Memorial Day Pasta Salad (Printable)

Bright pasta salad with rotini, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives and zesty Italian dressing. Serves 6.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 350 g (12 oz) rotini or fusilli pasta

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
07 - 1/2 cup shredded carrots
08 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

09 - 3/4 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
10 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Optional Add-ins

11 - 1/2 cup cubed mozzarella or feta cheese
12 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

# How to Make It:

01 - Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, carrots, and parsley.
03 - Pour Italian dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine and season with salt and pepper as needed.
04 - If desired, add in mozzarella, feta, or Parmesan cheese and toss again.
05 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Tossing everything together is so easy, but it tastes like something special you’d get at a family cookout.
  • You can use whatever crisp veggies are in the fridge and it only gets better after chilling.
02 -
  • Skipping the rinse after cooking pasta can leave your salad a warm, sticky mess.
  • Letting the salad rest in the fridge transforms the flavors from separate to spectacular—it’s worth the wait.
03 -
  • Cut the veggies in similar sizes, so every forkful has a bit of everything and mixing stays easy.
  • Chill your mixing bowl first if the day’s especially warm—the salad will stay crisper and more refreshing.
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