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Cheesy Meal Prep Pasta Salad

A creamy and crunchy pasta salad loaded with fresh vegetables and cheese, perfect for meal prep and family gatherings.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Dressing
  • 2 cups cooked pasta (any shape you prefer; shells or rotini work wonderfully)
  • ½ cup Italian dressing (halal-friendly)
Vegetables
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup cucumber, diced
  • 1 cup bell pepper, diced (any color you like)
Cheese
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)
Seasoning
  • to taste Salt and pepper
  • optional Fresh herbs (for garnish)

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. Boil water in a large pot, add a pinch of salt, and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and let it cool.
Preparing the Vegetables
  1. Chop the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and bell pepper into small pieces.
Combining Ingredients
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped veggies, and shredded cheese.
Dressing the Salad
  1. Pour the Italian dressing over the pasta mixture and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Toss and Serve
  1. Gently toss everything together until well coated in dressing. If using fresh herbs, sprinkle on top for garnish.
Chilling the Salad
  1. For best results, let the salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving to enhance flavors.

Notes

For substitutions, you can use whole wheat pasta or swap in vegetables like spinach or carrots. To prevent sogginess, add dressing right before serving.