Summer Everything Pasta Salad
Bursting with vibrant summer flavors, this Summer Everything Pasta Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for warm-weather gatherings. Featuring tender penne pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and colorful bell peppers, this recipe is a celebration of fresh, seasonal ingredients. Tossed with briny black olives, creamy feta cheese, and a zesty homemade dressing made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and a touch of Dijon mustard, every bite is a perfect balance of bright and savory flavors. Finished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and basil, this pasta salad is not only easy to make in just 30 minutes but also versatile enough to serve as a refreshing side dish or a light main course. Ideal for picnics, barbecues, or meal prep, this summer pasta salad is a must-try for anyone looking for a healthy, delicious, and visually stunning dish.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Penne pasta
- 2 cups Cherry tomatoes
- 1 large Cucumber
- 2 Bell peppers (assorted colors)
- 0.5 Red onion
- 0.75 cup Black olives
- 0.5 cup Feta cheese
- 0.25 cup Fresh parsley
- 0.25 cup Basil leaves
- 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp Red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp Fresh lemon juice
- 2 Garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Honey (optional)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, rinse under cold water to cool, and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and bell peppers, and thinly slice the red onion.
Roughly chop the fresh parsley and basil leaves, and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, red onion, black olives, chopped parsley, and basil.
Crumble the feta cheese over the salad mixture.
Prepare the dressing by whisking together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey (if using), salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or jar.
Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture, then toss everything together until evenly coated.
Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Add a little extra olive oil or lemon juice to balance flavors, if desired.
Chill the pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 20-30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve cold or at room temperature. Enjoy your Summer Everything Pasta Salad as a refreshing side dish or light main course.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
884 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 85.4 g | 109% | |
| Saturated Fat | 20.3 g | 102% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 67 mg | 22% | |
| Sodium | 4204 mg | 183% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 25.3 g | 9% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.7 g | 13% | |
| Total Sugars | 9.3 g | ||
| Protein | 13.4 g | 27% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 512 mg | 39% | |
| Iron | 8.1 mg | 45% | |
| Potassium | 332 mg | 7% | |
*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.
