Description
This easy pasta salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish loaded with colorful vegetables, mozzarella pearls, and a zesty Italian dressing. Perfectly cooked rotini pasta combined with fresh cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and herbs create a delightful medley of flavors and textures. Ideal for picnics, potlucks, BBQs, or as a make-ahead meal, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s simple to prepare and serve chilled.
Ingredients
Pasta Salad
- 12 oz (340 g) rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella pearls
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Italian Dressing
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, usually about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down for the salad.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta along with the halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, red bell pepper, thinly sliced red onion, sliced black olives, mozzarella pearls, grated Parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh parsley. Gently toss to combine all the fresh ingredients evenly.
- Make the dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and emulsified.
- Toss salad with dressing: Pour the prepared Italian dressing over the pasta salad and toss thoroughly to ensure every bite is coated with the flavorful dressing.
- Chill before serving: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together and to serve the pasta salad cold and refreshing.
Notes
- For extra protein, add salami, grilled chicken, or chickpeas to the pasta salad.
- If the salad has been chilled for several hours, give it another good toss before serving to redistribute the dressing.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days to maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
