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)

Superhero Shepherd's Pie
Plate of a ground beef and vegetable mix with a layer of mashed potato on top.

Superhero Shepherd's Pie

Try this mix of vegetables and ground beef topped with mashed potatoes for a comforting meal.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
60 minutes
Makes:
10 cups
Mashed Potatoes
Platter of seasoned and mashed potatoes.

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are perfect any night of the year.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Strawberry and cucumber slices coated with poppy seed dressing.

Strawberry Cucumber Salad

A refreshing sweet and savory salad with sliced strawberries, crisp cucumbers and honey mustard dressing.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Makes:
4 Cups
Low-Fat Tartar Sauce
Small bowl of tartar sauce with a vegetable patty.

Low-Fat Tartar Sauce

A healthy homemade tartar sauce with fresh herbs and tangy mustard, perfect to serve with seafood.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
½ cup
Red Wine Vinaigrette
Jar of vinaigrette dressing served on a salad.

Red Wine Vinaigrette

A combination of Italian spices, bright vinegar and tangy mustard makes a dressing to use in a variety of dishes.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
½ cup
Roasted Green Beans
Plater of tender green beans.

Roasted Green Beans

A simple and easy recipe for making summer fresh green beans. The perfect side for any meal.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
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.