EASY Italian Pasta Salad recipe! This vegetarian recipe uses Italian dressing, tri color pasta, fresh cherry tomatoes, celery and arugula! It’s the perfect garden Summer salad!
Easy to Make Pasta Salad
When it’s hot out all I crave is fresh vegetables. That’s why this Italian Pasta Salad is one of my favorite meals in the Summer!
When it’s hot out, I don’t want to think about turning our oven on. I also don’t want to even think about drinking or eating anything hot, instead I like to rely on chilled recipes, like this Pasta Salad!
That’s why my family loves this recipe during the Summer months!
One thing that I do enjoy about the Summer is that it means fresh vegetables are being picked in the garden by the handful. And because this recipe is bursting with fresh cherry tomatoes, arugula and celery – it’s a garden lovers dream recipe! I get so excited when we start to fill our basket with garden tomatoes, that means we’ll making this pasta salad often!
If you wanted to add some more Summer time vegetables, you could even chop up some onions or green peppers to throw into this salad!
Ingredients for Italian Pasta Salad
- 12 oz box of tri color penne pasta
- 1/2 cup Italian Salad Dressing
- 4 stalks of celery chopped up
- 1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- 1 1/2 cup arugula
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
This Italian pasta salad is packed full of cherry tomatoes, celery and arugula making it the perfect excuse to hit up the farmers market or your own backyard garden! I love that every bite has a little bit of crunch with the celery! (By the way – did you see we finally grew celery in our garden!?)
Calories in Pasta Salad
This recipe makes 6 servings, each serving coming in at 293 calories. Since it’s filled with vegetables, it’s a perfect light Summer time meal!
Vegetarian Pasta Salad
This classic Italian Pasta Salad is vegetarian. I know some people think Italian Pasta Salad needs to include Italian meats, but I make this just like my Mama did growing up – no meat, just lots of vegetables!
If you need a salad to make quick for a get together and don’t want to eliminate your vegetarian guests – this is it! Everyone will love it!
I hope you enjoy this Italian Pasta Salad!
Other Pasta Recipes You May Like:
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Italian Pasta Salad
PrintIngredients
- 12 oz box of tri color penne pasta
- 1/2 cup Italian Salad Dressing
- 4 stalks of celery chopped up
- 1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- 1 1/2 cup arugula
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Prepare your pasta as directed. Drain.
- Put your pasta in a big bowl.
- Add your chopped vegetables, salad dressing and dried herbs.
- Mix together so everything is coated in salad dressing.
- Add in your mozzarella cheese, toss around.
- Cover, put in fridge to chill for 2 hours.
- Enjoy!
Mercedes Mifsud says
I loved every recipe that you shared thanks
sanjay Mishra says
This entire post absolutely ROCKS! Thank you for all the hard work you put into it.
Paritosh biswas says
It looks really healthy and tasty. I will try this at home this weekend. Thanks for sharing with us.
Restaurants in Baguio says
A healthy past dish that my family will surely love. i totally agree that this dish is perfect for this summer season. Will surely try to make this pasta salad. Thank you for sharing.
Yi @ YiReservation says
Living in Queens, I totally agree with you how brutal it is here in NYC during summer and I am with you on cooling down with some refreshing salad. I make my own dressing a lot of time now but when I don’t have the time or ingredients Newman’s my choice. Thanks for sharing!
Mary Frances says
I LOVE how colorful this is. Fresh veggies are the way to go!
Monica says
Yum, it looks so delicious! I love salads and pastas! Thanks for sharing!:)
xxM
http://sunstreetbymonica.blogspot.com
Susan says
There is nothing better on a hot day than a cooling pasta salad! My cherry tomatoes have lots of flowers so soon!
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
I love pasta at all times of the year. This sounds amazing!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
I’m with you about a chilled pasta salad being a perfect summer evening meal. Your tomato plants look terrific…soon your counters will be overflowing with wonderfully sweet tomatoes.
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
This pasta salad looks so delicious, Pamela! Perfect summer food!
Cassie says
I love this idea! My family loves pasta–what a great way to incorporate veggies!
Kelly @ Hidden Fruits and Veggies says
I’m a huge sucker for pasta salad! Once I make it once, I’m craving it for weeeeeks. Also, super jealous that you have little baby tomatoes growing!
Eileen says
Pasta salad is exactly what I want to eat on a hot day! This sounds so tasty and fresh. Love all the homegrown vegetables!
John@Kitchen Riffs says
I don’t know about Brooklyn, but there’s no hotter or humid place on earth that Manhattan during a hot summer. And I’ve lived in Florida! Really a sweltering place. Anyway, I’m with you on wanting cooling dishes during the summer. And I always crave veggies then! This is my kind of dish — thanks.
Pamela says
Hey John, it’s the same thing here. 🙂 Subways are the worst… so I zip by on my scooter!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Your plants are looking amazing! And so is this Salad! I haven’t tried Newman’s yet – but next time I gotta look for it!
Ashley says
It’s been sooo hot and humid by us – I’ve been avoiding going outside! This pasta salad sounds wonderful!
cheri says
Hi Pamela, watched the vide, you did such a great job, makes me want to go out and make that salad today. Take care!
Pamela says
Thanks Cheri!
Sues says
Such a beautiful pasta salad! I’m obsessed with all things Newman’s 🙂
Pamela says
Me too, I love their pizza!