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Easy Pasta Salad Recipes with Juicy Tomatoes - Perfect Summer Side Dish

This vibrant pasta salad is bursting with juicy tomatoes, fresh herbs, and crisp vegetables in a zesty Italian dressing. It's the perfect make-ahead summer side dish that gets better as it sits, ideal for picnics, potlucks, and weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 32 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 12 oz rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 English cucumber, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup black olives, sliced
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 cup mozzarella pearls or cubed mozzarella
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon honey or sugar
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta completely.
  2. While the pasta cooks, prepare all your vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and bell pepper, thinly slice the red onion, and chop the fresh herbs. The key to a great pasta salad is uniform, bite-sized pieces.
  3. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried herbs, honey, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, prepared vegetables, olives, fresh herbs, and cheeses. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
  5. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together. Give it a good stir before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

Dress pasta while slightly warm for better flavor absorption. Salad improves with time - make up to 24 hours ahead. Use short pasta with ridges to hold dressing better. Cook pasta al dente to prevent mushiness.