This Zesty Garden Pasta Salad is my go-to recipe right now for good reason. This fresh, colorful, and easy-to-make version is packed with crisp veggies, grated Parmesan, and the best homemade Italian dressing. It’s the kind of pasta salad, I want to prepare again and again and always become a crowd favorite.
I usually make a big batch on Sundays so I have something light and satisfying ready for lunch or dinner during the busier week. It’s a perfect salad for a summer potluck, a BBQ weekend dinner, and works year-round. Zesty Garden Pasta Salad assembles quickly, and the best part is you can swap in whatever veggies you have on hand and make it your own in just 20 minutes and tastes even better the next day.
Reasons to Love This Salad: Zesty Garden Pasta Salad
- Flavor Enrich – Every bite is loaded with a delicious combination of sun-dried tomatoes, fresh veggies, mozzarella, and homemade zesty Italian dressing.
- Healthy & Wholesome – It is packed with all important nutrients and fibre, the fresh veggies give a vibe of garden salad goodness.
- Better Than Store-Bought – The Italian dressing I’m using for this recipe is homemade, it is easy to make and way more healthy and better than store-bought. This homemade dressing gives the perfect finishing touch to the dish.
- Easy & Versatile – This pasta salad can be made using any pasta and different handy vegetables, dressing and seasonings. It is a perfect side dish with, meal-prep option, takes about 20 minutes.
- Perfect for Busy Days – This Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is very convenient for feeding the family or even when entertaining a crowd.
Recipe Ingredients
Perfect Pasta for This Salad
Tri-color rigatoni is an excellent choice for this recipe. I love using rigatoni, especially with an oil-based Italian dressing, because all those little spiral screws soak up the dressing. Its ridges do a great job of holding onto the flavors; every bite is coated in zesty goodness. No worries if you prefer a different look, bowties (farfalle) Pasta also works beautifully. 12 oz rotini pasta (or any short pasta like penne or bowties)
Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Sun-dried tomatoes add a deliciously tangy, rich flavor to this salad. I prefer using the ones packed in oil because they bring extra depth and a hint of richness. You can also use dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes; soak them in warm water for a few minutes to soften them before adding to the salad.
Fresh red cherry tomatoes, yellow cherry tomatoes, or even heirloom varieties work wonderfully; they add vibrant color and juicy sweetness to the salad. If you’ve got larger garden tomatoes, cut them into wedges and toss them in.
Fresh Veggies
This Zesty Garden Pasta Salad is loaded with crisp cucumbers, tangy tomatoes, sharp red onion, sweet bell pepper, and fresh spinach. For making every bite both refreshing and wholesome, use fresh broccoli bite-sized florets and a combination of yellow, green or red sweet peppers.
Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
Grated or shredded Parmesan cheese adds a nutty kick to the pasta salad, and even a little extra sprinkled on top makes the serving bowl irresistible. But if you only have canned powdered Parmesan, start with about half of the amount at the start, then adjust to taste.
Homemade Italian Dressing
This dressing is a simple yet perfect blend of basic ingredients. Extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and classic Italian herbs tie the whole salad together beautifully and give fresh, zesty, and bursting flavor. You could also use store-bought Italian dressing.
Check out my other fresh, delicious and popular 4-ingredient pasta salad. You will definitely love pasta salad.
Recipe Directions
(Tip: Prep your veggies before getting start, this will save time and zesty garden pasta salad recipe will be ready in just 20 minutes.)
Cook the Pasta – start by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook Pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse Pasta under cold water to cool.
Make the Dressing – Whisk together all dressing ingredients: olive oil, vinegar, garlic, honey, mayo, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Set aside until well combined.
Assemble the Salad – In a large bowl, combine Pasta, bell peppers, spinach, cucumber, sun-dried tomatoes and freshly grated Parmesan. Pour the dressing over and toss gently until dressing is evenly coated on everything.
Chill & Serve – I like to refrigerate this type of pasta salad overnight or for at least 2 hours to let the flavors blend and allow the Pasta to absorb dressing flavors. When it is ready to serve, stir and top with fresh basil or balsamic glaze before serving (optional).
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Cool the Pasta – Always rinse Pasta after cooking to stop it from sticking. For cold Pasta salads, cooled noodles work best. Rinsing stops the cooking, lowers the temperature, and prevents them from sticking.
- Make Ahead – This salad actually tastes even better after a few hours or even the next day.
- Customize It – Don’t hesitate to add chickpeas, grilled chicken, or olives for extra protein and flavor.
- Storing Leftovers– Keep leftover pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 4–5 days.
Optional Add-ins
This quick and easy pasta salad is already delicious and healthy on its own, but with a few classic Italian touches, you can take it to the next level.
- Add sliced pepperoni or cubed salami for a heartier, protein-packed salad.
- Use mini mozzarella balls, extra creamy bites of goodness.
- Add sliced black olives for a briny pop of flavor that balances the freshness.
This Zesty Garden Pasta Salad is Perfect for feeding a crowd or making your salad feel more like a complete meal!
Nutritional Facts (per serving, approx.)
Final Thoughts
This Zesty Garden Pasta Salad is beyond a side dish. It’s a refreshing, flavor-packed recipe that’s as beautiful and appealing as it is delicious. It’s versatile enough for weeknight meals, summer picnics, or holiday spreads, and it maintains flavors well in the fridge so you can enjoy it for days.
Once you try it, this salad might become one of your favorites, too!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the secret to a flavorful pasta salad?
What’s the secret to a flavorful pasta salad?
A really zingy, no-mayo dressing, plenty of herbs, and something like scallion, pickled peppercorn, or capers really make it a more interesting experience.
What’s the secret to a flavorful pasta salad?
A really zingy, no-mayo dressing, plenty of herbs, and something like scallion, pickled peppercorn, or capers really make it a more interesting experience.
What are the mistakes to avoid in pasta salad?
Don’t add something to the entire batch of food.
Always give Pasta salad some Italian dressing and let it sit overnight.
Don’t forget to rinse Pasta after cooking.
Add an appropriate amount of dressing; too little or too much can ruin the dish.
What are the ingredients of pasta salad?
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ red onion, finely diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls
Should I let the Pasta cool before making pasta salad?
Always rinse Pasta after cooking to stop it from sticking, for cold Pasta salads, cooled noodles work best.
