Memorial Day Pasta Salad (Printable)

Colorful rotini salad with tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and zesty Italian dressing, chilled and ready in 30 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 350 g (12 oz) rotini or fusilli pasta

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
07 - 1/2 cup shredded carrots
08 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

09 - 3/4 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
10 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Optional Add-ins

11 - 1/2 cup cubed mozzarella or feta cheese
12 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

# Directions:

01 - Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, carrots, and parsley.
03 - Pour Italian dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine and season with salt and pepper as needed.
04 - If desired, add in mozzarella, feta, or Parmesan cheese and toss again.
05 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This salad tastes even better after chilling, so you can make it ahead and relax.
  • The rainbow of veggies makes every bite lively and satisfying—perfect for balancing heavier summer fare.
02 -
  • Overcooking the pasta even slightly leads to a mushy salad, so be diligent about those few extra seconds.
  • Letting the salad chill transforms it from good to crave-worthy—the wait is absolutely worth it.
03 -
  • A splash of pasta water in the dressing helps emulsify and coat the noodles perfectly.
  • Chill your serving bowl if it’s a hot day—keeps things crisp and appetizing longer.
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