Easy Pasta Salad

Easy Pasta Salad, a quick and simple cold pasta salad recipe loaded with rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, fresh basil, and Italian dressing. This simple Mediterranean-inspired pasta salad is perfect for summer BBQs, picnics, potlucks, parties, and an easy make-ahead side dish for a crowd.

This Easy Pasta Salad is one of those recipes that almost seems too simple to share, but I get so many requests for it that it definitely deserves its own post!

I love a good pasta salad, especially when I need a quick summer side dish for a BBQ, picnic, potluck, or party. This one is loaded with colorful cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, crumbled feta, and fresh basil, then tossed with Italian dressing for lots of flavor without a lot of work.

And yes, the secret ingredient here is bottled Italian dressing. Shhhhh!

I used to make homemade dressing for this pasta salad, but apparently everyone liked this version better. Ha! Wish-Bone Italian Dressing combined with plenty of chopped fresh basil gives this cold pasta salad loads of flavor and keeps the recipe incredibly easy.

This recipe also makes a BIG batch, which is one of the reasons I love it for entertaining. You’ll get about 16+ servings, but you can easily cut everything in half for a smaller family dinner.

Serve this Easy Pasta Salad alongside burgers, grilled chicken, sandwiches, or just about any summer dinner. You can even add cooked chicken or shrimp and turn it into a cold pasta main dish.

What I Love About This Recipe

• This Easy Pasta Salad really is EASY. Once the pasta is cooked and cooled, there’s very little work involved. Toss it with tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, fresh basil, and Italian dressing, then refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. It’s the kind of simple summer recipe that doesn’t require a long list of complicated ingredients or hours in the kitchen.
• It’s a great make-ahead pasta salad for entertaining. Prepare most of the salad ahead of time and refrigerate it, then stir in the reserved Italian dressing right before serving. That last little bit of dressing helps loosen any pasta that has started sticking together and freshens everything up. It’s especially convenient when you’re trying to get several dishes ready for a BBQ, picnic, or party.
• This pasta salad is also really easy to customize. Use rotini, penne, small shells, or another favorite pasta shape, then switch up the vegetables depending on what you have. Onions, peppers, and other fresh vegetables would be easy additions. You can even add chicken or shrimp to turn the salad into a heartier meal or main course.
• It’s perfect when you need pasta salad for a crowd. The full recipe makes 16+ servings, so there’s plenty for a summer cookout or potluck. It travels well, can be made ahead, and pairs with all sorts of main dishes. And if you don’t need quite that much, just cut the recipe in half.

What Is Pasta Salad?

Pasta salad is generally a cold or room-temperature dish made with cooked pasta, dressing, and a variety of vegetables, cheese, meats, herbs, and other mix-ins. There are SO many versions.

Some pasta salads have creamy mayonnaise-based dressings, while others use vinaigrettes or Italian dressing. You can find everything from classic macaroni salad to Greek and Mediterranean-inspired pasta salads, pesto pasta salads, chicken pasta salads, and just about everything in between.

This Easy Pasta Salad is on the lighter, fresh side with tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, basil, and Italian dressing. Those ingredients give it plenty of Mediterranean-inspired flavor without making the recipe complicated.

What Is the Best Pasta for Pasta Salad?

Rotini is a great pasta shape for cold pasta salad because all those little twists help grab the dressing and small bits of feta and basil.

But don’t feel like you have to use rotini.

Penne, small shells, bowtie pasta, and other small to medium pasta shapes can work well too. It’s a great recipe for using whatever box of pasta happens to be sitting in the pantry.

You could even start with leftover cooked pasta from the refrigerator.

Whatever pasta you choose, cook it al dente, so it doesn’t become too soft when combined with the dressing and other ingredients.

Should You Rinse Pasta for Pasta Salad?

For this recipe, yes!

After cooking the pasta until al dente, rinse it thoroughly with cold water until it’s completely cold all the way through.

This does two useful things. First, it stops the cooking process so the pasta doesn’t continue softening. Second, it cools the pasta so you can immediately turn it into a cold pasta salad.

The temperature is especially important for this recipe. Warm pasta can absorb quite a bit of Italian dressing, which means you may need additional dressing later.

Equipment You May Need

• Large Pot – Use a large pot with plenty of water to cook the rotini until al dente.
• Colander – You’ll need a colander to drain the cooked pasta and rinse it thoroughly under cold water.
• Large Mixing Bowl – This recipe makes about 16 servings, so use a bowl large enough to comfortably toss everything together.
• Sharp Knife – Helpful for cutting the cherry tomatoes, preparing the cucumbers, and finely chopping the fresh basil.
• Cutting Board – Gives you plenty of space to prep all those fresh vegetables and basil.
• Large Spoon or Spatula – Use one to gently combine the pasta salad without smashing the tomatoes or feta.

(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)

Easy Pasta Salad Ingredients

You only need a handful of ingredients for this simple pasta salad, which is part of what makes it so convenient.

