An easy Cold Pasta Salad recipe with broccoli, peppers, zesty Italian dressing and Parmesan cheese. Make it ahead; the flavor gets even better as it sits!
Print

Easy Cold Pasta Salad Recipe

An easy Cold Pasta Salad recipe with broccoli, peppers, zesty Italian dressing and Parmesan cheese. Make it ahead; the flavor gets even better as it sits!
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword broccoli, cheese, pasta, peppers
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 244kcal
Author Meggan Hill

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces Rotini or other small pasta
  • 2 cups bite-sized broccoli florets blanched if desired (see notes)
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 yellow bell pepper chopped
  • 1/2 red onion peeled and cut into strips
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 8 ounces Homemade Italian dressing or store bought
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Bring 4 quarts of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil. Add pasta and 1 minute pasta al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain well, rinse with cold water, and drain again.
  • Meanwhile, combine broccoli florets, bell peppers, and onion in a large bowl. Stir in cold pasta. Add Parmesan cheese and salad dressing and toss until uniformly combined.
  • Place in a serving bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Chill at least 2 hours before serving.
  • Stir carefully before serving. Add more salad dressing as needed to keep the pasta from drying out.

Notes

  1. To blanch broccoli, bring 2 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt to boil. Add broccoli and cook until just tender and bright green, about 3 to 4 minutes. Drain and immediately plunge into an ice bath to stop the cooking. 

Nutrition

Calories: 244kcal