Go Back
+ servings
bow tie pasta salad in bowl
Print

Easiest Bow Tie Pasta Salad Recipe

This quick and light bow tie pasta salad recipe is the best go-to summer dish for busy weeknights or entertaining. BONUS: There are almost always leftovers!
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Americanized Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 69kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 12 ounce box bow tie pasta
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes halved
  • 1 large yellow pepper diced
  • 1 cucumber cut however you like
  • 2 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 10-12 fresh basil leaves chopped or ripped apart
  • 1 ½ teaspoon fresh dill chopped, or ½ teaspoon dried dill
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to instructions on box and al dente. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water. 
  • Meanwhile, combine veggies into a large bowl. Add olive oil, red wine vinegar, basil, dill and salt, and toss together. 
  • Stir in cold pasta until well mixed, and serve!

Video

Notes

✔️ Don't overcook pasta. Boil pasta al dente to prevent it from getting mushy.
✔️ Cool pasta completely before mixing it with veggies and dressing.
✔️ Peel and seed cucumbers for a lighter and fresher taste to your vegetable.
✔️ Optional Marinade. If you have extra time, a 30 minute marinate will allow the bow ties and veggies to soak up the pasta salad's tasty flavors! If marinating for more than a few hours, keep in mind you may have to add more dressing.
✔️ Season to taste! You may want to add more vinegar or salt based on preference. We like to keep our salad on the milder side to appease our youngest eaters :)
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 bowl | Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 394mg | Potassium: 303mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 770IU | Vitamin C: 49mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg