Garden Pasta Salad

Bright, colorful, and bursting with fresh flavor, this Garden Pasta Salad is a vibrant crowd-pleaser that's perfect for warm-weather gatherings or meal prepping. Tender rotini pasta is tossed with crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy red bell peppers, and a touch of tangy red onion. Sliced black olives, baby spinach, and creamy crumbled feta cheese add delicious depth, while a zesty homemade vinaigrette made with extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and fragrant herbs ties it all together. Topped with fresh parsley, this chilled pasta salad is a refreshing, wholesome dish that comes together in just 25 minutes and is guaranteed to become a favorite at picnics, barbecues, or as an easy weeknight dinner.

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz rotini pasta
• 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 0.5 cup black olives (sliced)
• 0.75 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
• 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.

Step 2

While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion, and roughly chop the baby spinach.

Step 3

Drain the cooked pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it down. Set aside to drain completely.

Step 4

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, baby spinach, black olives, and feta cheese.

Step 6

Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to mix everything evenly.

Step 7

Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the salad and give it a final toss.

Step 8

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 9

Serve chilled and enjoy your Garden Pasta Salad!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1414.8 grams (1414.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2662

Total Fat 125.80g	161%
Saturated Fat 39.10g	196%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.10g
Cholesterol 160mg	53%
Sodium 4300mg	187%
Total Carbohydrate 308.80g	112%
Dietary Fiber 25.70g	92%
Total Sugars 31.90g
Protein 78.80g	158%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1272mg	98%
Iron 20mg	113%
Potassium 2296mg	49%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 42.2%

Protein: 11.7%

Carbs: 46.0%