Classic Italian Pasta Salad
Classic Italian Pasta Salad is the perfect summertime side dish. Whether you are feeding a crowd or just serving your family, this easy pasta salad is a winner. This delicious, make-ahead friendly, pasta salad is light, refreshing and great served alongside your favorite grilled foods or by itself as a light lunch.
In the summer, I try to transition my cooking to quick, easy and anything that I can make ahead. I like to make dishes that can be served cold or take little time to cook. When it is over 100° F outside, the last thing I want to do is stand in front of the stove cooking in the evening when it is the hottest. I also try to keep oven use to a minimum to help keep the house cooler. That is where this delicious pasta salad comes into play. I usually make it first thing in the morning and then pop it in the fridge until dinner.
My favorite part of this recipe is that there are always leftovers. It's hard to make a small pasta salad, which means leftovers are imminent. No worries though, because this pasta salad is so much better the next day, after all the flavors have had time to marry. I promise, the best Italian Pasta Salad lunches are in your future!
Each of these Summertime dishes are make-ahead friendly.
One thing you will find with this recipe, and most pasta salad recipes, is that it is easily customizable. If you don't have an ingredient, or don't like some of the ingredients, change them to make it your own. I like to think of recipes as guidelines. Very rarely do I follow them to a T.
Every home should be growing a kitchen garden right outside their backdoor. A kitchen garden is meant to be separate from the rest of your garden spaces. It is grown close to your kitchen for convenience. Walking a few steps out the backdoor and into the kitchen garden to harvest fresh produce and herbs for cooking is quite rewarding.
This Italian Dressing is so easy to make and is absolutely delicious! You'll want to make extra to keep in your fridge for salads.
Absolutely! In fact, Italian Pasta Salad is best served the next day. The flavors have time to marry overnight giving the pasta salad the best flavor the next day. If you are wanting to serve the pasta salad the day you make it, I recommend making it first thing in the morning so that it has time to sit before serving.
Looking for more pasta dishes? My family loves this Italian Chicken Spaghetti recipe served with garlic bread. Or try the BEST and easiest Beef Stroganoff recipe. My oldest son claims Beef Stroganoff to be his favorite!
Yes, you can. While I prefer the flavor of the homemade dressing in this recipe, storebought Italian Dressing will work just fine. I would recommend tossing in a few fresh herbs like basil and parsley to brighten up the dressing.
I have found that Italian Pasta Salad will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container. It is best to stir the salad before serving if it has been sitting for a while.
I love making pasta salads because they are so easy to make and equally easy to customize. I like to use whatever I have on hand, or in most cases, what I have coming in from the garden that needs to be used.
Classic Italian Pasta Salad is the perfect summertime side dish. Whether you are feeding a crowd or just serving your family, this easy pasta salad is a winner. This delicious, make-ahead friendly, pasta salad is light, refreshing and great served alongside your favorite grilled foods or by itself as a light lunch.
- 8 oz rotini (cooked)
- 1 1/2 cup cucumbers (quartered)
- 1/2 Cup red onion (small diced)
- 2 Large sweet banana peppers (sliced)
- 6 oz black olives (sliced)
- 8 oz cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls
- 2 oz parmesan cheese (shredded)
- 1 Cup salami (chopped)
- 2 Leaves fresh basil (thinly sliced)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parlsey (chopped)
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- To Taste pepper
- 6 oz olive oil
- 1/4 Cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 Teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 Pinch red pepper flakes
- 3/4 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon honey
- 1 Teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 Teaspoon dried basil
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- To Taste pepper
In a large bowl combine the pasta, cucumbers, onions, banana peppers, tomatoes, olives and salami. Toss to combine.
Now add in the mozzarella, parmesan, fresh herbs, salt and pepper. Toss to fully combine.
Combine all of the Italian Dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk to fully combine.
- Dress the salad.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad, stir to fully combine. Cover and refrigerate for several hours before serving. Right before serving, give the pasta salad another stir to evenly distribute the dressing and serve. Enjoy!
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