• Rotini Pasta – Cook the pasta al dente, then rinse it thoroughly in cold water until completely cold. You can substitute another favorite small or medium pasta shape.
• Cherry Tomatoes – Small cherry tomatoes add fresh flavor, juicy texture, and lots of color. Cut them in half so they’re easy to eat with the pasta.
• English Cucumbers – Remove the seeds, quarter the cucumbers, and slice them. I generally partially peel the cucumber for a little color, but you can peel it completely or leave the peel on.
• Feta Cheese – Crumbled feta adds creamy, salty, tangy flavor and gives this simple pasta salad even more of a Mediterranean feel.
• Fresh Basil – Don’t skip the fresh basil! Finely chopped basil adds loads of fresh flavor and works really well with the Italian dressing, tomatoes, and feta.
• Italian Dressing – Wish-Bone Italian Dressing is my not-so-secret shortcut for this recipe. You’ll use about three-quarters of the dressing initially and reserve the rest until right before serving. Be sure to shake well to mix before pouring over the pasta.

How to Make Easy Pasta Salad

Step One: Combine the Pasta Salad
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cold pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta until just combined. Stir in the fresh basil and about 3/4 of the Italian dressing, then cover and store in the refrigerator.

Step Two: Add the Remaining Dressing
Right before serving, stir in the remaining Italian dressing.

(Full printable recipe card with full details is at bottom of post.)

Easy Pasta Salad Variations

This is a great basic pasta salad recipe to customize depending on what you like or what you already have.

For extra vegetables, try adding chopped bell peppers or onions. You can also substitute your favorite vegetables for some or all of the cucumber and tomatoes.

Want a heartier pasta salad? Add precooked chicken or shrimp. Suddenly your summer side dish can become an easy cold lunch or dinner.

You can also experiment with the pasta shape. Try penne, small shells, bowties, or another favorite small to medium pasta.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve this Easy Pasta Salad cold alongside burgers, grilled chicken, steak, hot dogs, or other summer BBQ favorites.
• Bring it to potlucks, picnics, graduation parties, family reunions, and summer cookouts when you need an easy side dish for a crowd.
• Pair it with sandwiches or wraps for an easy lunch.
• Add precooked chicken (shredded rotisserie chicken would work) or precooked shrimp to turn the pasta salad into a cold main dish.
• Add it to a buffet of other summer salads and sides for an easy outdoor party menu.

Quick Tips for Best Results

• Cook the pasta al dente. You don’t want overly soft or mushy pasta in a cold pasta salad.
• Cool the pasta completely. Rinse the cooked pasta with cold water until it is completely cold all the way through.
• Don’t add all the dressing immediately. Save some Italian dressing for right before serving so you can freshen up the pasta salad after it has chilled.
• Use a large bowl. This recipe makes 16 servings, so give yourself plenty of room to toss the ingredients.
• Don’t overmix. Gently combine the ingredients so the feta and tomatoes don’t get completely smashed.
• Customize the cucumber. I generally partially peel the English cucumbers, but you can peel them completely or leave the skin on.
• Make it your own. Add onions, peppers, other favorite vegetables, precooked chicken, or shrimp.
• Cut the recipe in half if needed. This makes a large batch for parties and potlucks, but it’s easy to scale down for a smaller group.

Easy Pasta Salad FAQ

How should I store the Pasta Salad?
Store leftover pasta salad covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Give it a good stir before serving again since some of the dressing may settle or soak into the pasta.

Can you freeze Pasta Salad?
I wouldn’t recommend freezing this pasta salad. Fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, and cooked pasta can all change texture after freezing and thawing, so this recipe is much better made fresh and refrigerated.

How long will the pasta salad last?
The pasta salad will be ok in the refrigerator for a few days as long as your vegetables are fresh.

Substitutions?
Instead of rotini, use another favorite pasta such as penne, small shells, bowties, or another small to medium pasta shape. You can also replace the cucumbers and/or tomatoes with other favorite vegetables.

Can I use low-fat ingredients?
You can experiment with a reduced-fat feta or dressing if you’d like, but the flavor and texture may be a little different. Check the particular brands you’re using since products can vary quite a bit.

What else can I add to this recipe?
Try onions, bell peppers, or other favorite vegetables. Precooked chicken or shrimp are also great additions if you want to make the pasta salad heartier and turn it into more of a main dish.

Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?
Here are a few ideas, but I can’t guarantee results. Always check the particular brands and ingredients you’re using if you have dietary restrictions or allergies.

Vegan – You would need to replace or omit the feta cheese and make sure your pasta and Italian dressing are vegan.

Vegetarian – This pasta salad is vegetarian as written, but check your specific brands and ingredients to be sure.

Low-Carb – Traditional pasta makes this fairly high in carbohydrates, but you could experiment with a lower-carb pasta substitute.

Gluten-Free – Try your favorite gluten-free pasta and check the Italian dressing and other packaged ingredients to make sure they’re gluten-free.

Other Salad Recipes You May Enjoy

• Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad – A flavorful chicken pasta salad that’s delicious as a side dish or main dish.
• Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad – A creamy pasta salad with lots of pesto flavor.
• Broccoli Salad – A delicious side dish with fresh broccoli, cashews, red onion, cranberries, and Greek yogurt.
• Autumn Spinach Salad – The best fall salad recipe with fresh spinach, blue cheese, pecans, red onion, pear, and an easy sweetened Dijon vinaigrette.

Hope you enjoy this quick and easy pasta salad recipe! Would be great with my French Onion Beer Burgers!