It’s summertime (or it’s supposed to be) and we have a TON of holidays coming up that might require you to bring a dish. Today, just in time for Memorial Day weekend, I’m going to share my favorite side that can go with any type of cookout or potluck lunch or dinner: Italian pasta salad!
You may be thinking that you can buy that in a box at the grocery store. And you could. But you shouldn’t. This recipe is so delicious and made with fresh veggies – but it’s also very easy.
You do want to make this with at least 12 hours before your event to allow for a proper amount of chilling time.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 box tri-colored rotini noodles
- 1 bottle of Italian dressing
- Bacon bits (real, not imitation)
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cucumber
- 2-3 full-sized carrots
- 1 container of grape tomatoes
- 1 small can of sliced black olives
Start by boiling your noodles. As they cook, you can begin rinsing and preparing your vegetables. You’ll need to drain the can of olives and rinse them. You’ll want to peel your carrots a little, then chop up into bite-sized bites. Wash down your cucumber and slice – then I personally like to cut the slices into halves or quarters to make them more bite-sized. For the tomatoes, I recommend halving them after rinsing. Keep all of your vegetables at the ready.
Drain your cooked noodles in a strainer and rinse with cold water. Then, add your noodles to a large bowl. Empty in your vegetables – saving a few of each for the top for the sake of pretty presentation. Pour in most of your bacon bits as well.
Then, empty your Italian dressing into the bowl. Stir well to ensure that all noodles get covered in dressing and to ensure that your vegetables are evenly dispersed. At this point, I suggest bagging your set-aside vegetables for use later and storing in the fridge with your leftover bacon bits and your shredded cheese.
Chill your pasta salad dish, as is, in the fridge until your event. Just prior to leaving, stir and ensure that the dressing is still evenly distributed. Then, add cheese, bacon bits, and the remaining veggies to the top to give a really appealing presentation.
Enjoy!
Kate with a Twang 
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