Quick, simple, and delicious, this Italian pasta salad is the perfect classic side dish or appetizer! Served cold, it’s made with tender pasta noodles broccoli, green pepper, red pepper, cucumbers, onion, and olives — as well as Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
You’ll love how easy this summer favorite comes together. A quick trip to the deli counter at your store and you’re on your way. For other classic side dishes, I think you’ll also enjoy our macaroni salad, ambrosia salad and coleslaw recipe at your next cookout! For an easy dessert, make sure you try our blackberry cobbler, chocolate peanut butter lasagna, cherry dump cake or banana pudding
Italian Pasta Salad:
Need a quick, hearty side dish recipe to take along to a potluck or serve with your backyard BBQ tonight?
Our family is obsessed with this Italian pasta salad recipe – inspired by our favorite antipasto dishes. We actually hack the antipasto bar at the grocery store to make this recipe as quick and easy as possible. It’s a basic recipe but an instant classic.
Bright, authentic flavors are the way to my heart — and this Italian pasta salad has it all. You’ll go crazy for the dressing as well. The seasoning is excellent — but you can also make it a little more zesty or spicy if you’d like.
This homemade recipe is the perfect side dish but it can also be beefed up to be a whole meal if you’d like. Our other popular pasta dishes include baked ziti, easy lasagna casserole, spaghetti pie and our baked spaghetti.
Italian Pasta Salad Ingredients You Will Need:
- 1 lb medium tri color rotini noodles
- 2 pounds antipasto mix with at least 1/2 cup marinade
- 1/2 pound Genoa salami
- 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup olives (sliced)
- 1 pepper (red, green and/or yellow)
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing (add more as needed)
- 1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Variations on this recipe
If you want to experiment with different flavors, you could also add in chopped cucumbers or make it with onions or with broccoli. If your really love cheese, you could sprinkle with Parmesan in addition to the mozzarella cheese.
My boys love peppers, so I often add in green bell pepper, along with yellow and red bell pepper. It makes such a colorful dish!
We make it with salami. You could also make it with pepperoni, with shrimp or with chicken as well. You can make it a little more zesty and spicy if that’s your thing.
Let me know if there are other fresh vegetables you enjoy in your pasta salad!
How to Make Italian Pasta Salad
Start by boiling the pasta according to the instructions for al dente. Drain and let cook for about 5-10 minutes.
Next, add the antipasto mixture and all the marinade into a large mixing bowl. Add the pasta and stir well. Add the seasonings and stir again.
Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Before serving this classic side dish, you’ll want to stir again really well and add more seasoning if desired.
You can serve cold or at room temperature.
Can You Make Pasta Salad the Day Before?
Yes! If you’re prepping for a big gathering, I love making Italian pasta salad the day before. I think the flavors are even better after they’ve been marinating in the dressing in the fridge overnight.
How Long Will Pasta Salad Keep in the REFRIGERATOR?
You can keep pasta salad in the fridge for up to five days. So, if the bowl isn’t scraped clean by the end of your meal, don’t fret.
What Goes With Pasta Salad?
It’s a tasty addition to any meal. We love it with grilled chicken, with brats, with hamburgers and hot dogs.
I think you could serve it with just about anything and it would be yummy. It’s such a hearty and simple favorite.
More Recipes You’ll Love:
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
- No Bake Strawberry Jello Pie
- Banana Pudding Cake
- Blueberry Cobbler
- Banana Split Cake
- Corn Pudding <- Popular side dish any time of year!
- Sausage Gravy
- Chili Mac
Pair this recipe with:
I’m confident you’ll love this Italian pasta salad as much as we do — I hope you enjoy it soon! It only takes a few minutes to prepare and is the best side dish for any summer gathering. I often take it to potlucks and backyard barbecues — and there are rarely leftovers.
Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb tricolor rotini pasta
- 2 pounds antipasto mix with at least 1/2 cup marinade
- 1/2 pound Genoa salami
- 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup olives sliced
- 1 pepper red, green and/or yellow
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing add more as needed
- 1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Boil pasta according to instructions for al dente. Drain and let cook for 5-10 minutes.
- Add antipasto mixture and all the marinade to a large mixing bowl. Add pasta and stir well. Add seasonings and stir again
- Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Before serving, stir again really well and add more seasoning if desired. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Video
Nutrition
I love a good pasta salad and this is just perfect for warm summer days.
What is the antipasto mixture?
It can vary store to store, but it’s usually oil and peppers with seasoning.