Easy Zesty Spiral Pasta Salad

Name: Easy Zesty Spiral Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
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

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

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· July 20, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

10 minutes

Total

25 minutes

Serves

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.

🧺 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

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spiral pasta according to the package directions.
2
Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water until it is completely cool.
3
Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl.
4
Add the tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, and black olives to the bowl with the pasta.
5
Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and toss everything together until well coated.
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.

💡 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.

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