Straightforward Italian Pasta Salad (+ Selfmade Italian Dressing!)

This simple Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing dish good for summer time picnics or potlucks. Filled with recent greens, cheese, pepperoni and dressed with a zesty do-it-yourself Italian dressing, this salad is bound to be a success. Plus, try the recipe video for step-by-step directions!

Have you ever made our Greek Pasta Salad? It’s actually good and one of the widespread recipes on our website. Right here’s the factor although, not everyone seems to be a fan of feta cheese, so we felt like we had no selection however to bust out an amazingly simple pasta salad recipe full with mozzarella cheese, recent and flavorful do-it-yourself Italian dressing, and meat and colourful greens galore.

There’s one thing about pasta salad recipes and summertime that simply make the world completely happy. I get virtually giddy the nearer we get to summer time simply fascinated about dusting off the BBQ and pulling out the garden chairs for out of doors cookouts with pals. Make some grilled hen and grilled corn on the cob with this pasta salad with Italian dressing, and you’ve got your self the good summer time dinner!

What’s in Italian Pasta Salad?

I’ll be sincere with you — our youngsters completely pick among the elements on this do-it-yourself pasta salad. Two of our youngsters love straight up chilly pepperoni. So Cade and I are left to eat no matter’s leftover from this pasta salad with pepperoni. The thrill of parenthood!

To make this pasta salad recipe, you’ll want:

• Rotini Pasta: Any quick, sturdy pasta works nice like penne, farfalle, fusilli, macaroni, and so forth.
• Pepperoni
• Salami
• Black Olives
• Mozzarella Cheese: Recent mozzarella balls are most well-liked.
• Parmesan Cheese: freshly grated
• Bell Pepper: I choose a pink, yellow or orange bell pepper.
• Tomatoes: Grape or cherry tomatoes work nice.
• Crimson Onion
• Italian Salad Dressing: You may seize some on the grocery retailer or make it at house with the recipe we’ve included under.

The measurements wanted for every ingredient will be discovered within the recipe card on the finish of the put up.

Tips on how to Make Italian Pasta Salad

Don’t let all of the mix-ins idiot you, this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni is as simple because it will get! It’s only a matter of cooking the pasta, chopping up all of the salad elements and making the dressing. Right here’s how we make this pasta salad with Italian dressing:

1. Whisk: Add all of the elements for the dressing to a small bowl and whisk collectively to mix.
2. Cook dinner: Add water to a big saucepan and closely salt the water. Cook dinner the pasta in accordance with bundle directions, then drain in a colander and let cool.
3. Mix: Add the pasta, dressing, and remaining elements to a big bowl and gently toss to combine.

Scroll all the way down to the top of the put up for the whole recipe within the recipe card. You too can print or save the recipe there.

What to Serve with Italian Pasta Salad

This chilly pasta salad with Italian dressing is nice with plenty of totally different meals, from ham to pulled pork to hamburgers. You title it, I wager it’ll style good with this do-it-yourself pasta salad!

A number of of our favourite predominant dishes to take pleasure in alongside this pasta salad are:

Can I Prep Pasta Salad in Advance?

It’s finest to arrange this pasta salad as near consuming it as potential. The longer it sits, the extra it should soak up the dressing and switch bland in taste. To not point out, the noodles turn into overly smooth and swollen.

When you want to put together this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni forward of time, make certain the noodles are saved in a zip-top bag and the opposite elements are saved in a separate container with the dressing in a jar. That approach, every part is prepped however nothing turns soggy!

Can Pasta Salad Be Frozen?

No. Oh, please no. Pasta doesn’t maintain up properly within the freezer except it’s in a casserole, and even then it actually struggles as a result of it absorbs the sauce or dressing simply because it does within the fridge.

Suggestions for Making Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

When cooking the pasta for this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni, you wish to prepare dinner it simply till al dente. Do not forget that the pasta might be sitting within the pasta salad dressing, so that you need it to have a bit chew to it in any other case it’ll turn into mushy.

Lower the greens, cheese and meats pretty small so you will get all these daring flavors and textures in each single chew.

Additionally word that you simply’re welcome to make use of any quick, sturdy pasta you could have readily available. We choose rotini pasta, however penne, macaroni, or bow-tie pasta would work too!

Lastly, as we’ve talked about in our different pasta salad recipe, it is best to by no means refrigerate pasta salad earlier than serving it.  The pasta turns into mushy the longer it sits within the fridge, and fridge-cold pasta salad is commonly too dry for our liking.

Now Watch How This Italian Pasta Salad Recipe is Made…

In search of a fast and scrumptious pasta salad recipe? This simple Italian pasta salad is loaded with recent greens, herbs, and a zesty dressing. Excellent for picnics, potlucks, or as a aspect dish. 

Extra PASTA SALAD RECIPES:

Really useful Merchandise

Might 2018: Initially Posted

March 2025: Content material up to date and video added