This straightforward Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing dish excellent for summer time picnics or potlucks. Filled with contemporary greens, cheese, pepperoni and dressed with a zesty selfmade Italian dressing, this salad is certain 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 probably the most fashionable recipes on our web site. Right here’s the factor although, not everyone seems to be a fan of feta cheese, so we felt like we had no alternative however to bust out an amazingly straightforward pasta salad recipe full with mozzarella cheese, contemporary and flavorful selfmade Italian dressing, and meat and colourful greens galore.

There’s one thing about pasta salad recipes and summertime that simply make the world joyful. I get nearly giddy the nearer we get to summer time simply desirous about dusting off the BBQ and pulling out the garden chairs for outside cookouts with mates. Make some grilled rooster and grilled corn on the cob with this pasta salad with Italian dressing, and you’ve got your self the excellent summer time dinner!

What’s in Italian Pasta Salad?

I’ll be trustworthy with you — our youngsters completely select a few of the elements on this selfmade 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 fun of parenthood!

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

• Rotini Pasta: Any brief, sturdy pasta works nice like penne, farfalle, fusilli, macaroni, and many others.
• Pepperoni
• Salami
• Black Olives
• Mozzarella Cheese: Contemporary mozzarella balls are most well-liked.
• Parmesan Cheese: freshly grated
• Bell Pepper: I favor a pink, yellow or orange bell pepper.
• Tomatoes: Grape or cherry tomatoes work nice.
• Purple Onion
• Italian Salad Dressing: You’ll be able to seize some on the grocery retailer or make it at residence with the recipe we’ve included under.

The measurements wanted for every ingredient might be discovered within the recipe card on the finish of the publish.

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 straightforward 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. Prepare dinner: Add water to a big saucepan and closely salt the water. Prepare dinner the pasta in keeping 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 tip of the publish for the whole recipe within the recipe card. You may also print or save the recipe there.

What to Serve with Italian Pasta Salad

This chilly pasta salad with Italian dressing is sweet with a variety of completely different meals, from ham to pulled pork to hamburgers. You title it, I guess it’ll style good with this selfmade pasta salad!

A couple of of our favourite major dishes to take pleasure in alongside this pasta salad are:

Can I Prep Pasta Salad in Advance?

It’s greatest to arrange this pasta salad as near consuming it as attainable. The longer it sits, the extra it’s going to take in the dressing and switch bland in taste. To not point out, the noodles turn out to be overly delicate and swollen.

In the event you want to put together this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni forward of time, ensure that 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 method, all the pieces is prepped however nothing turns soggy!

Can Pasta Salad Be Frozen?

No. Oh, please no. Pasta doesn’t maintain up effectively 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.

Ideas for Making Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

When cooking the pasta for this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni, you need to prepare dinner it simply till al dente. Keep in mind that the pasta can be sitting within the pasta salad dressing, so that you need it to have a bit of chew to it in any other case it’ll turn out to be mushy.

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

Additionally be aware that you simply’re welcome to make use of any brief, sturdy pasta you’ve got readily available. We favor 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’s 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 straightforward Italian pasta salad is loaded with contemporary greens, herbs, and a zesty dressing. Excellent for picnics, potlucks, or as a aspect dish. 

Extra PASTA SALAD RECIPES:

Beneficial Merchandise

Could 2018: Initially Posted

March 2025: Content material up to date and video added