Italian Pasta Salad Recipe with pepperoni, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and fresh mozzarella cheese. A perfect side dish to your summer dinners!
I serve this pasta salad with my homemade Italian Dressing and often with buttery and garlicky Homemade Croutons.
On a hot summer day, I find myself craving a cold pasta salad full of fresh vegetables and tossed with delicious homemade dressing. This Italian Pasta Salad is currently our go-to, along with its Greek version and the super popular BLT Pasta Salad. You can make it ahead of time and serve for lunch or a light dinner, or simply as a side dish. It's always a hit! This Italian Pasta Salad is perfect for potlucks and BBQ summer parties. You can easily make a big batch to feed a crowd! Italian Pasta Salad is probably one of the most popular pasta salads. The classic version calls for a corkscrew or rotini pasta (we love tri-color!), pepperoni, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and the dressing.
Ingredients:
- corkscrew pasta
- pepperoni
- fresh mozzarella cheese
- olives
- cucumber
- red onion
- red bell pepper
- Italian salad dressing
Instructions:
- Prepare Italian salad dressing by combining all ingredients in a jar and shaking until well combined.
- Place all salad ingredients in a large salad bowl.
- Garnish with fresh mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, as well as chopped fresh parsley.
- Serve cold.
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Storing
You can store this pasta salad for up to 3 days in the fridge. The dressing can be stored in a jar for up to 1 week.
This pasta salad can be easily made in advance. Simply place it in a bowl, cover with saran wrap and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Toss with dressing and cheese right before serving. If you will be storing the dressing, skip the cheese and toss it in with the salad ingredients just before serving. You can make a batch of the Italian Salad Dressing recipe and store it in the fridge.
Serving
Pasta salad is a great summertime dish and pairs perfectly with grilled chicken, oven-roasted salmon or simply with sandwiches.
More pasta salad recipes:
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Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
for the salad:
- 12 oz. rotini pasta
- 1 English cucumber
- ¼ red bell pepper chopped
- ½ cup chopped red onion
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup olives
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup fresh mozzarella cheese torn into pieces
- ½ cup pepperoni slices
- ½ cup my Italian Salad Dressing
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to instructions on the box, until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Place in a large salad bowl.
- Chop cucumber, pepper and onion, add to pasta.
- Quarter cherry tomatoes, pepperoni slices and slice olives in half. Add to pasta.
- Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh mozzarella cheese, torn into pieces. Gently toss to combine.
- To make dressing: combine all ingredients in a jar with lid, shake well; or whisk well in a measuring cup. Pour half of the dressing over pasta and gently toss to coat. Serve more if needed.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on June 18th, 2018 and updated on September 10th, 2019.
Maria says
The Italian pasta salad I prepared was a big success at my picnic. It was easy to toss together and tasted amazing the next day too.
Nolan Wood says
The flavors in this pasta salad were so vibrant and authentic! It was a perfect side dish that added a touch of Italy to our table
Simon says
Wow, this Italian pasta salad brought back memories of my last trip to Italy. The flavors are so authentic and delicious, and the ingredients come together perfectly. I was there, and this salad truly captures the essence of Italian cuisine – light, fresh, and full of wonderful flavors. I’ll definitely make it for a summer lunch because it’s such a perfect combination.
Kimberly Tubbs says
This pasta salad recipe is absolutely fantastic! It’s fresh, flavorful, and perfect for any occasion. I love how easy it is to prepare, and the combination of crunchy vegetables, savory pepperoni, and cheesy toppings makes it so delicious. The Italian dressing ties everything together beautifully. Definitely a must-try — it’s a super tasty and satisfying dish!
Jola says
Very refreshing salad. Ideal for summer
Patricia Sears says
My second time making this recipe. The raves were deafening. I used pearl mozzarella for ease and Olive Garden Italian dressing instead of making my own. Also added sliced raw zucchini for a little bite. Delicious!! So easy to prepare the day before a party or cook out.