Easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe (2024)

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This easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe is one of my favorite summer cold pasta salad dishes. It is so easy to make and it is perfect for making ahead of time for potlucks, BBQs, or a week-night dinner. Your favorite pasta noodles, veggies, and mozzarella cheese tossed in Italian dressing for an easy pasta salad recipe.

Cold Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing

Cold Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing is an easy to make Italian pasta salad recipe that is loaded with veggies and has a zesty Italian dressing giving the perfect balance of flavors.

Pasta salads are a staple in our house during the summer. I can make a few different ones up at a time and then serve them for dinner. Many times dinner during the summer is something on the grill or cooked in the crockpot because I don’t like to heat up the house during the summer.

Not only do I not like to heat up the house, but I also do not like to spend the time cooking when there is more fun things that I could be doing like hanging out with the kids in the backyard or going on a hike. So to keep things easy during the summer I make sides that will last us a few days, then each night we grill a meat and dinner is super easy.

Normally we make pasta salad as a side dish for dinner, but I must tell you that this Italian pasta salad also makes an amazing lunch!

Variations of Cold Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing

One of the great things about this Cold Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing recipe is that you can change things up with what you have on hand. I always keep cucumbers, string cheese, and roasted red peppers in my fridge and pantry. I am sure you have already noticed that with all of our other pasta salad recipes.

Meats:Change things up by adding grilled chicken, salami, pepperoni, bacon, or ham will all work well with this cold pasta salad recipe. Just chop the pieces small before adding them to your pasta salad with Italian dressing.

Veggies:I love cucumbers and tomatoes in my cold pasta salad recipes. But you can add different veggies to change things up and use what you have on hand. The more colorful the better I say when it comes to making this Italian Pasta Salad recipe. Fresh veggies including, bell peppers (orange, red and green), red onion, carrots (thin sliced), and broccoli are all perfect veggies for pasta salad. I also like canned veggies including black olives, artichokes and roasted red peppers when making cold Italian pasta salad.

Pasta.When making pasta salad I like using either rotini pasta, the tri color pasta is also perfect for adding more color to this easy pasta salad recipe. If you do not have either of those on hand you can use whatever small noodle you have on hand.

Cheese. I use string cheese because it is much easier to chop up when I am trying to get things done quickly. You can use blocked mozzarella cheese but be sure to chop it into small pieces. If you want to change up the cheese crumbled feta will also work well in place of mozzarella cheese in Italian pasta salad.

Favorite Pasta Salad Recipes

Chickpea Pasta Salad
Pasta salad with tuna
Egg Salad Macaroni Salad
Sundried tomato pasta salad
Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad

Tips for Making the Perfect Cold Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing

Don’t over cook the pasta. It is important to not over cook the pasta. Cook just until al dente and then drain them and then cool the pasta while in the strainer with cold water until all of the pasta is cooled. This will prevent a soggy pasta salad.

Cool the pasta completely.Just like over cooking pasta will give you a mushy pasta salad, so will noodles that are not cooled all the way. As soon as they are done cooking you want to shock the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking process.

Chop the veggies (and meat) small.Pasta salad is best when the veggies and meat if you are adding any are chopped small. This gives more veggies and more flavor in each bite of this pasta salad with Italian Dressing.

Let pasta salad sit before serving. You can serve this pasta salad immediately after making it however I find pasta salad is best when it has time to sit in the fridge and all of the flavors are able to mix together. Letting the pasta salad sit for a few hours before serving results in a more flavorful and delicious Italian pasta salad!

What to serve with Cold Italian Pasta Salad

This Italian Macaroni Salad is perfect for a meal at home when you are grilling or if you are going to a group picnic and need something amazing to bring with you!

There are lots of great main dishes and side dishes that go along well with this easy macaroni salad recipe. Check out some of our favorites dishes that we make when we are having this cold macaroni salad. Seriously anything that you cook on the grill will work perfectly with this cold Italian pasta salad recipe.

Grilled Corn on the Cob
Grilled Steaks
Chili Lime Chicken
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa

Can you make pasta salad ahead of time?

So this is one of my FAVORITE things about pasta salads, aside from the fact that my whole family loves them. I can make a pasta salad and double or triple the recipe and have it as a side dish for dinners for a few nights. My kids also love eating pasta salad for lunch, so I like to make pasta salad and keep it in the fridge for them to have an easy lunch.

How Long will Italian Pasta Salad Keep in the Fridge?

As long as you store this easy pasta salad recipe properly, it will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. Be sure to store it in an airtight container, like therubbermaid containersafter you have served it for dinner or if you are making it ahead of time.

What is the best pasta to use for pasta salad?

The main ingredient for this easy tuna macaroni salad is pasta and a shortcut of pasta like fusilli, penne, bow tie, elbow macaroni, or farfalle works best. You can use any type of pasta including whole wheat pasta, chickpea pasta, or any other legume-based pasta you like.

Italian Pasta Salad Ingredients

Pasta
Mozzarella cheese sticks – 5 ounces of mozzarella cheese if you are using a block.
Cucumbers
Roasted red peppers
Black olives
Wish-bone Extra Virgin Olive Oil Salad Dressing or your favorite Italian dressing.
Cherry tomatoes

How to Make Italian Pasta Salad

Cook your pasta according to the box and drain. Immediately run cold water over it while it is still in the strainer to cool the pasta.

Wash veggies and chop into small pieces.

If adding meat chop into tiny pieces.

Cut cheese into tiny pieces.

