Crack Pasta Salad: Your New Go-To for Flavorful Gatherings

Crack Pasta Salad is a vibrant, crowd-pleasing dish perfect for gatherings, featuring fresh vegetables and zesty dressing.

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Prep Time 25

Cook Time 10

Chilling Time 30

Total Time 1 5

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Lunch

Cuisine: American

Calories: 250

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

For the Pasta Base

8 oz short pasta (rotini or penne)
1 cup cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
1 cup cucumber or bell pepper

For the Flavor Boosters

1/2 cup red onion or green onions
1 cup bell pepper any color
1/2 cup black olives or green olives

For the Dressing

1 cup Italian dressing homemade for freshness if desired
1 tsp garlic powder adjust based on preference
to taste salt
to taste pepper

Equipment

Large pot
Colander
Mixing bowl
Whisk
Spoon

Method

Preparation Steps

Cook the pasta in salted boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
Chop cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and bell pepper into bite-sized pieces and place in a large mixing bowl.
Combine cooled pasta with chopped vegetables in the bowl and toss gently.
In a separate bowl, whisk together Italian dressing, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture and toss until all ingredients are well-coated.
Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 6gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 400mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 6mg

Notes

This salad can be made a day in advance to enhance the flavors, and it can be customized with extra protein like grilled chicken or chickpeas.

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