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)

Quick No-Cook Pizza Sauce
Tomato sauce blend being shown spread onto pizza dough.

Quick No-Cook Pizza Sauce

A quick and easy pizza sauce full of rich and tangy tomato flavor and Italian herbs.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
3 Cups
No-Knead Whole-Wheat Bread
slices of bread from a rustic loaf

No-Knead Whole-Wheat Bread

This recipe uses a long rise time instead of kneading to make a whole-grain bread with nice texture and flavor.
Prepare:
20 minutes + 13 hours rising
Cook:
50 minutes
Makes:
20 pieces
Slow Cooker Beans
Crock Pot with cooked red kidney beans.

Slow Cooker Beans

Making beans in the slow cooker is easy and can save you money. Season them the way you like and make enough to freeze for more easy meals.
Prepare:
5 minutes + 6 hours soaking
Cook:
4 to 6 hours
Makes:
6 cups
Rosanna’s Fry Bread
Platter of stacked golden fry bread.

Rosanna’s Fry Bread

Fry bread was a survival food for many Indigenous People. Today it represents resilience and is enjoyed for holidays, pow wows and other gatherings.
Prepare:
1 hour (includes mixing, resting, and dividing)
Cook:
20 minutes per batch
Makes:
8 pieces
Microwave Fresh Vegetables
Glass containers with potatoes, carrots, broccoli and green beans.

Microwave Fresh Vegetables

Steam-cooking fresh vegetables in the microwave is a quick and easy way to make a healthy side dish for lunch or dinner. The short cooking time preserves nutrients, color and flavor.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
5 minutes
Makes:
2 cups
Winter Fruit Crisp
Plate of baked sliced apples with a sweet granola topping.

Winter Fruit Crisp

Quick and easy fruit treat with warm buttery oats, sweetened with brown sugar.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
8 Bars (4 inches x 2 inches)