Summery Pasta Salad

Bright, vibrant, and bursting with fresh flavors, this Summery Pasta Salad is the ultimate dish for warm-weather gatherings. Featuring al dente penne pasta tossed with crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet red bell peppers, briny black olives, and tangy crumbled feta cheese, this salad is as colorful as it is delicious. Fresh basil and a zesty homemade dressing made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and garlic tie everything together for a delightfully light yet satisfying dish. Perfect for picnics, barbecues, or an easy weeknight dinner, this chilled pasta salad is a true celebration of summer’s bounty. Ready in just 30 minutes, this recipe is sure to become your go-to for quick, crowd-pleasing meals.

Nutriscore Rating: 78/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 ounces penne pasta
• 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 red bell pepper
• 0.5 cups black olives
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 0.75 cups feta cheese (crumbled)
• 0.25 cups fresh basil leaves
• 0.25 cups olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.25 teaspoons black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Cook the penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes and slice the cucumber into half-moons. Dice the red bell pepper and thinly slice the red onion. Set all the vegetables aside in a large mixing bowl.

Step 3

Add the black olives, feta cheese, and chopped fresh basil to the bowl with the vegetables.

Step 4

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 5

Add the cooked and cooled pasta to the mixing bowl with the vegetables and gently toss to combine.

Step 6

Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss thoroughly to ensure everything is evenly coated.

Step 7

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 8

Before serving, give the salad a quick toss and garnish with additional basil leaves if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(974.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1840.5

Total Fat 63.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 8.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.4g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 24.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 273.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 18.6g	0%
Total Sugars 13.5g
Protein 47.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 74.6mg	0%
Iron 14.4mg	0%
Potassium 1791.6mg	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: 30.7%

Protein: 10.2%

Carbs: 59.1%