Rainbow Pasta Salad

Ingredients

See recipe card below for exact amounts. 

Ingredient and Substitutions

• Pasta: We use tri-colored rotini, sometimes called Garden Rotini. It has regular, tomato and spinach pasta. You can use any short cut pasta like regular rotini, penne, or bowtie pasta. 
• Veggies: I like broccoli but you can use any crunchy veggies like red onion, green onion, bell peppers, cucumbers, celery, carrots, zucchini, green beans, asparagus, or cauliflower.
• Tomatoes: We use cherry tomatoes. Feel free to substitute with grape tomatoes or even sun-dried tomatoes. If using sun-dried tomatoes cut the amount in half since they add a sweet, tangy flavor. You can also add Kalamata olives, green olives, or black olives. 
• Cheese: Feta cheese is tangy and salty, adding to the layers of flavor in this salad. Plus, in moderation, it offers some great nutritional benefits. WebMD has a helpful article comparing feta to goat cheese and breaking down its health perks. Some other cheese options are mozzarella (pearls or a large piece cut into bite-sized pieces), parmesan, jack, pepper-jack, or cheddar.
• Dressing: We opt for a fat free Italian dressing, but you can use regular or creamy Italian dressing. If you’re not a fan of Italian then any vinaigrette or dressing like will also work.  

How to Make Rainbow Pasta Salad Recipe

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot to al dente according to the box directions. 
2. While the pasta cooks cut the broccoli and slice the tomatoes in half.
3. When the pasta is finished, drain it and rinse it with cold water. This helps stop the cooking process, so your pasta doesn’t get mushy.
4. Toss the pasta, veggies and feta together in a large mixing bowl. 
5. Pour the salad dressing in and toss to coat. 

Tips

• Prevent mushy pasta – Rinse cooked pasta with cold water to stop the cooking process and keep it firm.
• Let it marinate – While you can serve this pasta salad immediately, it tastes even better after chilling in the fridge for a couple of hours.
• Refresh if needed – If the salad seems dry after refrigerating, just add a little extra dressing before serving.

Variations

We like to keep our pasta salad simple, but the possibilities are endless! Feel free to mix in your favorite ingredients. Here are some ideas:

• Add a tangy kick with sliced banana peppers or pepperoncini.
• Freshen it up with fresh herbs like chopped basil or flat-leaf parsley.
• Make it heartier by adding cooked chicken, salami, beans, or chickpeas.

Storage 

​Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.