Rigatoni Pasta Salad Recipe (Vegetarian) - The Herbeevore (2024)

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This rigatoni pasta salad recipe is a bright, fresh, and tasty appetizer loaded with chopped veggies, feta cheese, and an easy homemade red wine vinaigrette dressing. A favorite summer pasta salad recipe to bring to a cookout, tailgate, potluck, or BBQ!

This easy pasta salad with thick rigatoni noodles is easy to make ahead of time. This is one crowd pleaser pasta salad that everyone will love. It’s a great vegetarian side dish, and can easily be made vegan, dairy or gluten free!

Rigatoni Pasta Salad Recipe (Vegetarian) - The Herbeevore (1)

Rigatoni is one of my favorite pasta shapes – it’s thick, filling, and so great in pasta salads! This rigatoni pasta salad is a bright, tangy, and a fresh take on classic pasta salads. The fresh vegetables add flavor, and are so good tossed with an easy garlicky homemade pasta salad dressing.

I normally make pasta salads with medium or short pastas, but I couldn’t resist switching it up and using a broad thick noodle like rigatoni. It makes the perfect vehicle for the chopped veggies, so you get a delicious crunch in every bite.

This Rigatoni Pasta Salad Recipe Is

  • Bright
  • Tangy
  • Vibrant
  • Loaded with Flavor
  • Fresh
  • Simple to Make
  • Vegetarian

Rigatoni Pasta Salad Recipe (Vegetarian) - The Herbeevore (2)

One of the Best Vegetarian Rigatoni Recipes

This vegetarian rigatoni pasta salad is a simple way to get extra veggies in your diet. I’m all about making recipes plant-based when I can. Vegetarian cooking does NOT have to be bland, boring, or flavorless… It’s quite the opposite when done right.

By building meals around vegetarian pantry staples and swapping in a few plant-based ingredients you can make easier meals for you and your family. I made a list of my 125 favorite vegan pantry ingredients that we use on a weekly basis.

Browse all our vegetarian recipes here. These easy and tasty recipes are fantastic meatless meals for your table!

What Are Rigatoni Noodles?

Rigatoni pasta is a long broad tube-shaped pasta which has ridges. The word rigatoni in Italian comes from the word “rigato” which means ridged.

Rigatoni is traditionally used with a thick hearty ragu sauce, and can be a great choice for meat-based pasta sauces as well. I love using it in this pasta salad, as it’s great to load onto a fork with fresh vegetables and the ridges capture each bite of the tangy vinaigrette.

What’s In This Pasta Salad with Rigatoni?

I cook with fresh produce from my garden and from Misfits Market– they sell fantastic fruit, vegetables, & pantry staples at a discounted price. We get Misfit boxes every other week and love picking out seasonal produce for delivery. Get $10 off your first box by clicking here!

  • Rigatoni Pasta – I used regular durum semolina rigatoni pasta, but you can use a whole wheat or gluten free version if desired. Make sure you use one that fits in with your dietary needs.
  • Cucumber
  • Tomatoes
  • Carrots
  • Roasted Bell Pepper – I used a roasted red pepper for color, but you can add yellow or green if desired.
  • Good Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I like to use this fruity olive oil which has a fantastic flavor.
  • Kalamata Olives
  • Red Wine Vinegar: I used red wine vinegar for the marinade to give this dish a really nice bright Mediterranean flavor – for that, this red wine vinegar is my go-to!
  • Oregano: a spice I always put in my pasta salads! This dried oregano has a bright and earthy flavor, and goes so well with the fresh crunchy vegetables.
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Parsley
  • Feta Cheese – I used a crumbled feta for this recipe, but you can also use a block of feta cheese, mashed with a fork before adding to the salad.

Rigatoni Pasta Salad Recipe (Vegetarian) - The Herbeevore (3)

How Do I Make this Rigatoni Salad with Vegetables?

  1. Boil a large pot of salted water, and cook rigatoni according to package. Drain and rinse noodles under cold water to stop them cooking. Set aside.
  2. Dice the cucumber and tomatoes, cut the carrots into matchsticks, slice the roasted peppers into fine bite-sized ribbons, chop the parsley and olives, and add all veggies to a bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix the dressing ingredients together.
  4. Add the pasta, and dressing – toss well to coat all the ingredients together. Garnish with extra parsley and feta cheese if desired.
  5. For leftovers – I like to take a quart sized mason jar, fill half with pasta salad, and half with fresh spinach and enjoy for a quick and easy lunch!

