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Easy Pasta Salad is perfect to feed a crowd on a budget. It’s full of fresh ingredients and delicious pasta for a great side dish option.
Pasta salad is my go to side dish recipe for any cookouts or family gatherings. We even like to serve as a 4th of July Side Dishes. The ingredients are simple and it is easy to use what we have on hand. We also love Greek pasta salad for another yummy side dish idea. I also make these cucumber bites to get the kids to eat veggies.
Check out 21 Easy Cold Pasta Salad Recipes for more ideas. You may even like this Salad Supreme Pasta Salad.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Recipe
Make this Cold Pasta Salad for an easy Side Dish. It is easy to prepare ahead of time and it always taste amazing. You can make it hearty by adding in sliced pepperonis or leftover shredded chicken.
My whole family loves this pasta salad because of the fresh ingredients and amazing taste.
Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
Variations Ideas
- Pasta – Feel free to make this pasta with different types of pasta. You can make it with farfalle, penne, and more.
- Additions – There are many additions to this pasta salad that would add flavor and amazing taste. We suggest kalamata olives, fresh spinach, chopped arugula, and shredded carrots. You can even add in boiled eggs.
- Seasoning – Fresh herbs are always a great addition to this pasta salad. Toss in chopped basil right before serving for amazing flavor.
- Cheese – We love the addition of the Mozzarella Balls but Feta Cheese works great too.
How to Make Easy Pasta Salad
Step 1 – Cook the pasta to al la dente based on the package instructions in a large pot. Drain the pasta immediately and then rinse with cold water until pasta is cooled off.
Step 2 – In a large bowl, gently stir together the cool pasta, vegetables and Italian dressing. Then gently stir in the mozzarella balls.
Step 3 – Season with salt and pepper and top with the Parmesan Cheese and fresh parsley.
Step 4 – Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight until ready to serve. Serve cold and then enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Cooking Pasta – Prepare the pasta according to the package and cook al dente. Make sure to not overcook so the pasta does not get mushy. We like to prepare the pasta the day before so the pasta has time to cool completely.
- Make Ahead – This pasta salad is best to make ahead because it needs time to chill to really combine the ingredients.
Serving Suggestions
Pasta salad is the perfect side dish for any occasion. We love to bring it to picnics, potlucks or to serve for a weeknight meal. Prepare this pasta salad when you make Grilled Chicken Kabobs or Grilled Teriyaki Steak Recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most pasta salad are usually served chilled but can be served at room temperature.
Yes, we recommend rinsing the pasta completely after draining. This remove the gummy texture from the pasta and stops the pasta from cooking.
Store the leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This pasta salad will stay fresh for up to 4 days. You may need to add more dressing after it has been stored if it seems dried out.
More Easy Pasta Salad Recipes
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Greek Pasta Salad
Easy Side Dishes
Italian Pasta Salad
Easy Side Dishes
Best Macaroni Salad Recipe
Easy Salad
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
We love hearing from you. If you make this Easy Pasta Salad Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Easy Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Rotini Pasta
- 1 cup Italian Salad Dressing
- 1 English cucumber (peeled, sliced and quartered)
- 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes (cut in half)
- 1 bell pepper (any color, chopped)
- 1/4 cup Red Onion (diced)
- 1/4 cup black olives (sliced)
- 1 cup Fresh Mozzarella Balls (chopped)
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 3 Tablespoons fresh parsley (finely chopped)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta to al la dente based on the package instructions.
- Drain the pasta immediately and then rinse with cold water until pasta is cooled off.
- In a large mixing bowl, gently stir together the cool pasta, vegetables and Italian dressing. Then gently stir in the mozzarella balls.
- Season with salt and pepper and top with the Parmesan Cheese and fresh parsley.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight until ready to serve.
- Serve cold and then enjoy!
I tried this for Memorial Day. It was a big hit
I make a pasta salad very much like this one. I use kielbasa sausage in mine – diced and heated thru before adding – and chopped broccoli florets. It comes out a little different every time I make it. We use it as a main dish in the summer. Everyone in my family likes it.