Looking for a refreshingly simple yet incredibly flavorful dish? This Easy French Dressing Pasta Salad is your answer! It’s a vibrant, quick-to-assemble side or light meal that’s bursting with tangy-sweet goodness and perfectly cooked pasta, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini or fusilli pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 large cucumber, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced
- 4 oz pepperoni, diced (optional)
- 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, cubed or shredded
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced (optional)
- 1 bottle (16 oz) store-bought French dressing
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare your vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, dice the red bell pepper, and finely dice the red onion.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, diced pepperoni (if using), cubed cheddar cheese, and sliced black olives (if using).
- Pour the entire bottle of French dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss gently until all ingredients are well coated.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. You may not need much salt depending on your dressing and other ingredients.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. For best results, chill for 2-3 hours.
- Before serving, give the salad another good stir. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
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