Simple Patriotic Pasta Salad for Memorial Day

Why You’ll Love It

• Easy to make ahead for a party or cookout
• Fresh and colorful without needing a heavy dressing
• Great for Memorial Day, summer BBQs, and potlucks
• No mayo, which makes it especially nice for warm-weather gatherings
• Simple to customize with optional patriotic toppings if you want that red, white, and blue look

Pasta:

• 12 ounces (about 3 cups) bowtie pasta
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt (for cooking the pasta)

Veggies and Add-Ins:

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
• 1 cup cucumber, diced
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced (or use red and yellow for extra color)
• 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup fresh arugula, chopped
• 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper

Dressing:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

Optional festive toppings:

• 1/3 cup blueberries
• Extra diced bell peppers
• Mini flag toothpicks for serving

Practical Tips Before You Start

• Salt the pasta water well. This is your best chance to season the pasta itself.
• Cook the pasta just to al dente so it stays firm after chilling.
• Let the pasta cool fully before mixing so the feta stays crumbly and the veggies stay crisp.
• Pat the tomatoes and cucumber dry if they seem extra juicy. That helps keep the salad from getting watery.
• If you’re making it ahead, save a little dressing to freshen it up before serving.

How to Make Simple Patriotic Pasta Salad

1. Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the bowtie pasta and cook until al dente, about 1 minute less than the package directions.

Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Let it cool completely.

2. Make the Dressing

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a little salt and pepper.

3. Chop and Combine

In a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, arugula, feta, parsley, and black pepper.

4. Toss It All Together

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.

5. Chill and Serve

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavors have time to come together.

For the best flavor, let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

How to Make It Patriotic for Memorial Day

For a more patriotic presentation, you can:

• sprinkle a few blueberries on top right before serving
• add extra red pepper for a brighter look
• serve it in a white bowl
• add mini flag picks if that matches your photos and party setup

Make-Ahead Tips

This is a great make-ahead Memorial Day side dish.

• You can make it a few hours ahead and chill until serving
• It also keeps well for up to 3 days in the fridge
• If it dries out a little after chilling, toss it with a small splash of olive oil or a bit of extra dressing before serving

What to Serve With It

This patriotic pasta salad goes well with:

• burgers
• grilled chicken
• hot dogs
• BBQ mains
• sandwiches
• other easy Memorial Day side dishes

Perfect For

• Memorial Day cookouts
• patriotic party food
• summer potlucks
• backyard BBQs
• easy side dishes for a crowd
• make-ahead holiday meals