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)

Autumn Squash Bisque with Ginger
A bowl of smooth squash soup spiced with ginger and garlic is topped with yogurt and chopped parsley.

Autumn Squash Bisque with Ginger

Delicious soup seasoned with ginger, thyme and pear that’s easy and quick to make for lunch or dinner. Freezes well.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
45 minutes
Makes:
10 cups
Honey Mustard Green Beans
Bowl of green beans coated with sauce.

Honey Mustard Green Beans

Green beans tossed in a blend of mustard, honey, and vinegar. A great side dish!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Great Gazpacho Soup
Small bowl of tomato based chunky vegetable soup.

Great Gazpacho Soup

Homemade tomato-based chilled soup with hints of lemon and garlic.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
No-Yeast Pizza Crust
Pizza dough shown with smeared red sauce and pizza toppings.

No-Yeast Pizza Crust

A quick and easy way to make homemade pizza without yeast. Great idea for your next family dinner!
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
1 12-inch crust
Corn Pancakes
Round, golden corn pancakes displayed on a skillet and plate.

Corn Pancakes

A delicious savory alternative to traditional pancakes.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
5 minutes
Makes:
6 6-inch pancakes
Cauliflower Salad
Photo of Cauliflower Salad

Cauliflower Salad

Tender veggies with a creamy dressing make a perfect side dish. Great for summer BBQs!
Prepare:
20 minutes
Makes:
5 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.