This Italian Pasta Salad Recipe is perfect for outdoor picnics, summer cookouts, barbecues or any other casual get-together. It’s filled with colorful vegetables, cheese, and salami and tossed in a zesty Italian dressing. This easy recipe is a great option for meal prep and can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner throughout the week.
This easy pasta salad recipe is a delicious and refreshing dish that is great as a main dish or the perfect side dish. It is a cold dish that is made with cooked pasta, fresh vegetables, and a tangy dressing. The salad is typically served as a side dish, but it can also be a main course if you add some protein like chicken or shrimp.
Classic pasta salad uses short and sturdy, such as rotini, farfalle, or penne. The pasta is cooked until it is al dente, which means it is cooked through but still firm to the bite. This helps the pasta hold up to the other ingredients in the salad.
The vegetables used in cold Italian pasta salad can vary, but some common ones include cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, and red onions. You can also add some olives, artichoke hearts, or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor. The salad is usually dressed with a vinaigrette made with olive oil, vinegar, and Italian herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme.
It is also a great dish to make ahead of time and eat the next day, as the flavors will develop and meld together as it sits in the fridge.
How To Make Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
- Pasta: The base of the salad is pasta. You can use any pasta shape you like, but short pasta shapes like fusilli, rotini pasta, or penne are ideal. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until it is al dente.
- Vegetables: Vegetables add color and texture to the salad. You can use any vegetables you like, but this recipe includes grape tomatoes, black olives, bell peppers, red onions, fresh parsley, and cucumbers. Chop the vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
- Cheese: Cheese is the best part! It’s creamy and slightly salty in the salad. Fresh mozzarella and Parmesan cheese are the perfect combination.
- Meat: Salami adds a delicious savory flavor to the salad.
- Homemade Italian Dressing: The dressing is what brings all the flavors together. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, dijon mustard, and minced garlic.
Preparation:
Here are brief steps to make this pasta salad. For the full description, see the recipe card below.
1.Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling water, stirring occasionally, until it’s al dente. This should be about 10 minutes but be sure to taste test while it’s cooking to make sure it’s cooked exactly how you like.
2. Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl. Let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to come together and be even more delicious.
3. Chop all the vegetables into similar size pieces. This will ensure each bite is perfect.
4. Toss the pasta, veggies, and dressing together in a large bowl and gently stir it together with a wooden spoon.
5. Top with shredded parmesan and parsley and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Choose the best type of pasta. Different pasta shapes have different textures and absorb dressings differently, which can affect the overall taste and texture of your salad.
- For the best results, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it is al dente, or cooked to the point where it is still firm but not hard.
- Italian dressing is a classic dressing that is perfect for pasta salads. It is tangy, flavorful, and easy to make. Whisk it together and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before using it.
- Use extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavor and store it in a cool dark place when you’re not using it.
Recipe Variations
- Try some other seasonings: Add fresh herbs, such as basil, parsley, or oregano, to give the salad a burst of flavor. You can also use dried herbs if you don’t have fresh ones on hand. Consider adding a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce if you like your pasta salad with a little kick.
- Use your favorite meat: Swap out the hard salami for grilled chicken or shrimp.
- Mix it up with other fresh veggies: Try green peas, blanched broccoli, roasted asparagus, banana peppers, or artichoke hearts.
- Swap out the pasta for lettuce: Get rid of the extra carbs by swapping out the pasta for chopped romaine lettuce.
- Try different cheeses: Fresh mozzarella balls or diced gruyere are also great options.
How To Store Leftovers
The best way to store this cold pasta salad recipe, it’s important to do it properly to ensure the salad stays fresh and safe to eat. Here are some tips on how to store and reheat your leftovers.
Refrigerate:
If you have any leftover pasta salad, make sure to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will help prevent the salad from drying out and keep it fresh for a longer period. You can store it for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
When you’re ready to eat it, just put some in a bowl, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes, and eat it cool.
Reheat:
There’s no need to reheat this salad since it’s meant to be served at room temperature. For the best results, scoop some into a bowl from the refrigerator and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the flavors to develop before eating.
Freeze:
It’s not a great idea to freeze this dish. The good news is that you can easily whip up a bowl in about 30 minutes so you can have fresh pasta salad any time you want.
What To Serve With Italian Pasta Salad
- Soup and salad is always a great combination! Try this savory instant pot sweet potato and beef soup, classic tomato soup or zucchini summer soup.
- Don’t forget dessert. A light and refreshing dessert is always a great idea like this yogurt parfait, strawberry chia pudding, or strawberry coconut scones.
- What about snack time?? Pair it with cauliflower tots or shrimp guacamole bites.
- Drinks!! Add a healthy drink like a pomegranate green smoothie, raspberry smoothie, or pineapple mango mint smoothie.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many variations for pasta salad! You can add different types of pasta, vegetables, cheeses, and meats to make it your own. Some popular variations include adding sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, or grilled chicken. You can also switch up the dressing by using a balsamic vinaigrette or a creamy Caesar dressing. The possibilities are endless!
Antipasto salad and Italian pasta salad are similar but have some key differences. Antipasto salad usually includes cured meats, such as salami and prosciutto, along with cheese, olives, and marinated vegetables. Italian pasta salad typically includes pasta, vegetables, and cheese, with the addition of a tangy Italian dressing. While both salads are delicious, antipasto salad tends to be heartier and more protein-packed, while Italian pasta salad is lighter and fresher.
If you want to add some protein to this Italian pasta salad recipe, there are many options to choose from. Try sliced hard-boiled eggs, chickpeas, or black beans for a vegetarian option. If you want to keep it simple, you can add some diced ham or pepperoni.
Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
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Ingredients
For the salad
- 2 cups dry rotini/fusilli
- 1 cup hard salami sliced 1/4-inch thick and then into quarters
- 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes halved
- ¾ cup black olives sliced
- 1 cup yellow bell peppers chopped
- 1 cup orange bell peppers chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion sliced
- ½ cucumber cut in quarter
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella cubed
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
For the dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to directions on package. For my pasta I boil 5 quarts water with 1 tablespoon of salt. When it is cooked, drain, and set aside to cool down.
- While pasta is cooling, prepare the dressing by whisking together olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, mustard, garlic and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add cooled pasta to an extra large bowl along with salami, tomatoes, olives, bell peppers, red onion and mozzarella. Mix all well.
- Then pour the dressing, parmesan and parsley. Mix well and enjoy!
Tips
- Cook the pasta until it’s done all the way through but still has a slight bite. Cooking it too long will result in mushy pasta.
- Cut the cheese and salami into small bite size cubes so they’re easy to eat.
- Whisk the dressing and let it sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
- Add some salt to the pasta water to add depth of flavor to the whole dish.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Lily says
Delicious! Thanks for sharing.
Olivia Ribas says
You’re very welcome!
Jessica says
I made this for a potluck during 4th of July and everyone thought it was a hit! Super easy to make and delicious.
Olivia Ribas says
So happy to hear that 😉