Description
Savor the vibrant flavors of this Easy Olive Garden Copycat Pasta Salad, a delightful dish that combines al dente rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, and a zesty Italian dressing. Perfect for light lunches or as a side dish at gatherings, this salad is quick to prepare and visually appealing. With its colorful ingredients and delicious taste, it is sure to impress family and friends alike.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 each red and yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- Parmesan cheese (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- While the pasta cools, chop the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and bell peppers into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with all chopped veggies. Toss well.
- Pour the Italian dressing over the mixture and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour to let flavors meld.
- Before serving, give it another toss and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximately 150g)
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 430mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Keywords: - Feel free to customize by adding cooked chicken or turkey for added protein or including other veggies like spinach or zucchini. - For extra flavor, consider marinating the veggies in a bit of dressing for 15 minutes before mixing them with the pasta.