Quick Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
This Quick Italian Pasta Salad is a simple, flavorful dish perfect for a light lunch or a side at summer gatherings. Featuring tender pasta tossed with zesty Italian dressing, fresh vegetables, and cheese, it’s a refreshing dish that comes together in minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces rotini or penne pasta
Dressing
- 1/3 cup Italian dressing
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
Cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to cool and stop cooking.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, toss the cooled pasta with Italian dressing, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese until everything is evenly coated and mixed.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- For a more robust flavor, add black olives or pepperoncini peppers.
- You can substitute mozzarella with feta cheese for a tangier twist.
- This salad can be prepared a day ahead to enhance the taste.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make the recipe gluten-free.
Keywords: Italian pasta salad, quick pasta salad, summer salad, cold pasta dish, easy pasta recipe, Italian dressing pasta
Find it online: https://dylangranv.com/quick-italian-pasta-salad-recipe/
