Potluck Pasta Salad

Potluck Pasta Salad is filled with bell pepper, pasta, tomatoes, olives, red onion, and cheese. It’s delicious warm, cold, or at room temperature.

This pasta salad is a classic favorite. It is a light and tangy salad that is perfect for summer barbecues, weeknight dinners and lunches, potlucks, and parties.

Classic Pasta Salad

Classic Pasta Salad aka Potluck Pasta Salad is filled with bites of bell pepper, pasta, tomatoes, olives, red onion, and cheese. Chopped small, you’ll get a bit of all the deliciousness in every bite.

The salad is tossed with a simple dressing of oil and vinegar before being sprinkled with salt and pepper. It’s easy as can be and sure to please everyone.

With no mayo or other ingredients to spoil in the heat, this is an absolutely delicious and worry-free classic pasta salad for any occasion.

In the summertime, I often make a double or triple batch of pasta salads like this one. Leftovers are great to keep in the fridge and dish out for a quick lunch.

Start chopping vegetables while you boil the pasta and you’ll have this salad made in no time. I like to combine everything while the pasta is warm and serve the salad immediately.

However, this is also delicious cold and will keep nicely in the refrigerator for a few days. Classic Pasta Salad is a terrific make-ahead dinner or lunch for busy days.

This pasta salad is also delicious when tossed with this Chipotle Vinaigrette.

Classic Pasta Salad Recipe

1. Cook the pasta according to directions, removing from the heat when it’s al dente and rinsing immediately with cold water until the pasta is cool. Set the pasta aside in the colander to drain.
2. Combine the olive oil and vinegar in a large mixing bowl. Add the onions, tomato, bell pepper, and olives to the bowl. Add the pasta and toss well to coat thoroughly.
3. Season generously with salt and pepper. Taste and add more salt and pepper, only as needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Looking for more pasta salad recipes? This creamy Bacon Pasta Salad has a bright, smoky dressing made with just a few ingredients and it’s a perfect match for the bacon and eggs.

This light, creamy Tuna Apple Pasta Salad is terrific for a light summer lunch or dinner.

Potluck Pasta Salad

Potluck Pasta Salad is filled with bell pepper, pasta, tomatoes, olives, red onion, and cheese. It's delicious warm, cold, or at room temperature.

Pin Print Review

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 8 minutes mins

Total Time: 18 minutes mins

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 

• ▢ 16 ounces small bite-size pasta: elbow, fusilli, penne etc
• ▢ 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• ▢ 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced and chopped small
• ▢ 16 ounces grape tomatoes, halved
• ▢ 1 large bell pepper, any color, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• ▢ 2.25 ounce can of sliced black olives, drained
• ▢ 4 ounces Mozzarella cheese, diced small
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
• ▢ ¼ – 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper adjust to taste
• ▢ 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped small

Instructions

• Cook the pasta according to directions, removing from the heat when it's al dente and rinsing immediately with cold water until the pasta is cool. Set the pasta aside in the colander to drain.
• Combine the olive oil and vinegar in a large mixing bowl. Add the onions, tomato, bell pepper, and olives to the bowl. Add the pasta and toss well to coat thoroughly. Add the parsley.
• Season generously with salt and pepper. Taste and add more salt and pepper, only as needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 363kcal · Carbohydrates: 47g · Protein: 11g · Fat: 14g · Saturated Fat: 3g · Cholesterol: 11mg · Sodium: 366mg · Potassium: 320mg · Fiber: 3g · Sugar: 4g · Vitamin A: 1065IU · Vitamin C: 27mg · Calcium: 97mg · Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @chocolatewithgrace or tag #chocolatewithgrace!