Overnight Pasta Salad (the BEST Pasta Salad EVER)
Overnight Pasta Salad (the BEST Pasta Salad EVER) is the perfect dish for gatherings, combining hearty pasta with vibrant vegetables and a zesty Italian dressing. This salad is not just delicious; it’s also incredibly easy to prepare and can be made ahead of time, allowing the flavors to meld overnight for maximum taste. Whether for a potluck, family dinner, or casual meal, this versatile dish can be customized with your favorite ingredients. Enjoy the refreshing combination of sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and fresh veggies in every bite!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves approximately 8 people 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Marinating
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb pasta (rotini or penne recommended)
- 2 cups Italian dressing
- 1 packet dry Italian dressing mix
- 1 8-oz bottle sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 can pitted black olives (drained)
- 1 pint grape tomatoes (diced)
- 1 English cucumber (diced)
- 1 red onion (diced)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well without rinsing and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- While the pasta is still warm, stir in the Italian dressing and dry Italian dressing mix until evenly coated.
- Drain and chop the sun-dried tomatoes before adding them to the pasta mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Just before serving, add black olives, grape tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion to the salad. Mix well and serve chilled.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg