Simple Italian Pasta Salad is a delicious side dish that combines cooked pasta with a variety of fresh vegetables, and a tangy dressing. This classic Italian pasta recipe is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a side dish for any occasion.
The magic of Italian pasta salad lies in its versatility. You can customize it to your liking, adding ingredients such as mozzarella cheese, salami, or olives, which bring their own unique characteristics to the dish. You can make your own dressing or just buy your favorite Italian salad dressing at the store.
What sets Italian pasta salad apart is its ability to transcend seasons and occasions. It is equally at home on a sunny summer day, refreshing and cooling, as it is at a cozy indoor gathering, bringing a taste of sunshine to the table. Whether you enjoy it as a light lunch, a side dish at a barbecue, or a picnic essential, this salad embodies the spirit of conviviality and shared enjoyment.
We would love to hear from you in the comments below!
Try some of our other favorite side dishes, such as Pea, Ranch, and Bacon Pasta Salad, Easy Macaroni Salad, Hash Brown Casserole, or Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese.
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Ingredients for Italian Pasta Salad
- tricolor rotini or fusilli
- dry Italian dressing mix
- bottled Italian dressing
- hard salami
- black olives
- red bell pepper
- red onion
- cheese, cubed (pepper jack or mozzarella)
- pepperoncini
FAQs
Italian Pasta Salad is a cold dish made with pasta, fresh vegetables, cheeses, and Italian-inspired ingredients, all tossed in a tangy Italian dressing. It's a popular side dish for picnics, barbecues, and potlucks due to its fresh flavors and easy preparation.
Absolutely! Italian Pasta Salad is highly customizable. You can add or substitute ingredients based on your preferences, such as artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, or different types of cheese.
Italian Pasta Salad pairs well with grilled meats, sandwiches, or as part of a larger picnic spread. It's also a great side dish for barbecues and potlucks.
To prevent the pasta from getting soggy, make sure to cook it al dente and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process. Tossing the pasta with a small amount of olive oil before adding the other ingredients can also help prevent it from absorbing too much dressing.
Top Tips
- Choose short pasta shapes like fusilli, rotini, or penne that can hold the dressing and ingredients well. Cook the pasta until al dente to ensure it retains a slight bite.
- Keep it colorful: Use a variety of colorful vegetables to make the salad visually appealing. Cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, red onions, pepperoni, and olives are great options. You can also add fresh herbs like basil or parsley for added freshness.
- Let it chill: Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. This also helps to enhance the taste and texture.
- Be mindful of leftovers: If you have leftovers, store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for a couple of days, but keep in mind that the texture of the pasta may change slightly over time.
How to make Italian Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it down.
- Stir the dry Italian package with the pasta.
- Pour Italian salad dressing on the pasta and stir together. Adjust the dressing quantity to your personal taste.
- Add cut up salami (or pepperoni), cubed cheese, and stir until combined.
- Combine the vegetables: In a large mixing bowl, combine the pasta with diced bell peppers, red onions, olives, and any optional ingredients.
- Add pepperoncini and toss gently to ensure all the ingredients are coated evenly with the dressing.
- Chill and marinate: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least an hour, allowing the flavors to meld together. You can also leave it overnight for even better flavor development. Serve and enjoy!
Simple Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz tricolor rotini or fusilli
- 1 0.7 oz package, dry Italian dressing mix
- 1-2 cups bottled Italian dressing
- 8-10 oz hard salami, chopped
- 3.8 oz black olives, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- 8 oz cheese, cubed (pepper jack or mozzarella)
- 12 oz pepperoncini
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it down.
- Stir the dry Italian package with the pasta.
- Pour Italian salad dressing on the pasta and stir together. Adjust the dressing quantity to your personal taste.
- Add cut up salami (or pepperoni), cubed cheese, and stir until combined.
- Combine the vegetables: In a large mixing bowl, combine the pasta with diced bell peppers, red onions, olives, and any optional ingredients.
- Add pepperoncini and toss gently to ensure all the ingredients are coated evenly with the dressing.
- Chill and marinate: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least an hour, allowing the flavors to meld together. You can also leave it overnight for even better flavor development. Serve and enjoy!
Angela
DELICIOUS! My Italian & Greek family has been making a salad very close to this one for as long as I remember. Our Greek version is only a little different, & we add Feta cheese. We now try to make it somewhat healthier, so we try to reduce the sodium content in this dish by using reduced sodium products whenever possible. This salad is always a huge hit - not only at our dinner table, but also at every event we have taken it to.
Jill Lockridge
Thank you! It is one of our favorites. Oh yes, feta would be delicious! I'm happy to hear your family enjoys this also!
Deborah Vogts
This is a delicious summer salad.
Jill Lockridge
Thank you so much!