Italian Pasta Salad

Simple to make, this Italian pasta salad goes great with any meal or get-together, and it will quickly become one of your summer staples!

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Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time4 20

Servings

Our family is obsessed with this delicious Italian pasta salad recipe – inspired by our favorite antipasto dishes. This pasta salad has it all: fresh veggies, tender pasta, and a tangy Italian dressing, and is both quick and delicious.

a close up shot of Italian Pasta Salad in a bowl

Italian Pasta Salad Ingredients

You’ll need:

16 ounces of rotini pasta, cooked according to instructions on the box
1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved
½ of a zucchini, diced
½ cup red onion, diced
½ green bell pepper, diced
½ cup of black olives, sliced
⅓ cup of parmesan cheese, shredded
1 cup of mozzarella cheese, cubed
7.5 ounces of salami
2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup of Italian vinaigrette dressing
lemon juice from 1 lemon

Best Italian Dressing For Pasta Salad

The best Italian dressing for pasta salad is one that complements the flavors of the ingredients while adding a delicious tangy and herby profile.

Italian Dressing Pasta Salad Substitutions And Additions

DIFFERENT VEGGIES: This is a simple, quick recipe that you can easily customize with any seasonal fresh vegetables that you have on hand.

If you want to experiment with different flavors, you could also add chopped cucumbers or make it with sweet onions, red bell pepper, or broccoli.

MEAT: We have made this salad with salami. You could also make it with mini pepperoni, shrimp, or chicken as well.

PASTA: You could change up the type of pasta in this salad. Any kind of pasta with lots of nooks and crannies to hold the dressing, including fusilli, bow ties, or penne pasta, would be perfect. Or how about the ever-versatile orzo pasta?

DRESSING: Instead of store-bought Italian dressing, if you have a homemade Italian dressing recipe you prefer, you can use that too.

CHEESE: If you would prefer to replace the regular mozzarella with fresh mozzarella cheese or mini mozzarella balls, they would work just as well.

How To Make Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing

STEP ONE: Cook pasta according to the package directions until al dente and still slightly firm. Drain the pasta water and rinse with cold water.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

Rinsing the cooked pasta in cold water after draining is best when doing a cold pasta salad recipe. It stops the cooking process, and it keeps the pasta loose for the salad.

STEP TWO: Add all of the salad ingredients, including the salad dressing, to a large bowl and stir gently to combine.

PRO TIP:

Make sure your pasta is fully cooled before adding the other ingredients, or your cheese will start to melt.

Salad ingredients combined in a large bowl

STEP THREE: For the best flavor, refrigerate for four hours before serving. This will allow the acidity in the salad to help the flavors blend together.

How To Serve This Pasta Salad Recipe With Italian Dressing

This easy pasta salad recipe is a tasty addition to any meal. We love it with grilled chicken, chili dogs, or hamburgers.

I think you could serve it with just about anything, it’s such a hearty and great side dish.

For other classic side dishes, check out our macaroni salad, dill pickle pasta salad, chicken bacon ranch pasta salad, and coleslaw recipes.

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Layered Taco Salad

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Storing This Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

IN THE FRIDGE: You can keep pasta salad in the fridge for up to five days in an airtight container. So, if the bowl isn’t scraped clean by the end of your meal, don’t fret.

IN THE FREEZER: We don’t recommend freezing this pasta salad as the veggies will become soggy once thawed.

Can I Make Italian Dressing Pasta Salad Ahead Of Time?

This great pasta salad is best made the day before. The next day, it will have had time to soak up some of the extra dressing, and the salad will be extra flavorful.

You Will Love This Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing

I’m confident you’ll love this zesty Italian pasta salad as much as we do! It only takes a few minutes to prepare and is the perfect side dish for any summer gathering. I often take it to potlucks and backyard barbecues, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser.

Italian Pasta Salad FAQs

Do you rinse pasta for pasta salad?

You should rinse pasta when using it for pasta salad. It stops the pasta from cooking and prevents it from sticking together.

Can I make Italian dressing pasta salad ahead of time?

This great pasta salad is best made the day before. The next day, it will have had time to soak up some of the extra dressing, and the salad will be extra flavorful.

Can I use homemade Italian dressing rather than store-bought dressing?

If you have a favorite recipe for homemade Italian dressing, you are more than welcome to use that instead.

How do you keep pasta salad moist?

To keep pasta salad moist, cook pasta al dente, rinse and cool it, dress while warm, use moisture-rich ingredients like vegetables and protein, avoid excessive dressing, refrigerate properly, and stir before serving.

How do you keep pasta salad from absorbing dressing?

To prevent pasta salad from absorbing too much dressing, cook pasta al dente, rinse and cool it quickly, dress while warm using a small amount of dressing, use a light hand with dressing, add most dressing just before serving, and offer extra dressing on the side for individual preferences.

Pasta Salad Recipe with Italian Dressing

5 from 3 votes

Simple to make, this Italian pasta salad goes great with any meal or get-together, and it will quickly become one of your summer staples!

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 4 20

Servings

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Ingredients

16 ounces rotini pasta
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ zucchini, diced
½ cup red onion, diced
½ green bell pepper
½ cup black olives, sliced
⅓ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
7.5 ounces salami
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup Italian vinaigrette dressing
1 lemon, juiced

Instructions

Cook the rotini pasta according to the package directions until al dente and still slightly firm. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Add all ingredients to a large bowl and stir gently to combine.
For best flavor, refrigerate for 4 hours before serving.

Notes

This is a great make-ahead dish for potlucks. Keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days!
Rinsing the cooked pasta in cold water after draining is best when doing a cold pasta salad recipe. It stops the cooking process, and it keeps the pasta loose for the salad.
Make sure your pasta is fully cooled before adding the other ingredients, or your cheese will start to melt.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant

Easy Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing