Tastiest Pasta Salad
Bursting with vibrant Mediterranean flavors, the Tastiest Pasta Salad is a fresh and satisfying dish perfect for any occasion. This colorful recipe combines tender rotini pasta with crisp vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red bell pepper, complemented by briny black olives and creamy feta cheese. Tossed in a homemade zesty vinaigrette featuring olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and fragrant oregano, this pasta salad is irresistibly flavorful and easy to prepare. With just 15 minutes of prep time and a quick chill in the fridge, it’s the ideal make-ahead side dish for picnics, potlucks, or weeknight dinners. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a crowd-pleasing favorite that’s light, refreshing, and utterly delicious! Keywords: pasta salad, Mediterranean pasta salad, easy side dish, fresh summer recipes, make-ahead salad recipes.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Rotini pasta
- 2 cups Cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium Cucumber
- 1 large Red bell pepper
- 0.5 small Red onion
- 1 cup Black olives (sliced)
- 0.75 cup Feta cheese (crumbled)
- 0.25 cup Fresh parsley (chopped)
- 0.25 cup Olive oil
- 3 tbsp Red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 clove Garlic (minced)
- 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 cool. Set aside.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, thinly slice the red onion, and set them aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, feta cheese, and parsley.
To make the dressing, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss well to coat all ingredients evenly.
Cover the pasta salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Before serving, give the salad a good toss and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
297 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 19.1 g | 24% | |
| Saturated Fat | 5.2 g | 26% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 17 mg | 6% | |
| Sodium | 631 mg | 27% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 26.6 g | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.9 g | 14% | |
| Total Sugars | 4.6 g | ||
| Protein | 7.2 g | 14% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 143 mg | 11% | |
| Iron | 1.8 mg | 10% | |
| Potassium | 363 mg | 8% | |
*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.
