Description
This is the best pasta salad recipe for parties, potlucks and cookouts. Learn how to make it your own with different pasta shapes, dressings and mix-ins.
Ingredients
- 1 package (16 ounces) uncooked spiral pasta
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1 pint grape tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber, quartered lengthwise and sliced
- 1 medium sweet orange or yellow pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 small red onion, halved and sliced
- 1 can (6 ounces) pitted ripe olives, drained
- 1-1/2 cups italian salad dressing
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese pearls
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 3 cups grilled chicken strips, optional
Directions
- In a Dutch oven, cook pasta according to package directions, adding the broccoli during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain and rinse in cold water.
- Transfer to a large bowl. Add tomatoes, cucumber, orange pepper, onion and olives. In a small bowl, whisk salad dressing, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Pour over pasta mixture; toss to coat. Gently mix in cheese, basil and, if desired, chicken.