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...
Not Your Everyday Apples
Not Your Everyday Apples
Apples are baked to perfection with a mixture of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and raisins.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
This variation of an old and much-loved recipe can be changed in many ways depending on the ingredients you have on hand.
Prepare:
30 to 45 minutes
Cook:
1 hour
Makes:
12 rolls
Spring Fling Vegetable Chowder
Spring Fling Vegetable Chowder
A delicious chowder packed with spring vegetables, hearty potatoes and topped with cheddar cheese.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
8 cups
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
2 cups
Chicken and Black Bean Salsa Burritos
Chicken and Black Bean Salsa Burritos
Tortillas are rolled around a flavorful filling of beans, spices and chicken. Kids and adults will love them for a quick and tasty breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
4 Burritos
Refried Bean Soup
Refried Bean Soup
Canned beans and tomatoes make this tasty soup so quick and easy to prepare.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
10 cups


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!