4 Ingredient Pasta Salad Recipe
Make this quick 4 ingredient pasta salad with Italian dressing—fresh, simple, and perfect as a side dish for cookouts, potlucks, or family dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 lb 16 oz pasta of choice (rotini, penne, or shells work best)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved (or grape tomatoes)
- 1 cup diced bell pepper red, yellow, or green
- 1 cup Italian dressing store-bought or homemade
- Optional but highly recommended add-ins:
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese or cubed cheddar
- 2 green onions thinly sliced for a fresh kick
Instructions
- Cook the pasta (10 minutes): Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta, and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Chop the veggies (5 minutes): Dice bell peppers and halve cherry tomatoes. Slice green onions if using.
- Mix the salad (3 minutes): In a large mixing bowl, combine pasta, veggies, cheese, and Italian dressing. Toss gently until everything is coated.
- Chill before serving (optional, 30 minutes): For best flavor, refrigerate to let the dressing soak into the pasta.
Notes
- Don’t overcook pasta—al dente holds up best.
- Rinse pasta under cold water after cooking to prevent clumping.
- Use a good-quality Italian dressing, since it’s the main flavor.
- Pasta salad tastes even better if made a few hours in advance and chilled.
- Lasts up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.