North Cheyenne Community Park Picnic Pasta Salad
A colorful and fresh pasta salad with crisp vegetables and a tangy vinaigrette, perfect for enjoying outdoors at a community park picnic. This mediterranean-inspired salads ready in about 25 minutes pairs rotini pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, medium, diced 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 280 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 rotini pasta
- 1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium, diced cucumber
- 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup, finely diced red onion
- 1/3 cup, sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh parsley
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add 8 oz rotini pasta; cook for 9-11 minutes until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool, then drain well.
- Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1 diced medium cucumber, 1 diced red bell pepper, 1/4 cup finely diced red onion, 1/3 cup sliced black olives, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley.
- Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp honey, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until vinaigrette is emulsified.
- Step 4: Add the cooled pasta to the vegetable mixture, pour the vinaigrette over, and toss gently but thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Step 5: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld before serving chilled outdoors.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does North Cheyenne Community Park Picnic Pasta Salad take to make?
Total time is about 25 minutes (15 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover North Cheyenne Community Park Picnic Pasta Salad?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep rotini pasta from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in North Cheyenne Community Park Picnic Pasta Salad?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale North Cheyenne Community Park Picnic Pasta Salad for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with North Cheyenne Community Park Picnic Pasta Salad?
Mediterranean salads like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
