Description
Easy Summer Pasta Salad is a vibrant dish that embodies the spirit of summer. This refreshing salad features colorful vegetables, al dente rotini pasta, and a zesty pesto dressing, making it an ideal choice for backyard barbecues or picnics. Quick to prepare and easy to customize with seasonal ingredients, this pasta salad is sure to impress your guests while satisfying your cravings on warm days.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup bell peppers, thinly sliced (assorted colors)
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup pesto sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta in salted boiling water until al dente (about 8-10 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water.
- While the pasta cools, chop the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and bell peppers.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta with chopped veggies and drizzle with pesto sauce. Toss until well mixed.
- Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and sliced red onion; mix gently.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (150g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 15mg