Once pasta is cooled pour into a large bowl and pour salad dressing on top of pasta.

Add chopped veggies, cheese and meat.

Mix everything well so all ingredients are covered with the salad dressing.

Serve immediately or store in an air tight container in the fridge.

Looking for more cold summer side dishes? Check these out!

Asian cucumber Salad
BLT Salad Recipe
Best Chicken Salad Recipe
Classic Egg Salad perfect for making Egg salad lettuce wraps
Broccoli salad with bacon
Loaded potato salad with Bacon

Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

Created by Lauren

3.66 from 96 votes

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Servings 8

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

This easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe is one of my favorite summer cold pasta salad dishes. It is so easy to make and it perfect for making ahead of time for potlucks, BBQs or a week night dinner. Your favorite pasta noodles, veggies and mozzarella cheese tossed in Italian dressing for an easy pasta salad recipe.

Ingredients

1 pound rotini pasta noodles
5 ounces mozzarella cheese 5 string mozzarella cheese sticks if using them, or block of mozzarella cheese cut.
4 cups diced cucumber 2 cucumbers
15 ounces jar roasted red peppers
6 ounces canned black olives
15 ounces Italian dressing
1 pint cherry tomatoes

Instructions

Cook your pasta according to the box and drain.
While your pasta is cooking prep the rest of your Italian pasta salad ingredients.
Wash the cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. Cut the cherry tomatoes and cucumbers into small pieces and set aside. Drain black olives and slice them.
If you are adding any meats cut them into bite sized pieces and set aside.
Cut the pieces of mozzarella string cheese or block of cheese into bite sized pieces.
When pasta is done cooking, drain in a strainer and run cold water over it while it is still in the strainer to cool the pasta completely.
Once pasta is cooled pour into a large mixing bowl.
Pour the salad dressing on top of the pasta.
Add in the chopped veggies, meats and cheese.
Mix well to be sure everything is coated.
Serve immediately or store in the fridge in an air tight container.

cold pasta salad, Italian Pasta Salad

pasta salad, Side Dish

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FAQs

Should you let pasta cool before making pasta salad? ›

My Best Pasta Salad Tips

I find that the higher time range listed on box instructions is usually just about right for pasta salad. Let your pasta cool completely before tossing it with the other ingredients. If it's still warm, the hot pasta will start to cook and wilt the veggies.

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Do they eat cold pasta salad in Italy? ›

Insalata di pasta - pasta salad

This dish is probably one of the most popular cold meals that everyone enjoyed across the penninsula. There are numerous regional variations and ingredients that even vary from family to family but this cold pasta is sure to refresh your day.

Tell Me More ›

Do you rinse pasta for cold pasta salad? ›

If you're making a dish that will be served chilled or at room temp—think cold soba, rice noodles, pasta salad—you do want to rinse so that you get toothsome (sorry) individual strands rather than one big gummy clump. Certain types of noodles benefit from a rinse in almost all applications.

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What is the best olive oil for pasta salad? ›

The best olive oil for salads is the extra virgin olive oil. It is the olive oil with most flavored and fruity of all of them. But of course, there are many varieties of extra virgin olive oils, each of which have their own characteristics.

Read The Full Story ›

What is the main ingredient in Italian pasta? ›

Dry pasta is made with only two ingredients, flour and water. In Italy, that flour comes from a kind of wheat called grano duro (“hard wheat”), a completely different species from the wheat used here to make all-purpose flour and bread products.

Learn More Now ›

What type of mixture is Italian salad? ›

Explanation: Italian salad dressing is a type of heterogeneous mixture, also known as a mechanical mixture, because the composition is not uniform throughout. This means that the different components, such as oil, vinegar, herbs, and spices, do not completely blend into a single, uniform solution.

Do Italians eat salad before or after pasta? ›

Serving salad after the main course of a meal is an older tradition in Italy, and nowadays it is usually observed at large and formal dinners rather than during everyday meals. Eating a salad after a meal can help digestion, while eating one before a meal may help discourage overeating.

Keep Reading ›

Should pasta be rinsed in hot or cold water? ›

Do Not Rinse. Pasta should never, ever be rinsed for a warm dish. The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad or when you are not going to use it immediately.

Keep Reading ›

How to keep pasta salad from absorbing dressing? ›

Pasta absorbs liquids, because it is made of starch, and starch absorbs water. Tossing the pasta with oil will reduce the absorption, by coating them in a water-repellent layer. Beyond this, the solution is simple: don't drain as much water from the cooked pasta, and add more dressing.

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Should I dress my pasta salad the night before? ›

If you are using fresh herbs: be sure to make the dressing at least a couple of hours ahead of time or the night before. This will allow the full flavor of the herbs to be infused with the other ingredients.

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Do they have salad dressing in Italy? ›

Despite its name, Italian dressing is not used in Italy, where salad is normally dressed with olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, salt, and sometimes balsamic vinegar at the table, and not with a pre-mixed vinaigrette.

Do Italians rinse pasta in cold water? ›

Italian Pasta: Never Rinse

Beatrice Ughi, founder of beloved Italian-goods purveyor Gustiamo, has never rinsed pasta in her life. In fact, when I asked her about it, she said she has never even heard of the practice.

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How long does Italian pasta salad last in the fridge? ›

For the most part, pasta salad will last between 4 to 7 days if you store it correctly. Always use sealed containers or freezer-quality storage bags. (You can also freeze it for up to three months – you can read more on freezing pasta salad in the section below.)