fat | 33.8 g | 169% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 19.8 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 150 mg | 50% | |
| Sodium | 5851 mg | 254% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 333.6 g | 121% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 23.1 g | 82% | |
| Total Sugars | 54.0 g | ||
| Protein | 77.0 g | 154% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 1237 mg | 95% | |
| Iron | 25.0 mg | 139% | |
| Potassium | 2624 mg | 56% | |
*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.
