Pasta Salad Recipe: A Simple and Delicious Side Dish

This pasta salad recipe is a classic for a reason! It's easy to make, comes together quickly, and is perfect for potlucks, picnics, or any other occasion where you need a delicious and refreshing side dish. The recipe was given to me by a dear friend many years ago, and I've been making it ever since. It's truly a crowd-pleaser!

What You'll Need 👩‍🍳:

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this pasta salad. Here's what you'll need:

1 pound tri-colored spiral pasta
1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian-style salad dressing
6 tablespoons salad seasoning mix
2 cups cherry tomatoes, diced
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
½ yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 (2.25 ounce) can black olives, chopped

How to Make It:

Making this pasta salad is incredibly easy. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite (about 10 to 12 minutes). Rinse under cold water and drain.
Make the dressing: Whisk the Italian dressing and salad seasoning mix together until smooth.
Combine the ingredients: Combine the cooked pasta, tomatoes, bell peppers, and olives in a large salad bowl.
Toss with dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
Refrigerate: Refrigerate the salad for at least 8 hours, or overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.

Tips and Variations:

Make it your own: Feel free to add other vegetables to this salad, such as broccoli, carrots, or cucumbers. You can also use different types of pasta, like rotini or penne.
Add cheese: If you like, you can add some shredded mozzarella or feta cheese to the salad.
Homemade dressing: For a more flavorful salad, try making your own Italian dressing. There are many delicious recipes online.
Make ahead: This pasta salad is perfect for making ahead of time. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Serving Suggestions:

This pasta salad is a perfect side dish for barbecues, potlucks, picnics, and more. It pairs well with grilled meats, chicken, fish, or sandwiches. You can also serve it as a light lunch or dinner on its own.

Nutrition Information:

This recipe serves 6 people and each serving contains about 400 calories. This pasta salad is a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins.

Nutrient	Amount per Serving	% Daily Value
Calories	400
Total Fat	25g	32%
Saturated Fat	4g	22%
Cholesterol	3mg	1%
Sodium	1904mg	83%
Total Carbohydrate	39g	14%
Dietary Fiber	4g	13%
Total Sugars	8g
Protein	8g	16%
Vitamin C	79mg	88%
Calcium	54mg	4%
Iron	3mg	14%
Potassium	298mg	6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Related Recipes

Looking for more delicious side dish recipes? Try these:

Classic Macaroni Salad
Authentic German Potato Salad
Perfect Summer Fruit Salad

Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this delicious and easy pasta salad recipe. Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or variations you'd like to share.