Brain Teaser Pasta Salad

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A colorful pasta salad with geometric-shaped vegetables and a tangy vinaigrette, designed to look like a puzzle that's fun to eat. This italian-inspired salads ready in about 30 minutes pairs elbow macaroni, cherry tomatoes, cucumber into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 240 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 8 oz elbow macaroni
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup cucumber
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp dijon mustard

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cook 8 oz elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water until completely cool.
2. Step 2: Dice 1/2 cup cucumber into 1/4-inch cubes, 1/2 cup red bell pepper into 1/4-inch squares, and 1/4 cup red onion into thin half-moons; halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, and 1 tsp dijon mustard until emulsified, then toss with cooled pasta and all diced vegetables until evenly coated.