December 19, 2012
updated
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Need something delicious and quick for dinner? Try this ditalini with olives and feta cheese.
It’s one of the simple ditalini pasta recipes and the perfect busy weeknight meal because it takes less than 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to assemble. Not counting the salt and pepper.
When dinner rolls around, and you’re overwhelmed and busy, it can be easy to reach for that box of mac and cheese. Trust me, I get it and have a few boxes myself, just in case of an emergency.
But there’s something about this quick meal made with ditalini that my kids love, and I feel better feeding them.
What is Ditalini Pasta
Ditalini is small, tube-shaped pasta often used in soups such as pasta e Fagioli, minestrone, and simple pasta dishes.
The small shape makes it easy to eat with a spoon and is a popular option for kids. Toss in chopped veggies and cheese, and you have a complete meal from the pantry.
How to Make Ditalini Pasta with Olives & Feta
If you can boil pasta, then you can whip up this quick dish in 15 minutes. Here’s what to do :
- Add some water to a pot
Toss the pasta into the water and cook according to package directions. - Make the dressing
While the pasta cooks, whisk some olive oil with fresh lemon juice and a dash of salt. - Toss it all together
To the dressing, add the olives, feta cheese, and cooked pasta. Grate some black pepper over the top and toss it all together. *If someone in your family isn’t a fan of olives, swap them out for cherry tomatoes.
With the flavor of cooked pasta, tangy feta, and fresh lemon, you’d never guess it’s that easy to make! I’m getting hungry just writing about it.
How to Store Leftover Cooked Ditalini Pasta
Refrigerate this leftover cooked pasta in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The olive oil in the dressing will help prevent the pasta from sticking together and keep the flavors intact.
You can enjoy this ditalini chilled or reheat a portion of pasta in the microwave. Add 2 tablespoons water per cup of cooked pasta to a microwave-safe dish and cover with plastic wrap or a damp paper towel. Microwave for 1 minute or until the pasta is heated through.
How Long to Cook Ditalini Pasta
When cooking pasta, always cook it according to package directions unless the recipe specifies otherwise. In this case, ditalini takes about 10 minutes to cook to ‘al dente’.
More Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinner Ideas
Need more quick and delicious dinner ideas for busy weeknights? I’ve got you covered. Your family will love any of the recipes below.
Recipes like this ditalini and the ones above are similar to the dinner recipes you’ll find inside the MOMables Classic Dinner Meal Plan.
Each week features delicious recipes made with fresh ingredients, a done-for-you shopping list, and an organized meal-prep guide to keep the cooking simple.
Recipes You Can Make Weekly
Want to incorporate the very best of my recipes into a weekly plan that includes meal-prep and a done-for-you shopping list? Subscribe to my Weekly Meal Plan.
Ditalini Pasta with Black Olives & Feta
Ingredients
- 16- ounce box ditalini pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ black pepper
- 1 cup pitted whole olives
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Cook the ditalini according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, whisk the olive oil with lemon juice, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
- To the dressing, add the black olives, feta, and cooked pasta. Toss to combine and serve.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Enjoy chilled or reheat in the microwave before serving.
Emily
How do you think this would be with green olives?
Laura Fuentes
Oh yes! We make this with green olives as well. My youngest loves green olives. Enjoy!
Tiffany's Toy Box
Hmmm, I love black olives, but not sure the kids would. Now I have the guts to try it with them since your kids like them. Thanks!
Laura Fuentes
the good thing is that if they don’t like the black olives you can take them out!