Delicious Layered Pasta Salad That'll Brighten Your Day

A vibrant Layered Pasta Salad bursting with flavors and ideal for any occasion.

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Course: Salads

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy recipes, healthy salad, Layered Pasta Salad, pasta salad, summer salad, vegetable salad

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 10

Chilling Time: 1

Total Time: 1 25

Servings: cups

Calories: 250kcal

3 cups cooked pasta Use your favorite pasta shape; rotini or penne work beautifully!
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved for sweetness
1 cup cucumber diced for crunch
½ cup red onion finely chopped
½ cup green bell pepper diced for texture
½ cup black olives sliced for tang
¼ cup fresh parsley chopped for freshness
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese can substitute with feta

Boil water in a large pot, add a pinch of salt, and cook 3 cups of pasta according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water.
In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, 1 cup of diced cucumber, ½ cup of finely chopped red onion, and ½ cup of diced green bell pepper. Stir gently.
Add ½ cup of black olives and ¼ cup of fresh parsley to the vegetable mixture. Then add 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and mix well.
In a separate bowl, whisk together ½ cup of Italian dressing, ¼ cup of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, 1 teaspoon of sugar, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper until smooth.
Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable blend in the large bowl. Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld.
Before serving, gently toss once more to redistribute the dressing, and enjoy!

Allowing the salad to rest enhances the taste, letting flavors meld beautifully.