Summer Garden Pasta Salad

Name: Summer Garden Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound rotini or fusilli pasta; 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved; 1 cup fresh sweet corn kernels; 1 cucumber, diced; 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped; 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn; 1/2 cup olive oil; 1/4 cup red wine vinegar; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

This fresh pasta salad highlights the best summer produce with juicy tomatoes, sweet corn, and a bright herb dressing.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· July 18, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

10 minutes

Total

25 minutes

Serves

Nothing says July like a big bowl of garden pasta salad. It is the perfect side dish for any backyard barbecue or a simple dinner out on the patio when you want something light and cool.

My favorite thing about this recipe is how versatile it is. You can toss in whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand from the market, and it always tastes like a sunny day.

🧺 Ingredients

1 pound rotini or fusilli pasta
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup fresh sweet corn kernels
1 cucumber, diced
1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions until it is al dente.
2
Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down quickly.
3
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
4
Place the cooked pasta into a large mixing bowl and add the tomatoes, corn, cucumber, red onion, and basil.
5
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything together until the ingredients are well coated.
6
Serve immediately or keep it in the refrigerator for an hour to let the flavors soak in.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. If the pasta absorbs the dressing over time, just add a splash of olive oil and a pinch of salt before serving again to freshen it up.

#summer #vegetarian #pasta #salad #easy

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