Since I was a little girl, I’d always find my way to the salad bar at a restaurant. I loved the pasta salads, potato salad, and almost any salad available!
This is one of my favorite easy pasta salads because it’s a classic that is packed with fresh ingredients and spices!
Ingredients Needed for Italian Pasta Salad
- 1 box (16 oz) rotini – tricolor or original (for a gluten-free option, choose gluten-free pasta)
- 1 small head (about 1 cup) broccoli, cleaned and cut into small pieces
- 1 bell pepper or 1 cup multi-color peppers, diced
- 1 (8 oz) can black olives, drained and sliced
- 1 (8 oz) Cherry Tomatoes, washed and cut in half
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese diced or 1 cup mozzarella pearls
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup English cucumber, sliced thinly and quartered
- 1 cup pepperoni pieces or salami, cut or (1-5 oz. mini pepperoni)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, plus a little for garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 bottle (16 oz) Italian salad dressing
- Fresh basil, chopped for garnish if desired
- Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
Tips for Making the Best Italian Pasta Salad
Use the best ingredients possible. I recommend a homemade Italian dressing or an organic Italian dressing like this one.
Make this dish at least 12 hours before serving…the flavors will melt much better!
Use gluten free pasta for any guests who have gluten sensitivities!
Feel free to add more protein like salami or shredded rotisserie chicken for a protein packed dish!
More Salads You’ll Love:
Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad
Classic Italian Pasta Salad
Classic Italian Pasta salad is made with fresh ingredients, your favorite Italian dressing, and can be made a day ahead for parties or get togethers! It's a simple pasta recipe that generations have loved!
- Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
- 1 box (16 oz) rotini – tricolor or original
- 1 small head (about 1 cup) broccoli, cleaned and cut into small pieces
- 1 bell pepper or 1 cup multi-color peppers, diced
- 1 (8 oz) can black olives, drained and sliced
- 1 (8 oz) Cherry Tomatoes, washed and cut in half
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, diced
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup English cucumber, sliced thinly and quartered
- 1 cup pepperoni pieces or salami, cut or (1–5 oz. mini pepperoni)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, plus a little for garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 bottle (16 oz) Italian salad dressing
- Fresh basil, chopped for garnish if desired
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to directions on box for al dente, rinse in cold water
- Add pasta to large bowl
- Add all vegetables, cheese, meat, salt and pepper and stir to combine
- Add salad dressing and toss to coat well
- Cover and chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours before serving
- Store leftovers in refrigerator
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Additional Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 108
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 295
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 20