Perfect Pasta Salad

Elevate your potluck game with this Perfect Pasta Salad, an irresistible mix of tender rotini pasta, crisp veggies, and tangy feta cheese, all tossed with a zesty homemade dressing. Bursting with fresh flavors from cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red bell peppers, and black olives, this vibrant salad is as colorful as it is delicious. A flavorful dressing made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a touch of honey brings everything together beautifully. Quick and easy to prepare in just 25 minutes, this chilled pasta salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for barbecues, picnics, or weeknight dinners. Serve it as a refreshing side dish or a light main course—either way, it’s guaranteed to be the star of any table!

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz Rotini pasta
• 2 cups Cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 medium Cucumber, diced
• 1 Red bell pepper, diced
• 1 small Red onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup Black olives, sliced
• 1 cup Feta cheese, crumbled
• 0.25 cup Fresh parsley, chopped
• 0.25 cup Olive oil
• 2 tbsp Red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp Honey
• 1 clove Garlic, minced
• 0.5 tsp Salt
• 0.25 tsp Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.

Step 2

Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Allow it to cool completely in a colander while you prepare the vegetables and dressing.

Step 3

In a small bowl, prepare the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until well combined.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, sliced black olives, and crumbled feta cheese.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.

Step 6

Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the salad and toss lightly to combine.

Step 7

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 8

Before serving, give the salad a quick toss and taste to adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve chilled.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1647.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3052.5

Total Fat 156.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 50.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.3g
Cholesterol 200.0mg	0%
Sodium 5694.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 328.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 30.9g	0%
Total Sugars 42.3g
Protein 85.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1476.2mg	0%
Iron 24.4mg	0%
Potassium 2907.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 45.9%

Protein: 11.1%

Carbs: 42.9%