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๐Ÿฅ˜Recipes by Nani
Lunch

Easy Zesty Spiral Pasta Salad

This simple pasta salad is a refreshing crowd pleaser that comes together in just minutes.

By Recipes By Naniยท ๐ŸŒ Americanยท July 20, 2026
Easy Zesty Spiral Pasta Salad
recipesbynani.com
Prep
15 minutes
Cook
10 minutes
Total
25 minutes
Serves
8

This spiral pasta salad is a staple in my kitchen because it is so easy to toss together on a busy day. I love using rotini pasta because those little spirals are perfect for holding onto all the delicious dressing in every single bite.

My biggest tip is to rinse your pasta with cold water as soon as you drain it. This stops the cooking process and keeps the noodles from sticking together while you chop up your fresh vegetables.

๐Ÿงบ Ingredients

  • 16 ounces rotini pasta
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup sliced black olives
  • 1 cup Italian salad dressing
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸณInstructions

  1. 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spiral pasta according to the package directions.

  2. 2

    Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water until it is completely cool.

  3. 3

    Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl.

  4. 4

    Add the tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, and black olives to the bowl with the pasta.

  5. 5

    Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and toss everything together until well coated.

  6. 6

    Sprinkle with the grated parmesan cheese and serve immediately, or cover and chill in the fridge for an hour to let the flavors meld.

๐Ÿ’ก Tips

You can store this in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. If the pasta seems a little dry the next day, just add a splash more dressing or a drizzle of olive oil before serving.

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.

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