Italian Pasta Salad: a fresh, delicious recipe for cold pasta salad

When you're looking for an easy, tasty summer salad to serve at your picnics or backyard barbecues, there's nothing quite like an Italian pasta salad. This cold pasta salad is full of fresh ingredients like tomatoes, red onions, olives, which are complemented by savory chopped salami and mozzarella, to make a hearty, yet fresh salad.

Using spiral-shaped pasta like rotini or fusilli helps capture the irresistible homemade Italian dressing, so each bite is packed with flavor. It only takes about 30 minutes to make and assemble this phenomenal Italian pasta salad, making it a perfect option when you need a simple, delicious side you can put together last-minute.

How to Make Italian Pasta Salad

You can make this great-tasting Italian pasta salad in under half an hour. Prepare the pasta according to the directions on the packet, then drain it, toss it with olive oil, and set it aside. Pour all of the ingredients for the Italian dressing into a jar, screw on the lid, then shake it well so that everything mixes well. Put the pasta, tomatoes, cheese balls, salami, olives, pepperoncini, red onions, and parsley in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to combine. That's it! Serve your Italian pasta salad immediately or pop it in the fridge and enjoy it within 2 days.

What Kind of Italian Dressing is Best for Pasta Salad?

As always, homemade tastes best. This tangy, herby vinaigrette is a perfect foil to the savory, salty ingredients in the pasta salad. You can make the salad dressing ahead of time, up to 1 week in advance.

Tips for the Best Italian Pasta Salad

Italian pasta salad lasts up to 2 days when covered and stored in the fridge.

Can You Freeze Italian Pasta Salad?

Absolutely! Put your Italian pasta salad in an airtight, freezer-safe container or bag. Enjoy it within 1 month. To defrost, thaw it in the fridge overnight.

Instructions

Prepare the pasta according to the directions on the packet. Drain and toss with olive oil, and set aside.

Pour the ingredients for the dressing into a jar with a tightly sealing lid.

Shake well to combine.

Pour the pasta into a bowl.

Add in salami.

Add onion.

Combine in cherry tomatoes.

Add mozzarella.

Pour the dressing over everything.

Add in fresh herbs.

Toss to combine.

Notes

Red or white vinegar can be used to make the dressing.