Dietary Modifications

  • This recipe is vegetarian. To make vegan or dairy free, you can omit the feta cheese or use a plant-based substitute.
  • To make this gluten free, ensure you use a certified gluten free pasta and dressing ingredients. Always check labels to ensure all ingredients are certified gluten free before using.

Fresh Salads with Rigatoni Pasta You’ll Make Again & Again

We absolutely love big bold salads, with fresh flavors and bold dressings. This rigatoni pasta salad is the perfect combination of savory with pops of sweetness from the fresh veggies, herbs, and homemade dressing.

There are NO boring salads here, we bring our best ingredients to each & every salad pairing. Some are light and delicate, some are hearty and satisfying. Browse through all our trending salad recipes to find your next favorite.

Rigatoni Pasta Salad Recipe (Vegetarian) - The Herbeevore (4)

More Easy Vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes You’ll Love

Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad

Italian Bowtie Pasta Salad Recipe

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad

Share This Rigatoni Salad with Vegetables

As always, if you make this vegetarian rigatoni pasta salad be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!

Let’s keep in touch – make sure to sign up for my newsletter to get fresh recipes weekly. Give us a follow over on Pinterest, Instagram , & Twitter– I’d love to connect with you there!

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Rigatoni Pasta Salad Recipe (Vegetarian) - The Herbeevore (5)

Rigatoni Pasta Salad

Rigatoni Pasta Salad Recipe (Vegetarian) - The Herbeevore (6)Kelly Jensen

This rigatoni pasta salad recipe is a bright, fresh, and tasty appetizer loaded with chopped veggies, feta cheese, and an easy homemade red wine vinaigrette dressing. A favorite summer pasta salad recipe to bring to a cookout.

Print Recipe Pin

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Pasta, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Calories 442 kcal

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl

  • Large Pot

Ingredients

For the Rigatoni Pasta Salad

  • 1 16 ounce box rigatoni
  • 8 ounces cherry tomatoes sliced
  • 1 medium carrot chopped into matchsticks
  • 1 cucumber diced
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives drained
  • 1/4 cup roasted red peppers
  • 1 cup feta cheese crumbled
  • 1 cup fresh parsley chopped

For the Dressing

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup sunflower oil
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 2 cloves garlic pressed or finely minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt

Instructions

  • Boil a large pot of salted water, and cook rigatoni according to package. Drain and rinse noodles under cold water to stop them cooking. Set aside.

  • Dice the cucumber, slice the cherry tomatoes, cut the carrots into matchsticks, slice the roasted peppers into fine bite-sized ribbons, chop the parsley and olives, and add all veggies to a bowl.

  • In a separate bowl, mix the dressing ingredients together.

  • Add the pasta, and dressing - toss well to coat all the ingredients together. Garnish with extra parsley and feta cheese if desired.

  • For leftovers - I like to take a quart sized mason jar, fill half with pasta salad, and half with fresh spinach and enjoy for a quick and easy lunch!

Notes

Dietary Modifications

This recipe is vegetarian. To make vegan or dairy free, you can omit the feta cheese or use a plant-based substitute.
To make this gluten free, ensure you use a certified gluten free pasta and dressing ingredients. Always check labels to ensure all ingredients are certified gluten free before using.

Nutrition

Calories: 442kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 11gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 429mgPotassium: 330mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1431IUVitamin C: 34mgCalcium: 134mgIron: 2mg

Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a rating and comment below, let us know what you loved about it!

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that support The Herbeevore and our beehives!

About the Author: Kelly Jensen

Rigatoni Pasta Salad Recipe (Vegetarian) - The Herbeevore (7)

Kelly Jensen has 7 years experience as a food blogger, freelance recipe developer, content creator, beekeeper, and loves cooking everything she can from scratch.

View all post by Kelly Jensen | Website

Rigatoni Pasta Salad Recipe (Vegetarian) - The Herbeevore (2024)

FAQs

What are the five mistakes to avoid pasta salad? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Pasta Salad
  • Using the wrong pasta. The wrong pasta type or size can make pasta salad soggy, slimy, or just plain hard to eat. ...
  • Salting only once, at the end. ...
  • Too many raw ingredients! ...
  • Overdressing or underdressing the salad. ...
  • Not seasoning again just before serving.

