A classic pasta salad recipe made with Italian dressing, cucumbers and tomatoes perfect for cookouts, barbeques and picnics!
I keep this (or a version of it) in the fridge this time of year. When the days (and therefore, our schedules) are longer, it’s an awesome side dish to have on-hand at supper time and makes a great light lunch. The kids just eat around any ingredients they don’t like.
I change it up a bit, adding whichever veggies look good or are on sale at the market. This is just a good base recipe for the amount of pasta and salad dressing. Feel free to make it however you like!
I call it Picnic Pasta Salad because this is what I like to bring to picnics, barbeques or covered-dish events during the spring or summer since it doesn't have any mayonnaise or mayonnaise-based dressing, you don’t have to stress too much over keeping it cold.
For an Italian version, omit the green olives and add:
- Black olives and/or diced green peppers
- Mozzarella cubes
- Pepperoni slices
- Parmesan cheese
For a Greek version, omit the green onions, green olives and Italian dressing and add:
- Kalamata olives
- Red onion
- Crumbled feta
- Greek dressing
Picnic Pasta Salad
Yield: 16-18 Servings
prep time: 10 Mcook time: 10 Mtotal time: 20 M
A classic pasta salad recipe made with Italian dressing, cucumbers and tomatoes perfect for cookouts, barbeques and picnics!
ingredients:
- 1 pound rotini pasta, uncooked
- 2 medium cucumbers, peeled and chopped
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 bunch green onions, chopped
- 1 6-oz. jar green olives, drained and halved
- 1 1/3 cups Italian salad dressing (I use Kraft's Zesty Italian)
- Salt to taste
instructions:
How to cook Picnic Pasta Salad
- Cook pasta per manufacturer’s instructions for al dente preparation in liberally salted water. Drain pasta and rinse in cold water until pasta is cool to the touch. Drain well.
- Combine pasta with remaining ingredients then stir to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Add more Italian dressing before serving if desired (the pasta soaks up the dressing the longer it sits).
This recipe was shared at the Weekend Potluck!
Keep up with my latest shenanigans by following South Your Mouth!
We kick up the veggies by adding broccoli, cauliflower,carrot, and red onion to the Italian version
ReplyDeleteThat sounds really good. Going to make this.
DeleteGreetings from weekend potluck. It would be fun to make this over the summer holidays.
ReplyDeleteNot only for a picnic - this would be a great salad just for lunch :)
ReplyDeleteI'm making my own version of a pasta salad for our church picnic tomorrow!! It is a GREAT addition during the summer! Your photos are lovely and I have to try that Greek version with the feta!
ReplyDeleteThe Domestic Diva
The days don't "get longer" in the summer. 24 hours are 24 hours.
ReplyDeleteThe daylight lasts longer but thank you SO much for taking the time to drop that little pearl of wisdom!
DeleteI love your response to Music Box...some people's children. I can't wait to try this. All 3 recipes sound delicious!
DeleteTotally agree. I love-love-love the longer summer days. I don't know about you, but I do so much more in the summer - that it feels like there are more than 24 hours in the day.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the photo makes my mouth water! If it wasn't midnight I'd go make a batch right now. Never tried adding green olives to pasta salad but since I love snacking on them , it makes perfect sense to throw some in. Thanks Mandy for using part of your "longer day" (lol) to post this recipe.
ReplyDeleteGoing to make this up today! Love having a go to pasta salad in the fridge this time of year and this one looks perfect! Hope mine will be as delightful looking as that which you have in your photo.
ReplyDeleteGoing to make this up today! Love having a go to pasta salad in the fridge this time of year and this one looks perfect! Hope mine will be as delightful looking as that which you have in your photo.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this pasta salad my whole family loves it! I add the green olives to mine and I add a little salad supreme to mine instead of a little salt it is amazing. I make it for every picnic or get together and I make it just because sometimes.
ReplyDelete