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Simple Italian Pasta Salad (+ Home made Italian Dressing!)

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This straightforward Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing dish good for summer time picnics or potlucks. Full of 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!

Simple Italian Pasta Salad (+ Home made Italian Dressing!)

Have you ever made our Greek Pasta Salad? It’s actually good and probably the most common recipes on our website. Right here’s the factor although, not everyone seems to be a fan of feta cheese, so we felt like we had no selection 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 completely satisfied. I get nearly giddy the nearer we get to summer time simply enthusiastic about dusting off the BBQ and pulling out the garden chairs for out of doors cookouts with associates. Make some grilled hen and grilled corn on the cob with this pasta salad with Italian dressing, and you’ve got your self the good summer time dinner!

A glass bowl of quick and easy italian pasta salad recipe with homemade italian dressing. Rotini pasta with pepperoni, salsami, black olives, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, peppers, dressing and red onions!

What’s in Italian Pasta Salad?

I’ll be trustworthy with you — our youngsters completely select a number 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 thrill 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 so forth.
  • Pepperoni
  • Salami
  • Black Olives
  • Mozzarella Cheese: Recent mozzarella balls are most popular.
  • Parmesan Cheese: freshly grated
  • Bell Pepper: I choose a crimson, yellow or orange bell pepper.
  • Tomatoes: Grape or cherry tomatoes work nice.
  • Crimson Onion
  • Italian Salad Dressing: You’ll be able to seize some on the grocery retailer or make it at dwelling with the recipe we’ve included beneath.

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

A close up of rotini pasta salad with pepperoni, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, black olives, red peppers, salami and more!

The right way 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 parts 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 based on 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 top of the publish for the whole recipe within the recipe card. You can even print or save the recipe there.

What to Serve with Italian Pasta Salad

This chilly pasta salad with Italian dressing is nice with a number of completely different meals, from ham to pulled pork to hamburgers. You identify it, I wager it’ll style good with this selfmade pasta salad!

A number of of our favourite principal dishes to get pleasure from alongside this pasta salad are:

A glass bowl of quick and easy italian pasta salad recipe with homemade italian dressing. Rotini pasta with pepperoni, salsami, black olives, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, peppers, dressing and red onions!

Can I Prep Pasta Salad in Advance?

It’s greatest to organize this pasta salad as near consuming it as attainable. The longer it sits, the extra it should soak up the dressing and switch bland in taste. To not point out, the noodles change into overly tender and swollen.

Should you want to put together this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni forward of time, make certain 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 means, every little thing is prepped however nothing turns soggy!

Can Pasta Salad Be Frozen?

No. Oh, please no. Pasta doesn’t maintain up nicely within the freezer until 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.

A glass bowl of quick and easy italian pasta salad recipe with homemade italian dressing. Rotini pasta with pepperoni, salsami, black olives, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, peppers, dressing and red onions!

Suggestions 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 chunk to it in any other case it’ll change into mushy.

Minimize the greens, cheese and meats pretty small so you will get all these daring flavors and textures in each single chunk.

Additionally be aware that you simply’re welcome to make use of any brief, sturdy pasta you could have readily available. We choose rotini pasta, however penne, macaroni, or bow-tie pasta would work too!

Lastly, as we’ve talked about in our different pasta salad recipe, you need 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…

Searching for 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 facet dish. 

Extra PASTA SALAD RECIPES:

Servings: 8 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Prepare dinner Time: 15 minutes

Whole Time: 30 minutes

Description

This straightforward Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing dish good for summer time picnics or potlucks. Full of contemporary greens, cheese, pepperoni and dressed with a zesty selfmade Italian dressing, this salad is certain to be a success.

For the Italian Dressing:

For the Dressing:

  • Put together the dressing by including every little thing to a glass jar, including the lid and shaking to mix, or whisking in a bowl.

    1/2 Cup Additional Virgin Olive Oil, 2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese, 1 Tablespoon Crimson Bell Pepper, 1 Tablespoon Parsley, 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder, 1 teaspoon Garlic, 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice, 1 teaspoon Basil, 1 teaspoon Oregano, 1 teaspoon Sugar, Salt and Pepper, 1/4 Cup White Wine Vinegar

For the Pasta Salad:

  • Prepare dinner the pasta for about 7-8 minutes, or till it is simply al dente.

    1 Pound Rotini Pasta

  • Place the cooked pasta in a strainer within the sink and let cool.

  • Add the combination in elements and the salad dressing in addition to salt and pepper to style. Toss gently to coat and serve inside half-hour.

    1 Cup Pepperoni, 1 Cup Salami, 1/2 Cup Black Olives, 1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese, 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese, 2 Tomatoes, 1 Crimson Bell Pepper, 1/2 Cup Crimson Onion

Retailer pasta salad in an hermetic container within the fridge. It should preserve for as much as 5 days.

Serving: 1cupEnergy: 562kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 20gFats: 32gSaturated Fats: 9gPolyunsaturated Fats: 3gMonounsaturated Fats: 18gTrans Fats: 0.2gLdl cholesterol: 41mgSodium: 890mgPotassium: 378mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 955IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 195mgIron: 2mg

Creator: Carrian Cheney

Course: 15 of the Greatest Pasta Salad Recipes on the Web, America’s Greatest 4th of July Desserts, Recipes and Sides

Delicacies: American, Italian

Really helpful Merchandise

Might 2018: Initially Posted

March 2025: Content material up to date and video added

Ethan Carter
Ethan Carterhttps://chitowndailynews.com
Ethan Carter is an experienced journalist and media analyst with a deep passion for local news and community storytelling. A Chicago native, Ethan has spent over a decade covering politics, business, and cultural developments throughout the city. He holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and has contributed to several major media outlets before joining ChiTown Daily News. Ethan believes that local journalism is the backbone of a thriving democracy and is committed to delivering timely, accurate, and meaningful news to the community. When he's not chasing a story or attending city council meetings, Ethan enjoys photography, biking along Lake Michigan, and exploring Chicago's vibrant food scene.
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