Easy Potluck Pasta Salad with Zesty Dressing
This Easy Potluck Pasta Salad with Zesty Dressing is a colorful, vibrant, and delicious dish perfect for parties or quick meal prep. Featuring tri-color pasta, fresh veggies, and a tangy, bright dressing, it combines ease, flavor, and a refreshing zing that pleases all ages and diets.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Gluten Free (if gluten-free pasta is used)
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad
- 3 cups cooked tri-color rotini or penne pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped
Zesty Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and cool the pasta completely.
- Prepare the veggies: While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, finely chop the red onion, slice the olives, and chop fresh herbs. The vibrant colors bring the salad to life.
- Make the zesty dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified. This zingy dressing is the star that ties the whole dish together.
- Combine all ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, veggies, olives, herbs, and crumbled feta. Pour over the dressing and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
- Chill and serve: Let the pasta salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to meld. Give it a gentle toss before serving and enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Al dente texture keeps the salad from becoming mushy.
- Use cold pasta: Rinsing with cold water cools it quickly and prevents clumping.
- Adjust the dressing: Taste and tweak acidity or sweetness to suit your palate.
- Chill properly: Refrigerate to let flavors marry and enhance the overall taste.
- Fresh herbs matter: Using fresh parsley or basil adds brightness that’s hard to replace.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Keywords: potluck, pasta salad, easy recipe, zesty dressing, Mediterranean, fresh veggies, healthy, make-ahead, crowd-pleaser