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Let me share my go-to pasta salad recipe that's perfect for busy days. This instant pot version saves time without sacrificing flavor. Fresh veggies, tangy feta, and zesty Italian dressing combine to create a mouthwatering dish. I love whipping this up for potlucks or quick lunches. Trust me, once you try this easy method, you'll never look back. Get ready to impress your friends and family with minimal effort – let's dive into this delicious, fuss-free meal!
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.
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.
Instant Pot Pasta Salad Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Large bowl
- Knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients:
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 0.5 cup cucumber diced
- 0.25 cup red onion finely chopped
- 0.25 cup black olives sliced
- 0.25 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 0.25 cup Italian dressing
- to taste Salt
- to taste Pepper
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.
Notes:
Nutrition value:
Keywords:
Read more: Instant Pot Chicken Salad Recipe Guide
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.
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.
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