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. Combine the cooked pasta, tomatoes, broccoli and black olives together in a bowl.
  3. Add the herbs, cheese and salad dressing. Stir together and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  4. 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

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)

Garlic Bok Choy
Small bowl of sauteed Bok choy.

Garlic Bok Choy

Easy, healthy side dish recipe that pairs well with one of our stir-fry recipes.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
2 Cups
Mashed Turnips and Potatoes
Bowl of seasoned and mashed potatoes and turnips.

Mashed Turnips and Potatoes

A creamy blend of root vegetables mashed and flavored with sour cream and garlic.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Rice Bowl Southwestern Style
Bowls of rice, vegetables and chicken with shredded cheese.

Rice Bowl Southwestern Style

Lots of filling grains, healthy veggies, and southwestern flavor make this a great meal any time of day.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
2 cups
Quinoa with Cactus
Medium bowl of cactus and vegetables with quinoa.

Quinoa with Cactus

Canned or fresh cactus is combined with tomatoes, garlic and quinoa for a satisfying and filling meal.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Kale Dip
Cottage cheese and kale-based dip served with celery, carrot sticks and crackers.

Kale Dip

This creamy dip combines greens and cottage cheese for a dip that is perfect for dipping veggies!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
5 minutes
Makes:
1 ½ cups
Mashed Potatoes
Platter of seasoned and mashed potatoes.

Mashed Potatoes

A classic dish of creamy, garlicky, buttery potatoes perfect any night of the year.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Was this page helpful to you?