Best Potluck Pasta Salad

This is a very good salad for a potluck, serves 16-18 as a side dish and can be made ahead of time; 12 to 24 hours. Chill time not included.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 16

Ingredients

• 3  cups  dried  wagon wheel macaroni or 3  cups rotini pasta or 3  cups  other desired pasta (8-ounces)
• 1  medium  summer squash or 1  medium zucchini, halved lenghtwise and sliced (2 cups, you can use both.)
• 1  cup  frozen peas or 1  cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
• 1  medium  red pepper, cut into strips
• 8  ounces  smoked cheddar cheese or 8  ounces cheddar cheese, cubed
• 1 (6 ounce) can pitted ripe olives, drained and coarsely chopped
• 1  cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1⁄2 cup red onion, chopped
• 2  tablespoons  snipped fresh oregano or 2  tablespoons basil or 2  teaspoons dried oregano or 2  teaspoons basil, crushed
• 1  cup  bottled  balsamic vinaigrette or 1  cup  red wine  vinaigrette dressing

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
2. Rince with cold water; drain again.
3. In a large bowl combine, pasta, squash, peas, sweet pepper, cheese, olives tomatoes, onion, and oregano.
4. Add dressing to pasta mixture; toss gently to coat.
5. Cover and chill for 2 to 24 hours.