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–+ servings

Classic Pasta Salad

A flavorful and colorful pasta salad perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, and quick meals.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 8 ounces Pasta (8 ounces) Any bite-sized shape like rotini, penne, or bowties.
Vegetables
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes (1 cup), halved For sweet bursts of flavor.
  • 1 medium Cucumber (1 medium), diced For a refreshing crunch.
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper (1), chopped Adds a nice pop of color.
  • 1/4 Red Onion (1/4), finely chopped You can substitute with green onions for milder flavor.
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley (1/4 cup), chopped Feel free to swap with basil or dill.
Dressing
  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil (1/4 cup) Use high-quality for the best flavor.
  • 3 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar (3 tablespoons) Lemon juice can be a substitute.
  • 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning (1 teaspoon) Or make your own blend!
  • to taste Salt and Pepper (to taste) Seasoning makes all the difference.

Method
 

Cooking Pasta
  1. Start by boiling a large pot of salted water. Once it’s bubbling, toss the pasta in.
  2. Cook according to package instructions until al dente. Check a minute or two before suggested time.
Preparing Vegetables
  1. While the pasta is cooking, chop the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, and onion.
Combining Ingredients
  1. Once the pasta is done, drain it and rinse under cold water to cool it down.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta with fresh veggies.
  3. Drizzle in the olive oil and red wine vinegar, then sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  4. Toss everything to coat in the dressing and adjust seasonings if needed.
Chilling
  1. Cover the bowl and let the pasta salad sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 6gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4g

Notes

This salad is great with grilled meats or served as a lunchbox delight. Holds well in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

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