Pasta Salad Cups (Printable)

Mini pasta cups with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, feta, and zesty vinaigrette — chilled, portable bites for gatherings.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 7 ounces short pasta such as mini shells, fusilli, or penne

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
03 - 1/2 cup diced cucumber
04 - 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
05 - 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
06 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives
07 - 1/4 cup sweet corn, optional

→ Cheese & Herbs

08 - 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
09 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Boil pasta in salted water until al dente following package directions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and transfer to a bowl to cool.
02 - Whisk olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, oregano, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
03 - In a large bowl, mix cooled pasta with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and corn.
04 - Pour the dressing over pasta and vegetables. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Fold in crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil carefully to avoid breaking up the cheese.
06 - Spoon the salad mixture equally into 8 small clear serving cups.
07 - Top each cup with extra basil or a small cube of feta cheese if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Your friends will think you snuck away to culinary school when they see these cheery little cups at the table.
  • It&aposs fresh, fast, satisfying, and just quirky enough to brighten up any gathering.
02 -
  • If you skip tossing the pasta in dressing while it&aposs still a little warm, it won&apost soak up as much flavor—learned that the soggy way.
  • Waiting to add cheese until the very end keeps it from vanishing into the dressing and losing its creamy little treasures.
03 -
  • Rinse your pasta until it&aposs completely cool to avoid clumps or gummy texture.
  • A light drizzle of dressing over top just before serving keeps things glossy and flavorful.

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