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Creamy One-Pot Pasta Salad with Easy Italian Dressing

creamy one-pot pasta salad - featured image
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This creamy one-pot pasta salad with Italian dressing is a simple, crowd-pleasing dish that comes together in about 30 minutes. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, and meal prep, and it gets even better after a day in the fridge.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound short pasta (rotini, fusilli, or penne)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup cucumber, diced
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
  • 1/2 cup pepperoncini, chopped (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh squeezed
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Fill a large pot with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (about 8-9 minutes for rotini). Stir occasionally.
  2. Prep the vegetables: While pasta cooks, halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber and bell pepper, finely chop red onion, slice olives, and chop pepperoncini if using.
  3. Make the dressing: In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together mayonnaise, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  4. Drain and rinse pasta: Once al dente, drain pasta in a colander and rinse with cold water until completely cool. Shake well to remove excess water.
  5. Combine everything: In the large pot or a big mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, olives, pepperoncini, and parsley. Pour dressing over top and toss gently until evenly coated.
  6. Add Parmesan: Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the top and fold in gently.
  7. Chill and rest: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
  8. Final toss: Before serving, stir well. If dry, add a splash of olive oil or a tablespoon of milk. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Notes

For best results, use full-fat mayonnaise. Cool pasta completely before adding dressing. This salad improves overnight—make it a day ahead if possible. Reserve some dressing to add before serving if making ahead.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, Italian dressing, one-pot, potluck, summer, easy, make-ahead

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/creamy-one-pot-pasta-salad-with-easy-italian-dressing/