Italian Pasta Salad
Italian Pasta Salad is a delightful and colorful dish that’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, or simply a cozy dinner at home. It's packed with fresh veggies, savory cheese, and zesty Italian dressing, making it a go-to recipe for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of pasta I recommend rotini or penne, but any shape works
- If you want to go gluten-free use chickpea or lentil pasta!
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup cucumber diced
- 1 bell pepper chopped (any color you prefer)
- ½ cup black olives sliced
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese diced
- 1 cup Italian dressing store-bought or homemade
- You can also make your own with olive oil vinegar, garlic powder, and Italian herbs!
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente (usually about 8-10 minutes). Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Prep the Veggies: While the pasta is cooking, grab your veggies. Dice and slice the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and bell pepper. Make sure to slice the olives as well! Getting your ingredients prepped ahead of time makes everything easier!
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, throw in the cooked pasta, chopped veggies, black olives, and mozzarella cheese. Get ready for the *yummy* part!
- Dress It Up: Drizzle your Italian dressing over the pasta salad and give everything a gentle toss until all the ingredients are coated nicely. It should look fantastic at this point!
- Season and Serve: Now, add salt and pepper to taste. If you feel adventurous, sprinkle in some Italian herbs or a dash of red pepper flakes for extra pizazz. Give it another mix, and TADA, you’re done!