Description
A vibrant explosion of flavors and textures, this Spicy Italian Pasta Salad combines fluffy pasta, crunchy vegetables, and a zesty Italian dressing, making it the perfect summer side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz pasta (e.g., rotini or penne)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions in salted water until al dente.
- Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, and olives.
- Pour the Italian dressing over the salad, adding the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Toss everything together until well coated.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
Make-ahead tips: This salad can be made a day in advance for better flavor. Reserve some dressing to prevent dryness when serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Chilling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: pasta salad, Italian, summer dish, side dish, vegetarian