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Lunch

Easy Zesty Spiral Pasta Salad

This simple pasta salad is a crowd pleasing favorite that comes together in minutes with a quick dressing.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 American· July 19, 2026
Easy Zesty Spiral Pasta Salad
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
15 minutes
Cook
10 minutes
Total
1 hour 25 minutes
Serves
8

There is nothing quite like a cold pasta salad when you need a fast lunch or a side dish for a backyard barbecue. It is so easy to toss together because you can use whatever fresh vegetables you happen to have in your fridge drawer right now.

My favorite trick for this recipe is to salt your pasta water generously while the noodles boil. It makes sure the flavor goes all the way through the pasta before you even add the dressing.

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces spiral pasta
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 cucumber, chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup bottled Italian dressing
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spiral pasta according to the package directions until al dente.

  2. 2

    Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.

  3. 3

    In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, bell pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion.

  4. 4

    Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and toss everything well to ensure the pasta is coated.

  5. 5

    Top with the grated parmesan cheese and give it one last gentle stir.

  6. 6

    Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving so the flavors can mingle.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. If the pasta seems a bit dry after sitting, add a small splash of extra dressing or a drizzle of olive oil before serving.

#vegetarian#pasta salad#easy dinner#summer sides#lunch

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