Will pasta soften in pasta salad? ›

Since it's not being served hot or with sauce, the pasta benefits from an extra minute of cooking, but don't let it get mushy. → Follow this tip: For a well-cooked pasta salad, plan to cook the pasta until just past al dente. Adding an extra minute or so of cook time will keep the pasta soft while it cools.

What does pasta salad contain? ›

Meet your new summer bestie: A stupidly easy pasta salad with pasta, juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, red onion, salami, olives, herbs, and a drench of quick homemade dressing.

Should you rinse pasta when making pasta salad? ›

If you're making a dish that will be served chilled or at room temp—think cold soba, rice noodles, pasta salad—you do want to rinse so that you get toothsome (sorry) individual strands rather than one big gummy clump. Certain types of noodles benefit from a rinse in almost all applications.

Should you let pasta cool before making pasta salad? ›

My Best Pasta Salad Tips

I find that the higher time range listed on box instructions is usually just about right for pasta salad. Let your pasta cool completely before tossing it with the other ingredients. If it's still warm, the hot pasta will start to cook and wilt the veggies.

Do you rinse pasta in cold water for pasta salad? ›

Do not rinse the pasta, though. The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. Rinsing pasta will cool it and prevent absorption of your sauce. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad.

Why do Italians eat salad after pasta? ›

Serving salad after the main course of a meal is an older tradition in Italy, and nowadays it is usually observed at large and formal dinners rather than during everyday meals. Eating a salad after a meal can help digestion, while eating one before a meal may help discourage overeating.

Why is it called Chef's salad? ›

When the customers started requesting the off-menu salad made with cuts of meat, cheese and hard boiled eggs, the hotel decided to add it to the menu. Giving chef Seydoux the honor of naming the salad he is purported to have said "Well, it's really a chef's salad."

Is pasta salad better made the day before? ›

The best part about pasta salad is it is best to make it in advance! Let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, 24 hours is recommended.

What pasta shape is best for pasta salad? ›

Fusilli, rotini and cavatappi

Our experts all agreed that the short, twisty pasta shapes known as fusilli and rotini are excellent candidates for pasta salad, as is cavatappi, a larger pasta also referred to as “corkscrew macaroni.”

Is it better to undercook or overcook pasta for pasta salad? ›

The key to making better pasta salad is to break the number one rule of cooking pasta. Published May 22, 2023. When Cook's Illustrated test cook Annie Petito set out to rehab pasta salad's reputation as dull and flavorless, the first thing she zeroed in on was the pasta.

Does pasta salad contain mayo? ›

Creamy dressing: My favorite creamy pasta salad dressing combines sour cream, mayonnaise, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and a touch of honey or maple syrup. It's easy to make and tastes incredible.

Is it healthy to eat pasta salad every day? ›

Pasta salad can be a healthy meal option if it contains a variety of vegetables, lean protein, and a dressing that is low in saturated fat and added sugars. However, if the pasta salad is made with high-fat meats, cheese, and a creamy or oil-based dressing, it can be high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium.

What culture is pasta salad from? ›

Pasta, of course, is associated with Italy where they take it very seriously. But pasta salad is actually more American than Italian. Italians generally prefer their pasta hot and served as a separate course.

What are the seven things that you should not do when preparing the salad? ›

Is Your Salad Healthy? 7 Ways You Might Be Sabotaging It, According to Registered Dietitians
  1. Mistake 1: Forgetting Protein. ...
  2. Mistake 2: Drowning in Dressing. ...
  3. Mistake 3: Packaged Dressings. ...
  4. Mistake 4: Going Crazy on the Croutons. ...
  5. Mistake 6: Using Light Greens.
Mar 27, 2023

When creating a salad what 5 factors should you consider? ›

There are five elements to a perfect salad: greens, sweetness, creaminess, crunchiness, and dressing.

Should you rinse pasta in cold water for pasta salad? ›

When you're making cold pasta salads, it's helpful to rinse your cooked pasta because it's going to lower the temperature of the pasta, which is ideal given that it's going to be served chilled — often alongside other cool and/or raw ingredients.

What is necessary to avoid when making fresh pasta? ›

15 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Fresh Pasta
  1. Not using the well method to mix your pasta. ...
  2. Using the wrong type of flour. ...
  3. Using too many egg whites. ...
  4. Not using the correct dry-to-wet ingredient ratio. ...
  5. Not adding semolina. ...
  6. Under-kneading your pasta dough. ...
  7. Forgetting to rest your pasta dough. ...
  8. Rolling out your pasta by hand.
Feb 1, 2023

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