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Best Pasta Salad

A colorful and nutritious pasta salad that’s perfect for picnics and barbecues, easy to prepare, and customizable with your favorite ingredients.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Vegetables
  • 8 ounces pasta (e.g., rotini, penne) Cook according to package instructions.
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 large cucumber, diced
  • 1 large bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 large red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup olives, sliced
  • 1 cup mozzarella balls
Dressing
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • to taste Salt and pepper
  • for garnish Fresh basil

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, olives, and mozzarella balls.
Dressing
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  2. Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss to combine.
Serving
  1. Garnish with fresh basil before serving. Serve in a large bowl or individual plates.

Notes

Use fresh ingredients for the best taste. Cook the pasta al dente for a little bite in the texture. Chill the pasta salad before serving for a refreshing taste. Customize with proteins like chicken or shrimp, or different cheeses.