Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing Recipe
Let’s be honest—pasta salad is basically the Beyoncé of picnics: colorful, bold, and guaranteed to steal everyone’s attention.
Add zesty Italian dressing, and suddenly those boring raw veggies finally have a reason to exist outside your fridge’s forgotten drawer.
This dish screams effortless chic while secretly requiring less commitment than swiping left on yet another questionable dating profile.
The flavors pop, the textures crunch, and the vinaigrette practically does a happy dance around every pasta spiral.
So, yes, pasta salad with Italian dressing is the sassy, no-drama friend every summer table desperately needs.
Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing Recipe
A refreshing vegan pasta salad tossed with crisp vegetables and tangy Italian dressing, perfect for quick meals, potlucks, or warm afternoons.
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup cucumber diced
- 1 cup bell pepper chopped
- ½ cup black olives sliced
- ¼ cup red onion finely chopped
- ½ cup carrots shredded
- ½ cup fresh parsley chopped
For Dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- In mixing bowl, whisk olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Add pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, olives, onion, carrots, and parsley. Toss well.
- Chill for 30 minutes before serving for best flavor.
Notes
Nutritional Values (per serving)
- Calories: 320
- Total Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 7g
Vitamins and Minerals (per serving)
- Vitamin C: 35%
- Vitamin A: 22%
- Folate: 20%
- Iron: 18%
- Magnesium: 15%
Additional Notes & Tips
- Use gluten-free pasta if you’re feeling fancy—or just avoiding tummy drama.
- Toss in artichokes or roasted zucchini for a gourmet twist.
- Make ahead; it only gets sassier as it chills.
