Description
This Creamy Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing, vibrant dish that combines zesty dressing, crisp vegetables, savory plant-based protein bits, and cheddar cheese. It is perfect for family gatherings, BBQs, or a hearty main-course meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb fusilli pasta
- 1 ½ dry pints multicolor cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 4 mini cucumbers, sliced lengthwise and chopped into ½ inch pieces
- ¼ red onion, diced
- 3 oz large pitted black olives, sliced in half
- ¼ cup banana peppers, roughly chopped
- 10 oz vegetarian savory deli slices, chopped into ½ inch pieces
- 8 oz cheddar cheese, cut into cubes
- 1 packet zesty Italian dressing mix
- ¼ cup vinegar
- 3 tbsp water
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 cup mayo
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Step: Boil fusilli pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente.
- Step: In a large bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, black olives, banana peppers, vegetarian savory deli slices, and cheddar cheese. Set aside.
- Step: In a mason jar, combine vinegar, water, and italian dressing mix, shaking well. Add olive oil and shake again until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayo and ½ cup of the prepared dressing mixture.
- Step: In a large serving bowl, toss the pasta with half of the creamy dressing mixture. Add the veggie and deli slice mixture and toss. Add the remaining creamy dressing and gently toss until fully incorporated.
- Step: Garnish with fresh parsley and chill for at least one hour or overnight before serving.
Notes
Letting the salad chill in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight significantly improves the flavor as it allows the ingredients to marinate and the dressing to thicken.
- Prep Time: PT15M
- Cook Time: PT10M
- Category: Brunch, Lunch, Main Course, Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American, Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 682 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 888 mg
- Fat: 51 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 36 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg