Description
Savor the vibrant flavors of this Easy Olive Garden Copycat Pasta Salad, featuring al dente rotini pasta tossed with fresh vegetables and zesty Italian dressing. Perfect for potlucks, casual dinners, or meal prep, this colorful dish evokes joyful gatherings and brings a delightful crunch to your table. Each bite is an explosion of taste that will keep everyone coming back for more.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup bell peppers (mixed red and yellow), chopped
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- 1 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta in salted boiling water until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- While the pasta cools, chop the cucumber, halve the cherry tomatoes, chop the bell peppers, and finely slice the red onion.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the chopped vegetables and sliced black olives. Add grated Parmesan if desired.
- Pour Italian dressing over the mixture and gently toss until well-coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld.
- Serve chilled, garnished with extra Parmesan if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (200g)
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 10mg