Description
This Italian Pasta Salad features a vibrant mix of crisp vegetables, smoky turkey bacon, and creamy plant-based cheese, tossed with a light Italian dressing (natural) and fresh basil. Perfect for easy summer meals, picnics, or casual dinners, this salad combines bright flavors and refreshing textures for a crowd-pleasing dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 2 cups rotini pasta (gluten-free if preferred)
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
Protein
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon, cooked and chopped
Cheese and Dressing
- 1/2 cup plant-based cheese cubes
- 1/3 cup Italian dressing (natural)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil rotini pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta.
- Prepare the Veggies and Bacon: While pasta cooks, chop cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion into bite-sized pieces. Cook smoked turkey bacon until crispy, then chop into small pieces.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, toss cooled pasta with chopped vegetables, smoked turkey bacon, black olives, and plant-based cheese cubes to evenly distribute flavors and textures.
- Dress and Toss: Pour Italian dressing (natural) over the salad and gently toss to coat everything evenly. Add fresh basil leaves on top for fragrance.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld, enhancing the taste of the salad.
Notes
- Choose rotini or fusilli pasta for best dressing retention.
- Cook pasta slightly under al dente to maintain firm texture when chilled.
- Add dressing gradually to avoid sogginess.
- Chill the salad before serving to deepen flavors.
- Fresh herbs like basil or oregano enhance aroma and taste.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir before serving.
- Freezing is not recommended as fresh veggies and plant-based cheese may lose texture.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature; avoid reheating to maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Italian pasta salad, plant-based cheese, turkey bacon salad, summer salad, gluten-free pasta salad, easy pasta salad
