Looking for easy summer recipes? Then you're going to LOVE this 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad! This quick recipe uses just a few basic ingredients, but the end result is so delicious. It's the perfect side dish (or main dish) for crowds, parties, BBQs, and busy weeknights!
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I don't know about you, but at this time of year, I want to get in and out of the kitchen as soon as possible! It's too hot to cook involved recipes, but I still want to eat a delicious meal.
That's why I can't get enough of this 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad! With so few components (pasta, dressing, plus two mix-ins), this basic recipe is the easiest pasta salad you will ever make. And its wonderful flavor will keep you coming back for seconds!
You are going to LOVE this simple recipe:
- It's super fast. Just cook the pasta, then toss everything together.
- You only need a few pantry staples to make this summer side dish. Use just 3 ingredients, 4 ingredients, or even 5 ingredients, depending on what's in your cupboard.
- It's super easy (and fun) to customize. Think of the recipe as a template ... you could use tomatoes, feta, and Italian dressing like I did, or substitute your fave veggies, cheeses, salad dressings, olives, and more. You can make this recipe work for any diet, too (vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and more)!
- Perfect for parties, BBQs, and crowds, but easy enough for busy weeknight dinners.
- You can make the salad in advance, and it will taste even better.
- Most importantly, this simple pasta salad has a tasty flavor you'll actually crave!
Okay, are you ready to try this yummy recipe for yourself? Then keep reading for all the details!
Ingredients
You'll use just a few ingredients for this easy recipe:
- Pasta - You'll need some pasta, of course! I recommend using short, chunky shapes, such as classic rotini (which is what I used), fusilli, or cavatappi (another fave of mine ... it's sometimes called cellentani). Although pretty much anything goes, even long types (like spaghetti or linguine) or mini pastas (such as orzo) will work.
- Salad Dressing - To keep things simple, use your favorite bottled salad dressing. This is a really Basic Pasta Salad, and most of the flavor comes from the dressing ... make sure to choose a delicious one! Vinaigrettes (like Greek, Italian, or Balsamic) work really well, but you can also use Pesto, or a creamy dressing (like Ranch, Garlic Parmesan, or Caesar). I used Kraft Zesty Italian.
- Two Mix-Ins - To keep to the four ingredient limit, you will also need two mix-ins. I used sweet, juicy Grape Tomatoes and briny Feta Cheese, two flavor-packed ingredients. Other types of cheeses, veggies, olives, and more can also be used. The Variations section below has tons of ideas to inspire you!
This recipe is naturally vegetarian and nut free, but you can easily change the ingredients to fit almost any diet, including vegan, dairy free, and gluten free. Check out the Variations section below for helpful tips and ideas.
You'll Also Need
You'll need a large pot to cook the pasta (I used my fave Dutch oven), plus a colander to drain it, as well as a sharp knife to prep your mix-ins, and a large bowl to mix everything together.
How to Make 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad
This recipe really couldn't be easier (or faster) to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's a quick overview of the steps:
- Cook pasta. Start by cooking your pasta in a large pot with plenty of well-salted water (about three to four tablespoons salt). Tip: Pasta firms up as it cools, so cook your noodles until they're tender (about a minute longer than al dente), but not falling apart.
- Prep mix-ins. While the pasta cooks, slice your tomatoes and crumble your cheese (or prepare whatever ingredients you've chosen to use).
- Toss pasta with dressing. When the pasta is done cooking, drain it well. If you are using a creamy dressing, rinse your pasta with cold water. If you're using a vinaigrette, transfer the hot pasta directly to a large bowl. While the pasta is still hot, toss it with a half cup vinaigrette, then set it aside to cool slightly. Tip: Tossing the hot pasta with the dressing, helps it absorb the vinaigrette, which gives the finished recipe more flavor. If you're using a creamy dressing, you'll add it in the next step.
- Mix everything together. Once the pasta has cooled slightly, you'll add your mix-ins (I used tomatoes and feta), plus the remaining dressing. Stir everything together, then season generously to taste with salt and fresh cracked pepper. Tip: If you're using a creamy dressing, add it in this step (you may need slightly less).
And that's all there is to it ... time to enjoy your mouthwatering 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad! Wasn't that easy to make?
Variations
Basically, the sky is the limit when it comes to customizing this easy Pasta Salad recipe! Here are a few ideas to inspire you:
- Pasta - Experiment with different pasta shapes. Rotini, fusilli, and cavatappi (which is sometimes called cellentani) are classics, but you can use other chunky shapes (think penne or shells), long noodles (like spaghetti and linguine), and mini pastas (such as orzo), too.
- Veggies - Chop or slice your favorite fresh veggies, such as tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, corn, cucumbers, carrots, celery, bell peppers, peas (shelled, snow, or snap), onions, and more. Blanch, sauté, steam, or roast tougher veg, like broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, and eggplant. You could also use canned / jarred vegetables, such as artichokes, roasted red peppers, giardiniera, pickles, or sun dried tomatoes.
