Description
This vibrant Pasta Salad Cups recipe offers a delightful combination of rotini pasta, fresh cherry tomatoes, cucumber, black olives, and parsley, all tossed in flavorful Italian dressing. Perfect for parties or a light lunch, these individual salad servings are easy to prepare and serve chilled, delivering a refreshing and colorful dish in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup diced cucumber
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini pasta for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to cool it down and stop the cooking process.
- Prepare the vegetables: While the pasta cools, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, slice the black olives, and chop the fresh parsley into bite-sized pieces for a fresh and colorful salad.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta along with all the chopped vegetables and chopped parsley. Pour in the Italian dressing and toss everything together until the pasta and veggies are thoroughly coated.
- Season the salad: Add salt and pepper to taste. Taste the salad and adjust the seasonings as needed to ensure a balanced flavor.
- Serve in cups: Spoon the pasta salad mixture into small clear cups for easy serving. Refrigerate the cups until ready to serve, allowing the flavors to meld and the salad to stay chilled.
Notes
- You can substitute Italian dressing with your favorite vinaigrette or make your own for a personalized flavor.
- For added protein, consider mixing in some cooked chicken, chickpeas, or mozzarella balls.
- This pasta salad is best served chilled and can be prepared a few hours ahead to enhance the flavors.
- Use gluten-free pasta if you require a gluten-free option.
- Make sure to rinse the pasta with cold water thoroughly to stop the cooking and prevent it from becoming mushy.
