Summer Everything Pasta Salad

Bursting with vibrant summer flavors, this Summer Everything Pasta Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for warm-weather gatherings. Featuring tender penne pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and colorful bell peppers, this recipe is a celebration of fresh, seasonal ingredients. Tossed with briny black olives, creamy feta cheese, and a zesty homemade dressing made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and a touch of Dijon mustard, every bite is a perfect balance of bright and savory flavors. Finished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and basil, this pasta salad is not only easy to make in just 30 minutes but also versatile enough to serve as a refreshing side dish or a light main course. Ideal for picnics, barbecues, or meal prep, this summer pasta salad is a must-try for anyone looking for a healthy, delicious, and visually stunning dish.

Nutriscore Rating: 46/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz Penne pasta
• 2 cups Cherry tomatoes
• 1 large Cucumber
• 2 Bell peppers (assorted colors)
• 0.5 Red onion
• 0.75 cup Black olives
• 0.5 cup Feta cheese
• 0.25 cup Fresh parsley
• 0.25 cup Basil leaves
• 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp Red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp Fresh lemon juice
• 2 Garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp Honey (optional)
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, rinse under cold water to cool, and set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and bell peppers, and thinly slice the red onion.

Step 3

Roughly chop the fresh parsley and basil leaves, and set aside.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, red onion, black olives, chopped parsley, and basil.

Step 5

Crumble the feta cheese over the salad mixture.

Step 6

Prepare the dressing by whisking together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey (if using), salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or jar.

Step 7

Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture, then toss everything together until evenly coated.

Step 8

Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Add a little extra olive oil or lemon juice to balance flavors, if desired.

Step 9

Chill the pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 20-30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 10

Serve cold or at room temperature. Enjoy your Summer Everything Pasta Salad as a refreshing side dish or light main course.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(362.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	884.3

Total Fat 85.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 20.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.1g
Cholesterol 66.8mg	0%
Sodium 4203.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 25.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 3.7g	0%
Total Sugars 9.3g
Protein 13.4g	0%

Vitamin D 12IU	0%
Calcium 511.9mg	0%
Iron 8.1mg	0%
Potassium 331.8mg	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: 83.2%

Protein: 5.8%

Carbs: 11.0%