Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
This easy Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is made with tender pasta, crisp vegetables, and tangy Italian dressing. It’s a simple make-ahead side dish for potlucks, BBQs, picnics, and summer dinners.
Servings: 8
Calories: 389kcal
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rotini, bowtie, or penne pasta
- 1 cucumber diced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- ½ red onion thinly sliced or finely diced
- ½ cup sliced radishes
- 1 to 1 ½ cups zesty Italian dressing divided
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 cup cubed mozzarella or provolone
- ¾ cup sliced pepperoni or salami
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- ½ cup chopped bell pepper
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente.
- Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water until cooled. Let it drain well.
- While the pasta cools, dice the cucumber, halve the tomatoes, slice the red onion, and slice the radishes.
- Add the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add the cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, radishes, and any optional add-ins.
- Pour about ¾ cup of zesty Italian dressing over the pasta salad. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Before serving, stir the pasta salad again. Add more dressing as needed, a little at a time, until the salad is lightly coated and flavorful.
- Garnish with Parmesan, parsley, or extra black pepper if desired. Serve chilled.
Notes
- Rotini, bowtie, penne, shells, or cavatappi all work well.
- Add the dressing in two rounds so the salad does not get too dry or too soggy.
- For a heartier pasta salad, add mozzarella, pepperoni, salami, grilled chicken, or chickpeas.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
- Stir in extra dressing before serving leftovers if needed.
Nutrition
Calories: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 959mg | Potassium: 335mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 647IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 1mg
