Italian Pasta Salad #Recipe

Spring is here? Can you believe it? I can't either because I have to admit that while Spring is officially here, the weather here isn't playing nice and cooperating. We recently had a snowfall and I was not too happy about that. I know with the New Year, a lot of us made a few resolutions or goals if you prefer. One of them for me was to start eating a little bit healthier. While I generally eat healthy, I don't eat as much as I would like and I have to admit that I don't do the 3 balanced meals for myself. I do however encourage my kids do. I have to learn to do it myself. Right now it's a case of "Do As I Say, Not What I Do". Today I want to share with you a simple but very satisfying Italian Pasta Salad. If you're trying eat something light for lunch or even dinner, then this is the perfect meal for you.


Here is what you'll need:
Ingredients:

1 box of tri-color rotini noodles
1 16 oz container of Italian salad dressing, any brand
1 head of broccoli
2 medium tomotoes, diced
1 8 oz jar of green olives, sliced (you could also substitute black olives if you wish)
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Bring 6 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add in the entire box of tri-color rotini. Allow to continue boiling and cook the pasta about 11-12 minutes (check the back of your pasta box to double check their al dente cook time)


While the pasta is cooking, dice up your veggies and slice up your olives.

Remove the pasta from the stove and rinse under cold water.

Pour the cook pasta into a large bowl and add in the diced veggies and olives.


Pour in about 8 oz of the Italian dressing to start, gently mixing the pasta salad. At this point, adding more dressing is all about taste in my opinion. I like a lot of dressing so I usually add almost the entire 16 oz bottle. Go by taste.


Serves approximately 16-20 people; this is a large batch and great for summer parties! Can you believe I'm already talking Summer and Spring is still trying to arrive? Well there's still hope.

Serve and Enjoy!


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25 comments

  1. James RobertMarch 27, 2015 at 3:27 AM

    This looks so good and easy too. It reminds me something of a salad my mom use to make but she would also put the salad supreme in it and we all loved it.

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  2. Masshole MommyMarch 27, 2015 at 4:05 AM

    That is very similar to my recipe - I just don't add in broccoli :) Sounds good.

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  3. JamieMarch 27, 2015 at 5:55 AM

    one word YUM! My mother-in-law always makes a pasta dish but always puts meat in it, and I always hate skipping past the dish but still craving pasta salad. The next holiday we get together I'm for sure making this so I can indulge in pasta salad.

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  4. Tamara CameraMarch 27, 2015 at 9:13 AM

    Pasta Salad has always been my favorite food! I would just add cheese and meat to my version because.. I can't resist. I'm thinking cheddar cheese and pepperoni. Hmm.....
    Now I have to go make some.

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  5. PamMarch 27, 2015 at 9:16 AM

    This looks like a recipe for pasta salad that my daughter has been looking for forever! Her school used to serve a similar pasta salad, but we could never get the recipe. Yum!

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  6. Aimee FauciMarch 27, 2015 at 12:44 PM

    This is my kind of dish. I love pasta and can eat the entire bowl if someone is not watching me.

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  7. Heather @ Girl Gone MomMarch 27, 2015 at 1:30 PM

    I have been dreaming of barbeques! I love making pasta salad in summer :)

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  8. Mama to 5March 27, 2015 at 2:10 PM

    That sounds really good. Everything looks nice and fresh!

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  9. Liz MaysMarch 27, 2015 at 2:42 PM

    Wow that sounds like such a delicious pasta salad. Yum, those olives sound so good right now.

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  10. LesleyMarch 27, 2015 at 4:54 PM

    I love summertime because all the pasta salads come out of hiding. Yum! My favorite.

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  11. LifeAsAConvertMarch 27, 2015 at 5:40 PM

    This looks good. I make a very similar recipe.

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  12. Tough Cookie MommyMarch 27, 2015 at 5:44 PM

    I've always loved Italian pasta salad but I never knew how to make it. I'm going to have to make some here at home for my own family.

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  13. Celebrity VIP LoungeMarch 27, 2015 at 5:58 PM

    I have made something like this before. It really is amazing. Amber N

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  14. Theresa MahoneyMarch 27, 2015 at 8:00 PM

    You can never have enough pasta in my house! This sounds like and amazing recipe!

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  15. Sarah Nenni-DaherMarch 27, 2015 at 11:19 PM

    Now I totally want pasta salad. ;) I'm adding everything to my grocery list because now I REALLY want pasta salad. Pinned!

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  16. Farrah AFMMarch 28, 2015 at 5:04 AM

    I love, love, love pasta salad! I search out gluten free pasta just so I can still have it. :)

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  17. Fabulous PerksMarch 28, 2015 at 7:20 AM

    Yum! This looks delicious. I very rarely make pasta salad. I'm definitely going to make this one the next time I do.

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  18. JeanineMarch 28, 2015 at 7:20 AM

    We had wonderful spring weather for all of 4days. Now it's like winter is back. Ugh

    Love pasta salad! This looks great! I haven't had a pasta salad in so long!

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  19. April GrantMarch 28, 2015 at 9:50 AM

    I love Italian pasta and never have tried to make it myself. Looks simple enough though. I'll have to try it.

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  20. bettycdMarch 28, 2015 at 12:55 PM

    I've found pasta salad can be a starting point to which you add whatever I have available. I love broccoli but you can also add cucumber, celery, cherry tomatoes
    The sun is shining brightly today and it looks like the weather will be 'spring-like' next week. I think it was last year that the egg hunts had to be cancelled because of snow.

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  21. Paula SchuckMarch 28, 2015 at 4:58 PM

    I love pasta salads and I can't wait for it to be warm so I can make more of them!

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  22. BabitaMarch 29, 2015 at 6:51 PM

    I love Italian Pasta Salad and I was browsing for a good recipe. This one looks like a winner. I am saving it.

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  23. Alice CMarch 30, 2015 at 8:31 AM

    Super YUM! I love a fresh pasta salad in the summer. I am saving this one.

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  24. Jerry MarquardtApril 2, 2015 at 10:19 PM

    This recipe looked so good, I copied it down. I am due to make this this coming Saturday. I thank you for the share.

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  25. Michael LambertApril 6, 2015 at 11:32 PM

    My wife likes pasta salad and this one sounds really good. I like that it has broccoli since my family loves it.

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