This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It’s a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

How to make homemade Italian pasta salad 

For this delicious cold pasta salad recipe there’s just 5 ingredients + the Italian salad dressing. You can choose to buy bottled zesty Italian dressing or we share our zesty pasta salad dressing recipe below. For this vegan pasta salad you need cooked pasta (we use angel hair), cherry tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and zesty Italian dressing. 

The most difficult part of this entire dish is cooking the pasta for 8 minutes. So, if you can cook pasta, you can make this recipe. Add everything to a big bowl and stir, stir, stir, until everything is mixed together well. Refrigerate and done! It’s really that simple to make this summer pasta salad.

Summer Pasta Salad Recipe 

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Zesty Summer Pasta Salad

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

8 mins

Total Time

18 mins

 

This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It's a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings: 16 people

Calories: 188 kcal

Author: Larisha Campbell

Ingredients

• 1 lb angel hair pasta
• 2 cups homemade Zesty Italian Dressing (recipe below)
• 1/2 cup carrots, grated (approximately 4-6 large carrots)
• 1 1/2 cups broccoli, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups cauliflower, finely chopped
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to the boxed instructions.

2. Drain and transfer pasta to a large bowl. 

3. Add remaining ingredients, except the tomatoes. 

4. Stir until very well combined. 

5. Add in the halved cherry tomatoes and give a quick toss (not too much, you don't want to over work the tomatoes). 

6. Chill in the refrigerate at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. 

7. Refrigerate any remaining pasta salad for up to 5 days. 

Recipe Notes

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Dressing Recipe

In a large bottle or bowl, combine the following, shake or stir very well. Then, ready for use. Refrigerate any leftovers. 

• 1 cup olive oil 
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• juice from half a lemon
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/8 cup red onion, finally chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Nutrition Facts

Zesty Summer Pasta Salad

Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)

Calories 188 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 6g 9%

Sodium 305mg 13%

Potassium 222mg 6%

Total Carbohydrates 27g 9%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 5g

Protein 4g 8%

Vitamin A 17.5%

Vitamin C 23.7%

Calcium 2.1%

Iron 4.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This post was originally published on 5/21/2014.  Same great recipe but our photography skills have greatly improved.  Here’s some of the original photos. 

Disclosure: This Caprese Pasta Salad has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BaronessPatches #CollectiveBias

Even as a stay-at-home mom, life is constantly go-go-go. I remember when I got pregnant with our first that Andrew and I decided I wouldn’t be going back to work.  It wasn’t the easiest transition, but we worked hard to make sure it was possible.  I didn’t think it was going to be easy. However, I definitely didn’t think it would be as hectic as it is. We are constantly on the go. Add in the fact that I run a small business from my home and we homeschool and the hectic level goes from 80 to 110 with a quickness.

The dishes pile up faster than normal, the laundry is never ending, something always needs fixed, and there’s always a mess to be cleaned up.  Sometimes, I swear a fairy comes behind me and helps them throw every single thing off of their toy shelves because there’s a mess again faster than I can clean it up sometimes. On top of everything, I have to educate my pre-schooler and make sure she’s actually learning and “Netflix and chill” apparently doesn’t mean I can sit her in front of the TV and watch LeapFrog all day long.

 And then, for some crazy reason, they need fed three times a day.

One of the best things that I’ve found to help my sanity is meal planning, simple, wholesome dinners where we can come together as a family and have a moment where the chaos is at bay for a few minutes. Sometimes, when I actually have life together, I love getting in the kitchen with our kids. We love making a delicious meal from scratch.  Other nights though, I’m scrambling when my pre-schooler comes to me and says she’s ready for dinner. Often, I realize I never thawed out meat. It’s night like these that I’ve grateful for Red Baron and my list of simple side dishes to go alongside it.  One of my favorite side dishes with Red Baron is a simple Caprese pasta salad.

One of my favorite side dishes is this Caprese Pasta Salad

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Yum

Motherhood is Messy

Ingredients

• 12 oz tri-color rotini
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella balls
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chiffonade
• 2 tbsp, up to 1/4 cup, balsamic vinegar

Instructions

1. In a pot of boiling water, cooked the rotini according to the packaging
2. Drain from water and let cool.
3. Add in cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil.
4. Toss together.
5. Drizzle 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar over pasta salad. Taste and add more vinegar as desired.
6. Salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve alongside Red Baron pizza.

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Motherhood is no easy flight. Luckily, the Red Baron Baroness knows that it takes a village of accepting and embracing our imperfections.  Head over to read more stories about motherhood realities like my story here.