Classic Pasta Salad
A refreshing and versatile pasta salad with crisp vegetables, herbs, and a tangy vinaigrette. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light meal.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta, such as rotini, fusilli, or penne
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 0.5 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 0.5 cup black olives, sliced
- 0.5 cup bell pepper (any color), diced
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 0.25 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 0.5 cup feta cheese, crumbled optional
Dressing
- 0.33 cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, black olives, bell pepper, parsley, and basil.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano to make the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to combine.
- If using, gently fold in crumbled feta cheese.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
For best flavor, let the salad chill for several hours or overnight. Add grilled chicken or chickpeas for extra protein.