Olive Garden Pasta (Printable Version)
Mix rotini, bright veggies, olives, and creamy Italian dressing for a knockout dish. Awesome cold for meals or sides.
# What You'll Need:
→ Main components
01 -
1 tablespoon parsley, freshly chopped for finishing
02 -
Salt and pepper to your liking
03 -
0.25 teaspoon garlic powder
04 -
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
05 -
0.25 cup mayonnaise, toss in if you want it smoother
06 -
0.5 cup bottled or homemade Italian dressing
07 -
0.5 cup shredded parmesan (or grab mozzarella if you’re after that rich vibe)
08 -
0.25 cup diced black olives
09 -
0.25 cup chopped pepperoncini peppers
10 -
0.5 cup thin red onion slices
11 -
1 cup sliced cucumber
12 -
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
13 -
225 g bowtie or rotini pasta
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
Pop a lid or wrap on the bowl and let it hang out in your fridge for at least 2 hours, but you’ll get the best taste overnight. Give everything a light toss before you scoop it out, sprinkle on the parsley, and dig in.
02 -
Move your cooled-off pasta into the bowl with veggies. Pour over the dressing and use your hands or a big spoon to gently toss until everything’s nicely coated. Sprinkle in your cheese, toss again, and you’re good to go.
03 -
Take another bowl. Dump in your Italian dressing, mayo (if you want), Italian seasoning, garlic powder, plus some salt and a good bit of black pepper. Mix it all up—taste, tweak the flavor if you need to.
04 -
Slice up the cherry tomatoes and cucumber. Do thin strips of red onion, the olives, and your pepperoncini. Get ‘em all into a big bowl for mixing.
05 -
Boil water with a little salt, then toss in your pasta. Follow the box’s timing for that perfect bite, like 8 to 10 minutes. After draining, rinse it under cold water so it cools down quick.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
Letting it chill for several hours—or even better, overnight—makes the flavors pop.
02 -
You can throw this together ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to four days. If it seems dry, just splash in extra dressing before serving.
03 -
You can switch it up with extras like chopped bell peppers, artichoke pieces, or even corn.
04 -
Use non-dairy cheese and vegan mayo if you want to keep it plant-based.
05 -
Just swap in gluten-free pasta if you need it without gluten.