When there’s minimal cooking, one-pot, and healthy ingredients involved, I’m all in! This easy pasta salad recipe consists of fresh veggies and a quick throw together Italian dressing, making it the perfect family-friendly vegan meal!
I’m not a huge raw food person, but sometimes the less cooking involved, the better! Anyone with me?
Whether it’s a hot day outside, you’re feeling lazy, or don’t have the energy for all those dishes afterward. I love meals where you can just throw everything in one pot, mix it up, and serve!
This 20-minute easy Italian Pasta Salad recipe is just that. Fresh uncooked veggies, paired with a delicious home-made easy whisk-able Italian dressing, and tossed with your favorite cooked pasta.
Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
When I think of a pasta salad, the following words come to mind…
Easy
Fresh
Flavorful
Light
Refreshing
Colorful
…did I mention EASY? This seems to be the theme of any pasta salad recipe I love. If that’s also what you think of, then we’re on the same page, and this easy pasta salad recipe is the PERFECT addition to your meal rotations!
Whereas my last vegan Pasta Salad recipe with Grilled Italian Sausage, Peppers, Mushrooms, & Cherry Tomatoes involved easy cooking and simple seasoning added by roasting all the veggies in the oven, this one involves fresh uncooked veggies paired with a quick flavorful Italian dressing!
This easy pasta salad recipe has been one of my families favorite meals for years now. Not only is it the perfect potluck dish or family meal, but my kids have been devouring it ever since they were toddlers. It’s great on the go or perfect for school lunches since it’s meant to be eaten cold or at room temperature.
How To Make The Perfect Italian Pasta Salad Recipe – Step by Step
This step by step tutorial depicts how easy and simple this recipe really is…anyone can do it!
Boil your favorite pasta al dente, rinse in cold water, and set aside (the only amount of cooking involved in this recipe).
While the pasta is cooking, whisk together your Italian dressing and set aside.
Open and rinse the canned artichokes & sliced olives, chop the bell peppers, and halve the cherry tomatoes.
Toss everything together and chill in the fridge!
That’s it! Don’t you love these easy-minimal-cooking-toss-everything-together type of meals? I typically make this dish ahead of time and allow every thing to marinate together for more flavor.
So grab some ingredients and get going! Only 20 minutes and you can have the perfect weeknight meal, potluck dish, school lunch, or beach go-to. After all, it’s still beach weather here in sunny San Diego, and we need a hearty easy meal to devour after hitting up those waves!
If you like this recipe or post, be sure to leave a comment and use the rating field! You can also tag me on Instagram with any re-makes, @vegetariangastronomy so I don’t miss it, as I love sharing them on Re-Make Fridays! Or you can help me spread the word about my recipes on Pinterest and Facebook!
This easy Italian Pasta Salad recipe is the perfect classic dish. Tomatoes, olives, artichokes, bell peppers, and an easy home-made dressing! What's not to love!
- 1 lb. Tri-color Rotini Pasta , see notes
- 15 oz. olives , sliced
- 15 oz. artichoke hearts , drained completely & copped (see notes)
- 1/2 red bell pepper , diced into small cubes
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper , diced into small cubes
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes , halved
- 3.5 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 4 tbsp water
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1-2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 4 teasp oregano
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 2-3 teasp sugar , see notes
In a large pot with boiling salted water cook the pasta al dente. Rinse with cool water and drain. If you pre-cooked the pasta, add a drizzle of olive oil and toss to keep pasta from sticking together. While the pasta is cooking, continue to prep the veggies & dressing.
- In a small bowl, prepare the dressing by whisking the dressing ingredients together.
In a large bowl, combine cooked cooled and drained pasta, olives, artichoke hearts, peppers, tomatoes, and dressing. Toss gently to mix together.
If possible, chill in the refrigerator before serving. Flavors will develop as you let it sit.
This pasta salad tastes best chilled. The longer all the flavors marinate together, the better.
Make-Ahead Tips - Prep all the veggies and dressing ahead of time. If making all at once, to save time, prep the veggies and dressing while boiling the water and cooking the pasta.
Artichoke Hearts - For this recipe, avoid using the oil-stored artichoke hearts. I get the canned non-oil variety.
Pasta - If you don't have tri-colored pasta, use whole wheat or regular rotini pasta. For a gluten-free version, I use quinoa or brown rice pasta.
- If you cook the pasta ahead of time, be sure to cook completely with cold water and pre-toss with a tiny amount of olive oil to avoid sticky cooked pasta.
Alternate Version - If you do not have artichokes or olives, you can easily substitute 1 cup finely chopped spinach, one more bell pepper, and 1/4 cup finely chopped basil. I've made this version and it tasted just as great!
Reema says
May 25, 2011 at 4:04 AMReema
Gastronomers - Amman & Anjali says
May 27, 2011 at 3:29 AM
Reema says
May 28, 2011 at 4:15 AMI also made the baked pasta, turned out good! I have tofu on my list next :)
Gastronomers - Amman & Anjali says
May 31, 2011 at 9:03 PM
Anonymous says
May 16, 2012 at 8:16 PM
Melinda says
March 21, 2014 at 8:33 PM
anjali says
March 21, 2014 at 11:00 PM