- Greens - Mix in your favorite tender greens, such as arugula, spinach, baby lettuces, or kale (massage the kale with a couple tablespoons of dressing to soften it up first).
- Cheese - Almost any types of cheese will give this basic recipe a major flavor boost! Try fresh mozzarella, cheddar, gouda, feta, goat cheese, blue cheese, parmesan, provolone, etc.
- Salad Dressing - With making such a simple Pasta Salad, most of the flavor comes from the dressing ... so this is the perfect place to change up the recipe's taste! Try experimenting with different vinaigrettes (like Greek, Italian, or Balsamic), mix in some Pesto, or use a creamy dressing (such as Ranch, Garlic Parmesan, or Caesar). You could even do fresh lemon juice and olive oil, if you have the ingredients on hand.
- Olives - Briny olives are sure to add tons of flavor! I like using kalamata olives or castelvetrano olives. Capers would also be delish.
- Protein - Stir in some chickpeas or baked tofu for added veggie protein. If you're a meat eater, you could do chicken, ham, salami, bacon, etc.
- Deli Salads - You could even mix in a deli salad (like a tomato mozzarella / caprese salad or an olive salad) to add extra ingredients with zero effort.
- Vegan + Dairy Free - To make this recipe vegan and dairy free, simply leave out the dairy products (like cheese). For vegans, you'll also want to keep an eye out for ingredients in the dressing (like honey, and again, cheese) that are not vegan-friendly and avoid using egg noodles.
- Gluten Free - For a gluten free salad, start by using your favorite gluten free pasta, such as this GF Rotini or this Chickpea Penne. Keep in mind too, that GF pasta typically comes in smaller package sizes, so you may need to adjust the serving size (or buy more pasta). You'll also want to read the labels on the salad dressing and any other packaged foods you use (this Italian Dressing is a good GF option). If you're preparing the recipe for someone with an allergy, it's best to use ingredients that are specifically marked gluten free.
Serving Suggestions
This salad is the perfect summer side dish, ideal for crowds, parties, BBQs, and other get togethers, but easy enough for weeknight meals, too. Serve it with simple sandwiches (like these Deviled Egg Salad Sandwiches or these Easy Halloumi Wraps) or veggie burgers (try these Green Veggie Burgers or these Southwest Black Bean Burgers), grilled foods (like this delish Grilled Pizza or these Portobello Poblano Tacos), and other warm weather favorites (such as Stuffed Zucchini or this Summer Vegetable Pizza). You can also pair it with other summer sides, like Grilled Vegetables, French Potato Salad, Nectarine Salad, or Greek Coleslaw with Feta.
Storage
Store leftover salad in an airtight container in your refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for up to four days. You can also make the recipe in advance, if you prefer! Pasta salads do tend to absorb their dressing during storage. If you notice that the salad has dried out a bit, stir in a few tablespoons salad dressing before serving.
Related Recipes
Are you looking for similar pasta ideas? Try one of these delicious recipes next:
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Cold Noodle Salad
- Vegan Pasta Salad
- Southwest Pasta Salad
- Greek Tortellini Salad
- Kale Pasta Salad
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Usually, you should to rinse cooked pasta for pasta salad. Rinsing the pasta cools it off, and it also removes excess starch which helps prevent the noodles from sticking together. For this recipe, you are going to mix the hot pasta with some of the dressing right away, so rinsing isn't necessary.
To stop your pasta salad from drying out, make sure to use enough dressing. Right before serving, you should also mix it again, which redistributes the dressing. If you are refrigerating your pasta salad before serving, and it seems dry, let it sit at room temperature for about 15 to 30 minutes before serving (this helps the pasta soften a bit). Then stir in an extra ¼ cup of dressing (or more, to taste), if needed.
The avoid bland pasta salad, make sure to salt your pasta cooking water generously (about 3 to 4 tablespoons of salt for a large pot of water). You should also taste your pasta salad before serving and add additional salt and pepper to taste. If you are using a purchased salad dressing, choose one with lots of flavor. Flavorful ingredients such as cheese, olives, and pickled veggies will also perk up a bland pasta salad.
Yes, you should salt pasta water generously (about 3 to 4 tablespoons of salt for a large pot of water) when making pasta salad. If you don't salt the water, your pasta salad won't have a lot of flavor.
4 Ingredient Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 grams) rotini pasta (or other pasta shape of choice)
- 1 ½ cups Italian dressing, divided
- 1 pound (454 grams) grape tomatoes, halved
- 4 ounces (114 grams) feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup)
- kosher salt and pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add pasta, then cook until tender.
- Drain pasta well, then transfer to a large bowl. Toss hot pasta with ½ cup Italian dressing. Let cool until warm.
- When pasta has cooled slightly, add tomatoes, feta, and remaining 1 cup salad dressing.
- Season pasta salad generously to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to eat. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
