Description
This Layered Pasta Salad Bowl is a vibrant and delicious dish, perfect for any gathering or as a light, refreshing meal. With layers of fresh pasta, crisp vegetables, cheese, and creamy dressing, it’s a colorful, flavorful treat that’s easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time. The layers come together beautifully, offering a satisfying blend of textures and tastes in every bite.
Ingredients
225 grams dried rotini or penne pasta, cooked, rinsed under cold water, and cooled
240 milliliters ranch or Italian dressing
150 grams cherry tomatoes, halved
1 medium cucumber, diced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
70 grams red onion, thinly sliced
425 grams sweet corn kernels, drained
425 grams black olives, drained and sliced
140 grams frozen peas, thawed
60 grams baby spinach or mixed salad greens
4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced
115 grams cheddar cheese, shredded
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in salted water according to the package instructions until al dente. Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold running water and drain well.
- While the pasta cools, prepare the vegetables by halving the cherry tomatoes, dicing the cucumber and red bell pepper, slicing the red onion, and draining the corn and olives. Slice the hard-boiled eggs and set aside.
- In a large transparent serving bowl, start by layering the cooled pasta at the bottom. Drizzle a portion of the dressing over the pasta to lightly coat it.
- Evenly distribute the thawed peas over the pasta, followed by sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, red bell pepper, and sliced red onion. After each addition, season lightly with salt and black pepper. Then, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese across the top.
- Scatter the sliced black olives over the cheese, then layer the baby spinach or mixed salad greens on top, covering the previous layers.
- Place the sliced hard-boiled eggs on top of the salad, and pour the remaining dressing over the entire bowl to ensure even coverage.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together. Before serving, gently mix the layers or serve in individual portions to maintain the visible layers.
Notes
For a vegan version, swap the cheddar cheese for dairy-free cheese and replace the eggs with tofu or chickpeas for protein.
Grilled chicken can be added for an extra protein boost.
To add a spicy kick, add jalapeño slices or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.
Feel free to add more veggies like roasted red peppers or avocado for added flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
