Recipe
Instant Pot Pasta Salad Recipe
Published: April 1, 2024
This Instant Pot pasta salad is my go-to for a quick, refreshing meal. Bursting with fresh veggies, tangy feta, and a zesty Italian dressing, it's a crowd-pleaser every time!
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Here's a little gem I found: instant pot pasta salad. I love the burst of flavors in every forkful, from sweet cherry tomatoes to crunchy cucumbers, sharp red onions, tangy olives, and crumbly feta cheese. All doused in a beautiful Italian dressing. Simple to whip up in the instant pot, this refreshing salad easily becomes the star of any table. One bite and I guarantee you'd want to make it again. Don't just take my word for it, give it a shot!
Ingredients for Instant Pot Pasta Salad
- Pasta: Essential base of the salad, provides carbs and texture, absorbs flavors well, hearty and satisfying.
- Cherry tomatoes: Adds freshness and sweetness, bursts of flavor, colorful addition, juicy and vibrant, complements other ingredients well.
- Cucumber: Refreshing crunch, hydrating element, light and crisp, balances flavors, adds a cool contrast to the dish.
- Red onion: Sharp flavor, adds a bite, provides a pop of color, enhances the overall taste, a zesty addition.
- Black olives: Briny and savory, adds depth of flavor, unique taste, pairs well with feta cheese, a Mediterranean touch.
- Feta cheese: Creamy and tangy, salty kick, rich flavor, crumbly texture, a classic addition to pasta salad.
- Italian dressing: Infuses the salad with flavor, tangy and herby, ties all ingredients together, convenient and adds a zesty kick.
One unique twist you can add to this instant pot pasta salad recipe is to use sun-dried tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes for a more intense flavor profile. It adds a delicious depth to the dish that will surprise your taste buds.
Read more: Instant Pot Potato Salad Recipe
Essential Tools for Making This Pasta Salad
- Instant Pot: Speeds up pasta cooking, saving time and effort.
- Strainer: Essential for draining cooked pasta efficiently.
- Large bowl: Provides space for mixing pasta salad ingredients thoroughly.
- Cutting board: Ideal surface for chopping vegetables like cherry tomatoes and cucumbers.
- Knife: Needed for cutting ingredients like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions.
- Measuring cup: Ensures accurate measurement of pasta and other ingredients.
- Spatula: Helps in tossing the pasta salad with dressing evenly.
- Salt and pepper shakers: Seasoning tools for adding flavor to the pasta salad.
Common Questions About This Instant Pot Pasta Salad Recipe
Serves: 4 people
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup Italian dressing
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Cook pasta in the Instant Pot according to the manual.
- Once cooked, release the pressure and drain the pasta. Let it cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, black olives, and feta cheese.
- Pour Italian dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve chilled.
Nutritional value:
Per Serving in Calories: 250 kcal | Carbohydrates: 35 g | Protein: 7 g | Total Fat: 9 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Cholesterol: 10 mg | Sodium: 400 mg | Dietary Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 4 g | Calcium: 100 mg | Potassium: 250 mg | Iron: 2 mg | Vitamin A: 150 µg | Vitamin C: 10 mg
Tips for Making Instant Pot Pasta Salad in Advance
Make Ahead Instructions
- Prepare the pasta salad as directed in the recipe.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before serving.
Freezing Instructions
- It is not recommended to freeze this pasta salad as the texture of the ingredients may change when thawed.
