Vegetarian Italian Pasta Salad

5 from 1 vote

Flavorful Vegetarian Italian Pasta Salad Jar is loaded with fresh veggies, savory olives and delicious mozzarella pearls. Everything gets dressed in a light, homemade Italian vinaigrette for a wonderful explosion of flavors. Assembled in a jar, it makes the perfect grab-n-go lunch or dinner that’s easy to customize.

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Total Time25

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Author: Rena Awada

Ingredients

1 lb bowtie pasta or pasta of choice
2/3 cup peeled and chopped cucumber
1/3 cup sliced Kalamata olives
5 ounces cherry tomatoes sliced
1 cup sliced banana peppers
8 ounces mozzarella pearls
2 cups chopped spinach or arugula
1 cup finely diced red onion

Dressing:

⅔ cup olive oil or avocado oil
2 garlic cloves peeled and minced
¼ cup balsamic vinegar or rice Vinegar
1 tbsp honey
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon salt or to taste
¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper

Instructions

First, cook the pasta. Follow the cooking instructions according to the package directions. Do not overcook the pasta.
Then, you will drain the pasta and rinse it in cold water until the pasta is fully cooled. Set aside.
In a small bowl add all the dressing ingredients. Set aside. You may make the dressing a day ahead.
Set up 6 Quart size mason jars.
Divide the dressing evenly into the 6 jars. Next add cucumbers, onions, mozzarella, tomato, pasta, olives, banana peppers, and spinach accordingly.
Cover the jars and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
When ready to serve, shake a couple of times, remove from the fridge and pour over a bowl and serve.

Notes

Store the pasta salad in a 16-ounce to 32-ounce mason jar or meal prep container for up to about 5 days. Because it’s difficult to create the layers in a meal prep container, we recommend storing the dressing separately and adding it right before serving, if using something other than a jar for storage. Simply pour the salad out from the jar into a bowl or onto a plate to enjoy it, or mix it up right in your meal prep container.

Nutrition