Description
This Easy Pasta Salad Recipe is a refreshing and colorful dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light meal. Featuring rotini pasta combined with crisp cucumbers, juicy grape tomatoes, bell peppers, red onions, black olives, and tangy feta cheese, all tossed in a flavorful Italian dressing, this salad is simple to make and bursting with Mediterranean-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Cheese
- 16 ounces rotini pasta (or any medium pasta shape)
- ⅔ cup crumbled feta cheese (or to taste)
Vegetables
- 1 medium English cucumber, chopped
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 small bell pepper (any color), chopped
- ¼ cup sliced black olives (optional)
- ¼ cup finely diced red onion (or sliced green onions)
Dressing and Herbs
- 1 cup Italian dressing (or homemade dressing in the notes)
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the rotini pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta down.
- Prepare the vegetables: While the pasta cooks, chop the English cucumber, halve the grape tomatoes, chop the bell pepper, and finely dice the red onion or slice the green onions as preferred.
- Combine ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, chopped vegetables, Italian dressing, and chopped fresh parsley. Toss thoroughly to ensure everything is evenly coated with dressing.
- Season and add cheese: Add salt and black pepper to taste, then gently fold in the crumbled feta cheese, taking care not to break it up too much.
- Chill to blend flavors: Refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours before serving, allowing the flavors to meld and the pasta to absorb the dressing for the best taste.
Notes
- For a homemade Italian dressing, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar.
- The salad can be made a day ahead for more developed flavors.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like sliced radishes or shredded carrots for extra crunch.
- For a vegan option, omit the feta cheese or replace with a dairy-free alternative.
- Make sure to rinse the pasta well after cooking to cool it and prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: easy pasta salad, rotini pasta salad, Mediterranean pasta salad, summer salad, pasta salad with feta, vegetable pasta salad, picnic recipes
