This one started as one of Johnny's "wait, hear me out" ideas - and honestly, those are usually the ones that turn out best around here. He's already our reigning pasta salad king, but adding slaw dressing to a bowtie pasta salad? That felt like a stretch even for him.

Turns out, it's brilliant. My daughter and I fell for it immediately - that tangy, creamy slaw dressing tossed with tender bowtie noodles, crisp cucumbers, and juicy cherry tomatoes is refreshing in a way regular pasta salad just isn't. It's become one of our favorite easy cold pasta salad recipes, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it disappears fast at potlucks!

If you love coleslaw and you love pasta salad, this is the mashup you didn't know you needed.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Only 4 ingredients - pasta, dressing, cucumbers, tomatoes. That's it.
• Ready in under 20 minutes of hands-on time, then just chill and go.
• A genuinely different flavor - slaw dressing gives it a tangy twist you won't get from a typical Italian or mayo-based pasta salad.
• Perfect for potlucks, cookouts, and easy weeknight sides - feeds 6-10, so it's built for a crowd.
• Make-ahead friendly - it actually gets better as it chills.

Ingredients

• 6 oz bowtie pasta noodles
• ⅔ cup slaw dressing (we like Marzetti brand)
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 3 mini cucumbers

Tools You'll Need

• Cutting board
• Knife
• Large pot
• Colander
• Large spoon
• Large bowl

Directions

1. Cook the noodles in a large pot according to package directions until al dente. Drain the water, rinse in cold water, and add to a large bowl.
2. Stir in the slaw dressing until the noodles are evenly coated.
3. Cut the cucumbers into slices and the tomatoes in half if they're large. Add the veggies to the bowl and toss to combine.
4. Cover and chill for 1 hour, or until ready to serve.

Tara's Tips

• We're loyal to Marzetti slaw dressing for this one - the tang is what makes the whole recipe work. If you use a different brand, taste as you go since sweetness levels vary.
• Want extra crunch? A handful of shredded coleslaw mix stirred in adds texture and leans even harder into the slaw flavor.
• This travels well for potlucks - just keep it chilled until serving.
• A large mixing bowl with lid makes this a true one-bowl, fridge-ready recipe.

Serving Suggestions

This bowtie pasta salad is an easy cold side for grilled veggie platter recipe, BBQ smoked sausage pasta salad, or alongside your favorite burgers. It also holds its own on a potluck table next to cowboy caviar or cucumber sandwiches.

Yield: 8

Quick & Easy Coleslaw Pasta Salad

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This easy bowtie pasta salad is a fresh, quick pasta salad recipe with juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and a creamy slaw dressing. 

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 9 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 19 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 oz bowtie pasta noodles
• ⅔ cup slaw dressing (we like Marzetti brand)
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 3 mini cucumbers

Instructions

1. Cook the noodles in a large pot according to package directions until al dente. Drain the water, rinse in cold water and add to a large bowl.
2. Stir in the dressing.
3. Cut the cucumbers into slices and the tomatoes in half if they’re large. Add the veggies to the bowl and toss to combine.
4. Cover and chill for 1 hour or until ready to serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 117Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 148mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 2g

Storage

Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Give it a quick toss before serving again, since the dressing may settle.

Johnny's wacky ideas don't always land, but this one's a keeper. Give it a try and see if it doesn't become one of your go-to easy cold pasta salad recipes too!