Easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

This Italian Pasta Salad With Feta Cheese delivers an irresistible burst of flavors where tangy feta, crisp cucumbers, and juicy tomatoes combine with briny olives and red onion in a zesty embrace. Each bite invites you to relish the refreshing, vibrant medley perfect for inspiring delightful gatherings with friends and family.

I love how simple and fast this Italian pasta salad is to make. I was looking for easy dinner ideas for hot days and thought this recipe would work perfectly.

I cooked 12 oz rotini pasta and let it cool, then mixed it with diced cucumber, halved grape tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion. I tossed in 1/2 cup sliced pitted black olives and sprinkled 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese over top.

Finally, I poured 1 cup of Italian salad dressing all over and mixed everything together. This salad is a great example of quick cold salads that are perfect at gatherings with friends or even a pasta salad for 2 when you want something light.

Its fresh ingredients and perfect balance of flavors makes it a yummy pasta salad recipe, ideal for those days when you need an easy, no-fuss meal. Its simplicity and flair always makes me excited to share it.

Why I Like this Recipe

I really like this recipe because its super easy to make even when Im in a rush and I dont have a lot of time. I love how the mix of crunchy cucumber, juicy tomatoes and salty feta comes together, kinda making each bite its own little surprise. It also chill in the fridge so that its extra refreshing when Im ready to dig in which is perfect on hot days. Lastly, the way the Italian dressing blends with everything just makes the whole salad taste amazing and satisfying.

Ingredients

• Rotini pasta: Reliable source of carbohydrates for energy and fullness, pleasantly chewy bite.
• Cucumber: Crunchy, hydrating delight that provides fiber and a refreshing texture.
• Grape tomatoes: Naturally sweet and tangy, rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
• Red onion: A zesty kick with antioxidants and fiber that adds depth of flavor.
• Black olives: Savory with healthy fats and pleasant saltiness balancing the salad taste.
• Feta cheese: Creamy, salty treat providing protein and flavor bursts in every bite.
• Italian salad dressing: Tangy vinegar and herbs that unite ingredients with a flavor burst.

Ingredient Quantities

• 12 oz rotini pasta (cooked and cooled)
• 1 medium cucumber, diced
• 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup pitted black olives, sliced
• 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 cup Italian salad dressing

How to Make this

1. Start by combining the cooked and cooled rotini pasta, diced cucumber, halved grape tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and sliced black olives in a big bowl.

2. Next, toss in the crumbled feta cheese and gently mix it with the rest of the ingredients.

3. Pour in the cup of Italian salad dressing evenly over the salad.

4. Carefully stir everything together ensuring every bit gets a little dressing.

5. Let the salad chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes so the flavours can meld.

6. Before serving, give the salad a quick stir and check if you need to add a bit more dressing.

7. Enjoy your Easy Italian Pasta Salad as a perfect side or a light meal.

Equipment Needed

1. A large mixing bowl for combining all the ingredients
2. A cutting board to dice the cucumber, halve the grape tomatoes, and thinly slice the red onion
3. A sharp knife for chopping veggies and slicing the olives
4. A measuring cup to portion out the Italian salad dressing
5. A stirring spoon to gently mix the salad ingredients
6. A refrigerator to chill the salad for about 30 minutes

FAQ

Easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• For 12 oz rotini pasta, you can use fusilli or penne instead if you dont have any rotini on hand.
• Instead of a medium diced cucumber, try substituting with diced zucchini or celery for a similar crunch.
• If you dont have grape tomatoes, regular tomatoes cut into chunks or even halved cherry tomatoes will work just fine.
• If red onion is too strong for you, consider swapping in thinly sliced shallots for a milder, sweeter flavor.
• For the Italian salad dressing, you can mix olive oil with red wine vinegar and some dried herbs in a pinch.

Pro Tips

1. If you got extra time, chill it for a bit longer than 30 minutes so all the flavours really get to know each other better
2. To amp up the taste, toss in some freshly chopped basil or parsley right before serving, they add a nice burst of colour and flavour
3. When you add the feta, be gentle with it, you don’t wanna break it all up so it still looks chunky and bursts with creaminess
4. If you feel like switching it up, mix in a splash of lemon juice or a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little extra zing over the usual italian dressing