This Tangy Pasta Salad is filled with crunchy bell peppers and onions, olives, and sweet tomatoes. Tossed in a light oil and vinegar dressing this recipe is great for summer parties.
We love pasta salads as the weather warms up. There aren’t many things that beat having a meal ready-to-go in the fridge on the hottest summer nights.
In the summertime, we tend to eat as light as possible on the hottest days of the year. While we aren’t yet to the hottest days, a storm came through this week and created a lovely muggy 108 degrees.
After a crazy day of indoor activities with restless kids, I couldn’t even imagine turning on the oven of the stove for anything more than the pasta.
Pasta Salad with Vegetables
This tangy pasta salad turned out light and flavorful with a great balance of tanginess from the vinegar and a slight bite from the onion and olives. The pasta was even more delicious the next day.
When preparing the salad a day in advance, you might want to add a splash more vinegar and oil if needed right before serving.
Tangy Pasta Salad Recipe
- Cook the pasta according to directions, removing from the heat and rinsing immediately with cold water until the pasta is cool. Set the pasta aside in the colander to drain.
- Place the onions in a large mixing bowl dish and cover with the olive oil and vinegar. Let rest while preparing the rest of the vegetables.
- Add the tomatoes, olives, peppers, pasta, and cheese to the bowl with the onions. Toss well to coat thoroughly.
- Season generously with salt and pepper. Taste and add more salt and pepper as needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Mayo Free Pasta Salads
I’m a gigantic fan of tangy vinegar-based pasta salads made without mayonnaise. These mayo-free salads keep nicely at room temperature for hours, making them super convenient and tasty for summer parties and other outdoor activities on warmer days.
While I love a Creamy Pasta Salad, I also like a pasta salad I can serve year-round with no worries. These salads are perfect for summer parties, barbecues, and potlucks.
I love that this Italian Penne Pasta Salad can be set out and then forgotten about. I never have to worry about a mayo-free pasta salad spoiling quickly in the sun.
In the summertime, I often make a double or triple batch of pasta salads like this one. Leftovers are great to keep in the fridge and dish out for a quick lunch.
This Garlicky Spinach Pasta Salad and this Summer Israeli Couscous Salad are excellent salads that are perfect for summer.
This California Spaghetti Salad is loaded with many of our favorite flavors too. And this Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad is a must any time you have fresh strawberries around!
Tangy Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Peppers and Olives
Ingredients
- 8 ounces small pasta: ditalini, elbow, fusilli, penne etc
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced and chopped about ¼ of 1 large red onion
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 16 ounces grape tomatoes, halved about 2 cups
- 3/4 cup black olives, halved about ½ of a 6-ounce can of olives
- 1 cup green, red, or yellow bell pepper, chopped small about 1 medium size bell pepper
- 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, diced small
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, adjust to taste
- ¼ - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, adjust to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to directions, removing from the heat and rinsing immediately with cold water until the pasta is cool. Set the pasta aside in the colander to drain.
- Place the onions in a large mixing bowl dish and cover with the olive oil and vinegar. Let rest while preparing the rest of the vegetables. Add the tomatoes, olives, peppers, pasta, and cheese to the bowl with the onions.
- Toss well to coat thoroughly. Season generously with salt and pepper. Taste and add more salt and pepper as needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition
{originally published 7/13/12 – recipe notes and photos updated 7/17/20}
Jenn says
lol..wait…lovely muggy 108? I don't know.. I experienced that same weather and I don't remember it being too lovely!! lol BUT, the pasta said DOES sound lovely and it looks even better!
Mary says
Ha. Let's just say that the heat brings out a rather sarcastic nature for this girl.
Tricia @ saving room for dessert says
I've always loved a good summer pasta salad! We made it to 105 with a heat index of 111. Muggy, hot, sticky and our upstairs air is broken! Sleeping on the couch. Yuck!
Mary says
I survived a visit to the D.C. area in July about 10 years ago. Let's just say that I will NEVER go back in the summer time. The humidity just wipes me out! Hope your a/c is fixed SOON!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says
Mary, this salad is precisely what I want to be eating on a hot day! It's slightly different from my own–yours is easier, quicker, a lot less stove time–definitely on the menu this week!
Velva says
Cold pasta salads are one of my favorite summer dishes. You are right, it makes a great meal during these hot summer days.
Thanks for sharing.
Velva
Geni says
This sounds and looks just perfect for the 100 degree humid weather we are having too. I am not used to this weather in So Cal. So not OK. Take care.
Monet says
Ah, what a perfect summer salad. I'm totally wanting a bowl of this now. It is way past lunch time, and I'm hungry. Thank you for sharing with me, sweet friend. It always makes my heart happy to visit here.
Big Dude says
It sounds perfect for a hot day and I like the colors
Marjie says
I'll forward this to my girls; they love Pasta salads!
Sue/the view from great island says
I love that tart tangy taste in pasta salads, it keeps them from being bland. I made another one of your vegetable-hash-with-an-egg-on-top inspired dinners the other day, you've created a monster!
Chris says
That is something I'd love to take to a cookout. I might do that next weekend actually.
motherrimmy says
This is terrific for a healthy week day lunch!
Italian Food says
This is the perfect food that good to eat during summer. But I am not really a fun of eating those tomatoes. Does it taste good if it is going to mix in the pasta?
Athena @ Lifes Abundant Adventures says
Making and bringing this to a BBQ tonight! 🙂
Dominic J Senese says
I love this Salada
Anonymous says
DELICIOUS! Just made and enjoyed it for supper.
Ann B says
I made this pasta salad for a potluck today. It was a hit! I did mix a little extra dressing and stirred it in before serving. The salad had been in the fridge for a couple hours before serving. The salad was light and crunchy. I will definitely make it again.
Mary Younkin says
Ann – So glad to hear you have added it to your recipe roster.