Skip to main content

Tomato Pasta Salad

Great make ahead-meal with fresh veggies, Italian herbs and a tangy dressing.
Kid friendly
Bowls of colorful spiral pasta with olives and broccoli.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Makes: 6 cups
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

4 cups cooked rotini pasta
2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 cup chopped broccoli
¼ cup sliced black olives
2 teaspoons dry Italian herbs
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
8 ounces low-fat Italian salad dressing (about 1 cup)

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
  3. Combine the cooked pasta, tomatoes, broccoli and black olives together in a bowl.
  4. Add the herbs, cheese and salad dressing. Stir together and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.



    Photo and recipe adapted from Nutrition Matters.

Notes

  • Try adding other vegetables such as corn, cucumber and avocado.
  • Try whole-wheat pasta.
  • Low-fat vinaigrette salad dressing also works in this recipe.

Comments

This Tomato Pasta Salad recipe makes a perfect quick and easy side dish! I have only gotten positive reviews on the flavor and the leftovers keep well in the fridge if you are making it the day before the event. 

I seem to always have some kind of noodle at home and some Italian dressing somewhere in my fridge....thus this recipe is a super accessible one for me!  For the rest of the ingredients, I add what I have on hand.  This is one of my go-to packed lunches I make for myself -- for a couple of days at a time.

We substituted 2 cups of asparagus instead of the broccoli, and high school students loved it! 

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Stovetop Bulgur
Bowl of soft, cooked bulgur.

Stovetop Bulgur

Nutrient-rich whole grain with a light and nutty flavor that cooks quickly.
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Garbanzo Bean and Vegetable Salad
bowl of bean and vegetable salad

Garbanzo Bean and Vegetable Salad

This colorful salad comes together fast for a lunch or a side to share with others.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Makes:
8 cups
Stovetop Teff
Bowl of fine textured teff.

Stovetop Teff

Teff has a mild and nutty flavor with a soft texture.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
2 ½ cups
Baked Cauliflower Tots
Baked rounds of chopped cauliflower and cheese are shown on a platter.

Baked Cauliflower Tots

Cauliflower Tots are cheesy and kid-approved! They are sure to become your favorite side dish or snack.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
15 tots
Tuna Pasta Salad
Bowl of macaroni noodles with tuna and vegetable cubes.

Tuna Pasta Salad

A perfect dish for any gathering, with macaroni, fresh veggies and a creamy dressing.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
6 cups
Stovetop Buckwheat
Bowls of cooked buckwheat.

Stovetop Buckwheat

This nutrient-rich grain has an earthy and slightly nutty with a chewy texture.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
15 to 20 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Was this page helpful to you?
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.