California Pasta Salad Recipe
A vibrant and refreshing California Pasta Salad featuring al dente rotini pasta tossed with fresh cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, black olives, bell peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese, all coated in flavorful Italian dressing. Perfect as a light lunch or side dish, this salad is easy to prepare and best served chilled after allowing the flavors to meld.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta (or your favorite pasta shape)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, cubed
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Dressing
- 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.
- Drain and cool: Drain the cooked pasta in a colander and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta down completely.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, sliced black olives, chopped bell pepper, and cubed sharp cheddar cheese.
- Add dressing and toss: Pour the Italian salad dressing over the combined ingredients. Toss thoroughly until all components are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Season and garnish: Season the salad with salt and pepper to your taste. Sprinkle the fresh chopped parsley evenly on top for garnish.
- Chill the salad: Cover the salad with plastic wrap or transfer to a sealed container. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to blend beautifully.
Notes
- For best results, use sharp cheddar cheese that is well chilled before cubing.
- You can substitute rotini with any pasta shape you prefer, such as penne or fusilli.
- If you prefer a lighter dressing, opt for a low-fat Italian dressing.
- The salad can be prepared up to a day in advance and kept covered in the refrigerator.
- Add grilled chicken or chickpeas to increase protein content for a more filling meal.
Keywords: California pasta salad, rotini pasta salad, cold pasta salad, Italian dressing salad, summer pasta salad, vegetarian pasta salad
Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/california-pasta-salad-recipe/