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Italian Dressing Pasta Salad

Creamy Italian Dressing Pasta Salad

A vibrant and flavorful pasta salad perfect for potlucks or a light summer meal. This easy recipe combines cooked pasta with a creamy Italian dressing and fresh vegetables.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 400
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 1 pound Rotini Pasta
  • 1 cup Italian Dressing creamy Italian dressing preferred
  • 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes halved
  • 1 medium Cucumber diced
  • 1/2 medium Red Onion thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup Black Olives sliced
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese shredded
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Basil chopped

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Colander
  • Large mixing bowl

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well and rinse with cold water.
  2. While pasta cooks, prepare vegetables: halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, and thinly slice red onion.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the cooked, cooled pasta, Italian dressing, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, black olives, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil.
  4. Gently toss to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
  5. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. The longer it chills, the better it tastes!
  6. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Add extra Italian dressing if desired.
  7. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Notes

For a vegetarian option, omit the mozzarella cheese. Feel free to add other vegetables like bell peppers or artichoke hearts. You can also use different types of pasta, such as farfalle or penne.