Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
User Reviews
5
Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Description
Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing combines cooked and cooled rotini pasta with diced black olives, cubed Colby jack cheese, and sliced mini pepperoni. The salad is tossed with Italian dressing, allowing the pasta to absorb its tangy and herby flavors. Optional mix-ins include fresh vegetables and more savory elements, customizable to taste. The salad is refrigerated for at least two hours to let the flavors meld and is then adjusted with additional dressing if needed.
The salad presents a mix of tender pasta, creamy cheese, briny olives, and savory meat with a zesty dressing coating. The Italian dressing brings acidity and herbs that complement the richer ingredients. Pasta with nooks like rotini captures the dressing effectively, ensuring every bite is flavorful.
This salad works well as a side dish at picnics, potlucks, or casual meals. Preparing it a day ahead helps deepen the taste and keeps it convenient for meal planning. It can be served chilled or at room temperature.
For best texture, cook pasta to al dente and toss it with half the dressing initially. Adding the remaining dressing just before serving preserves freshness. Store leftovers in an airtight container refrigerated up to five days. Chopping ingredients into bite-sized pieces allows for a balanced mix with each serving.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces (4 cups) rotini pasta cooked, fusilli, farfalle, and penne work too
- ½ cup black olives diced
- ½ cup Colby jack cheese cubed
- ½ cup pepperoni mini slices
- ¾-1 cup Italian dressing
optional mix-ins
- cucumber chopped; halved; cubes
- cherry tomato
- pepper
- ham
- Pepperoncini
- artichoke heart
Instructions
- Cook pasta as directed on the package. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, olives, cheese, and pepperoni.
- Pour at least half of the Italian dressing into the pasta salad and mix well.
- Add any desired mix-ins to the pasta salad and mix well.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Stir in additional dressing to taste before serving.
Notes
- Prepare the pasta a day before and toss with half of the dressing to let flavors meld.
- Cover and refrigerate the salad until serving, adding remaining dressing right before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and consume within 4-5 days.
- Chop ingredients into bite-sized pieces to ensure balanced flavors in every bite.
- Use short pasta shapes with grooves or twists to better hold the dressing, and cook to al dente.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 344 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 344kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 46g | 15% |
| Protein | 11g | 22% |
| Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 15mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 515mg | 21% |
| Potassium | 178mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 123IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 0.1mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 77mg | 8% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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