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You are here: Home / Salads / Healthy Cold Pasta Salad

Healthy Cold Pasta Salad

June 30, 2020 By Joe 7 Comments

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It seems like a good time for Cold Pasta Salad and this is one which you will surely make several times during the summer months. 

clear glass bowl of cold pasta salad on a blue checkered cloth

 

Hot summer days and cold pasta salad go together like peas and carrots…really. And this recipe makes enough for a crowd so it would be perfect for a 4th of July get-together. 

Ingredients

The ingredients in the salad are easy to prepare:

  • Rotini pasta…the dressing clings to the curly shape 
  • diced English or hothouse cucumber
  • red and yellow bell peppers
  • grape tomatoes
  • scallions
  • black olives 
  • parsley
  • feta cheese

Just chop up the veggies up into the size you like and you are nearly done making the salad. Cook the pasta to a bit past al dente, so it is soft. Run cold water over it to cool. Put everything but the feta cheese into a good sized bowl and fold together. Next comes the dressing….

Ingredients of the pasta salad dressing

The dressing consists of:

  • can of diced tomatoes
  • 3 garlic cloves, or more if you like
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, (2 or 3 leafy sprigs)
  • tablespoon red wine vinegar, (taste it and add more if you like)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • red pepper flakes

Toss all of this into a food processor and run for 20 to 30 seconds so you make a smooth dressing. Give the dressing a taste and add extra salt, vinegar, pepper flakes, or even garlic if you feel it needs more. Then give the dressing a few more pulses in the food processor. This dressing is the essence of the flavor of the dish so it has to taste to your liking.  

 

Cold Pasta Salad dressing being mixed in a food processor

I used my handy little Kitchen Aid food processor , (#ad) to blend the dressing ingredients. This is a sweet, small processor you can see in the link.

Chopped ingredients for Cold Pasta Salad.

I used Rotini pasta because it has lots of surface area to hold onto the tomatoey salad dressing. Cook it until thoroughly softened, then rinse it under cold water to cool. If you are interested, here is a great article on cooking pasta… Pasta: 8 Common Mistakes in Cooking …interesting tidbits to better pasta.

Close-up view of Cold Pasta Salad

What to serve with cold pasta salad

 

When I made this again recently, I just pan fried some herb crusted chicken breasts. You could also try it with crispy chicken cutlets. 

The best way to serve this though, is with some grilled burgers or brats….outdoors with family or friends. Make the salad a day ahead if you like because it stores well in the fridge and is good leftover. 

Close-up side view of Cold Pasta Salad

This cold pasta salad recipe makes enough for a crowd and is perfect for a summer potluck. Fresh ingredients make this a great, healthy side dish.

Here are some more tasty recipes to try:

  • Southwest Dressing Recipe
  • Cold Tuna Salad
  • Spinach and Potato Quiche
  • Tender Beef Tips and Egg Noodles
Overhead view of cold pasta salad in a glass bowl

Cold Pasta Salad

Tasty cold salad which is perfect for picnics or potlucks.
4.09 from 12 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Pasta Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cold pasta salad, pasta salad
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 258kcal
Author: Joe Boyle

Ingredients

Dressing:

  • 1 can 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
  • 3 large garlic cloves , coarse chopped
  • 1/2 to 3/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil tightly packed
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Salad:

  • 1 lbs Rotini pasta cooked according to package directions, a little past al dente
  • 1 English cucumber , chopped
  • 1 medium red pepper , chopped
  • 1 medium yellow pepper , chopped
  • 2 cups grape tomatoes , halved
  • 3 green onions , chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley , chopped
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup pitted black olives , halved
  • 8 oz crumbled feta cheese
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Instructions

  • Puree the ingredients of the dressing in a food processor or blender. 20 to 30 seconds. Cool in the refrigerator or make and cool overnight in the refrigerator.
  • Cook the pasta until well softened, (just a minute past what you would call al dente). Drain and rinse under cold water.
  • Chop the vegetables and place all the ingredients but the feta cheese in a large bowl, then toss to combine with the olive oil.
  • Add the pasta and dressing and toss again. Salad may then be refrigerated overnight.
  • Just before serving, add the crumbled feta and serve cold or at room temperature.

Notes

  1. An English or hothouse cucumber is best for this salad as it will not sweat liquid like a regular cucumber will do.
  2. Keep leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 4 or 5 days. 
  3. Recipe adapted from Cook's Country.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal
 

 

Disclaimer: 

This post includes an affiliate link to a recommended product. If you purchase an item through this link, Joe’s Healthy Meals will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

Cold Pasta Salad collage.

 

More salad recipes to take a look at.

 

Strawberry salad with homemade poppy seed dressing. Wonderfully refreshing summertime salad that everyone loves! | joeshealthymeals.com

Strawberry salad with homemade poppyseed dressing

Macaroni deviled egg salad. Delicious salad that everyone will love. Its deviled eggs in a bowl. | joeshealthymeals.com

Macaroni deviled egg salad

Cold mango pasta salad. Refreshing and simple, this is a great summertime salad to have with any meal. | joeshealthymeals.com

Cold mango pasta salad

Cucumber balsamic caprese salad. Next time you make a caprese salad, reduce the balsamic vinegar to boost the flavor and add in some cucumber. | joeshealthymeals.com

Cucumber balsamic caprese salad 

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Filed Under: Pasta, Salads, Side dishes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deb

    December 21, 2022 at 6:37 am

    5 stars
    This recipe was a life saver and turned out well. My husband tells me at 6pm at night that they are having a pot luck for Christmas at work the next day. I was looking for a cold dish option. I did have to make a few subs/changes since I didn’t have all of the ingredients. I used fire roasted diced tomatoes, omitted the olives and used some smoked gouda since I didn’t have feta. It turned out wonderful. Would definitely make this again.

    Reply
  2. Angela Ivanovskiy

    September 7, 2021 at 2:15 pm

    4 stars
    A great guide for a cold pasta salad, with some tweaks (just personal preferences). I felt the tomato flavoring of the canned tomatoes was a little overpowering (much like a spaghetti sauce) and the feta cheese was too bland. We tweaked it by adding more red wine vinegar, 2 tbs of juice from a lemon, and substituted the feta for goat cheese. I’d probably omit the can of tomatoes next time and just puree fresh tomatoes, plus I’d play around with more herbs. This was my favorite recipe of all of them on Yummly.

    Reply
  3. Kristin Nelson

    July 2, 2020 at 12:10 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect for the weather we have in MN right now! Yum!

    Reply
  4. Molly

    February 2, 2017 at 5:17 am

    3 stars
    Made this for the family and for us the garlic was too overpowering but would definitely make again and adjust to our taste thanks for the recipe

    Reply
  5. sister

    October 15, 2016 at 4:32 pm

    Love the salad best one ever everything’s in it light and fulfilling

    Reply
    • Joe

      October 15, 2016 at 7:42 pm

      Thanks, I make it all the time. It’s especially good to share at potlucks.

      Reply
  6. MaryJo

    March 16, 2015 at 7:03 am

    5 stars
    This is really delicious. Be sure to cook the pasta until it’s tender.

    Reply

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