Picnic Pasta Salad
Bursting with vibrant Mediterranean flavors, this Picnic Pasta Salad is the perfect dish for your next outdoor gathering, potluck, or casual weeknight dinner. Featuring tender bowtie pasta, crisp cucumbers, sweet cherry tomatoes, and colorful red bell peppers, this salad is balanced with the briny richness of kalamata olives and creamy crumbled feta. Tossed in a zesty homemade dressing made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and aromatic herbs, it promises a mouthwatering medley of tangy and savory notes in every bite. Ready in just 30 minutes, this make-ahead, crowd-pleasing recipe is ideal for serving chilled, ensuring it stays fresh and vibrant even on warm summer days. Elevate your mealtime with this easy, flavorful pasta salad that's as light and refreshing as it is satisfying!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 red bell pepper
- 0.5 red onion
- 0.5 cup kalamata olives (pitted)
- 0.75 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley
- 0.25 cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Cook the bowtie pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, chop the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion. Add these to a large mixing bowl.
Slice the kalamata olives into halves and add them to the bowl along with the crumbled feta cheese and chopped fresh parsley.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
Add the cooked and cooled pasta to the large mixing bowl with the vegetables, olives, and feta cheese.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and gently toss everything together until well combined.
Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt or pepper if desired.
Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld together.
Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy your Picnic Pasta Salad!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2713 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 133.0 g | 171% | |
| Saturated Fat | 40.9 g | 204% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5.4 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 160 mg | 53% | |
| Sodium | 4286 mg | 186% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 310.9 g | 113% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 24.4 g | 87% | |
| Total Sugars | 32.8 g | ||
| Protein | 78.6 g | 157% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 1205 mg | 93% | |
| Iron | 12.4 mg | 69% | |
| Potassium | 2289 mg | 49% | |
*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.
