Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
This easy Italian pasta salad is loaded with rotini pasta, salami, mozzarella, fresh vegetables, and zesty Italian dressing. It’s the perfect make-ahead side dish for summer barbecues, potlucks, lunches, and busy weeknights.
Servings 8 servings
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 tablespoon salad seasoning
- ¾ cup Italian dressing plus more as needed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup diced cucumber
- ½ cup diced red bell pepper
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- ⅓ cup diced red onion
- ½ cup cubed mozzarella cheese
- 4 ounces chopped salami
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Optional
- Sliced pepperoncini
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente.
- Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
- Add the pasta to a large mixing bowl along with the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, olives, red onion, mozzarella, salami, and parmesan cheese.
- Sprinkle the salad seasoning over the top. Pour in the Italian dressing and toss until evenly coated.
- Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Toss again before serving and add an extra splash of dressing if needed.
Video
Notes
- Pasta salad absorbs dressing as it chills, so keeping extra dressing on hand is always a good idea.
- Rotini works especially well because the dressing clings to all the twists and grooves.
- For the best flavor, make this a few hours ahead of time.
- If the red onion tastes too sharp, soak it in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes before adding it to the salad.
- Pepperoncini and a splash of the brine add extra flavor without much extra work.