Italian Pasta Salad Recipe (VIDEO) - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

The Best Italian Pasta Salad Recipe: Made with fresh ingredients and bursting with flavor, this is the most perfect cold pasta salad!

Why We Love This Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

I know many families have an Italian-style salad recipe that gets pulled out for picnics and large events.

I’m partial to the ones that are heavily loaded with fresh veggies and pops of rich flavor from the salami, olives, and soft mozzarella. My personal adaptation is to add jarred “Grilled Piquillo Peppers” to offer a bit of tangy sweetness. If you can’t find them, jarred roasted red peppers provide a similar appeal.

Therefore, this is what I consider The Best Italian Pasta Salad Recipe. It’s bold, textually diverse, and holds up well for several days in the refrigerator.

I’ve never tasted another version I like better.

What Ingredients You Need

The homemade Italian vinaigrette is made with a generous amount of fresh garlic, giving the entire bowl a zesty punch.

• Red Wine Vinegar – A rich and full-flavored taste of acidic vinegar.
• Olive Oil – And what pairs well with vinegar? Beautiful olive oil.
• Garlic – Zesty and delicious.
• Honey – To add sweetness to the dressing.
• Dried Italian Seasoning – To season the salad.
• Salt – Helps balance and enhance all other flavors.

The pasta salad ingredients are packed with fresh vegetables and savory meats and cheeses!

• Fusilli Pasta – This is the corkscrew-shaped pasta, short or long
• Cherry Tomatoes – Sweeter and less acidic than regular tomatoes
• Hard Salami – Smokey and sumptuous, it’s the perfect addition to this salad
• Roasted Red Peppers – Or grilled piquillo peppers
• Red Onion – For flavor and crunch
• Italian Parsley – The flat-leaved parsley with robust flavor
• Mini Mozzarella Balls – Not only are these cheese balls so cute they are also so fresh and delicious
• Black Olives – This brings a salty and oily flavor to the salad

How To Make Italian Pasta Salad

Place a large pot of water over high heat and bring to a boil. Add a large spoonful of salt to the water. Then stir in the dried pasta. Cook according to package instructions, usually 6-8 minutes to al dente. Drain the pasta, and rinse with cold water in a colander. Shake off the excess water and place the pasta in a large salad bowl.

While the pasta is boiling, whisk all the ingredients of the vinaigrette in a small bowl. Set aside. Then chop all the salad ingredients.

Pour the tomatoes, sliced hard salami, chopped piquillo peppers, red onion, parsley, mozzarella ball, and olives over the pasta. Pour the vinaigrette over the top and toss well to coat. Taste, then season with salt and pepper as needed.

Serving Suggestions

This best Italian pasta salad is amazing to serve as a side dish during the summertime when you can serve it with all your favorite grilled proteins! I highly recommend taking this to your next cookout or gathering, since it is seriously great for feeding a crowd. Try serving it with some of my personal favorites:

• Zesty Italian Burgers
• Summer Garden Dogs
• Grilled Salmon
• Salmon Burgers
• Grilled Hanger Steak
• Italian Sausage and Peppers

Tips & Tricks

• Add additional veggies! The beauty of pasta salad is that you can add different veggies and it will still be so delicious. You can add things like bell pepper, spinach, and fresh herbs like parsley!
• Use your favorite pasta shapes! This easy pasta salad recipe is best with short shapes of pasta like fusilli, rotini pasta, penne, or farfalle!
• For ease, you can use your favorite Italian dressing! I like making mine homemade so I know exactly what’s in it, but it would still be yummy with store-bought salad dressing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you let pasta cool down before adding it to pasta salad?

Yes, you want to add cooled pasta to pasta salad. Instead of taking the time to allow it to cool down, simply rinse the pasta in a colander with cold water!

Can I make this antipasto salad recipe ahead of time?

Absolutely! This recipe is a great make-ahead for parties, family events, or as an easy lunchbox item to enjoy all week. Actually, most pasta salads taste better after sitting for a day or two. Just make sure to cover it well and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Does this Italian pasta salad recipe need to be refrigerated?

Oh yes. With all the meats, cheeses, and fresh produce in the mix, you do need to keep it chilled until you are ready to serve it.

What goes with cold pasta salad?

This best pasta salad recipe goes with just about everything! Serve this salad with grilled proteins, picnic foods, and barbecue favorites.

Can I make gluten free pasta salad?

Yes! However, most gluten-free pasta varieties break down within a few hours. So if you want to go gluten-free, you will need to serve it immediately after mixing.

Would omitting onion change the results of the recipe?

You can omit the onions. There are plenty of other pungent flavors represented.

More Pasta Salad Recipes:

• The Best Macaroni Salad Recipe
• Creamy Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
• Zesty Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
• Greek Orzo Pasta Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
• Cold Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe
• Italian Summer Pasta Salad with Orange and Basil
• Tuna Salad with Olives and Capers
• Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe
• Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
• Cool Chicken Taco Salad Recipe
• Spinach Pasta Salad Recipe from Bare Feet in the Kitchen