Great make ahead-meal with fresh veggies, Italian herbs and a tangy dressing.
Tomato Pasta Salad
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
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Rinse fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
- Combine the cooked pasta, tomatoes, broccoli and black olives together in a bowl.
- Add the herbs, cheese and salad dressing. Stir together and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- 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.
You might also like...
Italian Seasoning Mix
Italian Seasoning Mix
Make your own dried Italian-style seasoning mix to choose the blend of herbs you like best.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
½ cup
Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells
A rich, creamy recipe that combines fall flavors with satisfying pasta.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
45 minutes
Makes:
12 Filled Shells
Turkey Cranberry Quesadilla
Turkey Cranberry Quesadilla
A quick and simple meal with warm turkey and sweet and tangy cranberry sauce.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
5 minutes
Makes:
1 quesadilla
Cowboy Salad
Cowboy Salad
A simple, tasty salad that is ready in under 20 minutes. Perfect for BBQs, potluck dinners or as a side dish any time of year.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Makes:
8 cups
Pineapple Salsa
Pineapple Salsa
Full of flavor and easy to make, this salsa is perfect for a party or a tasty snack any time.
Prepare:
10 to 15 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Southwestern Stuffed Potatoes
Southwestern Stuffed Potatoes
Potatoes are topped with southwest-style toppings for a simple and tasty microwave meal.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
4 potato halves


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!