Italian Pasta Salad
Italian Pasta Salad is a fresh, vibrant dish combining al dente pasta, crisp vegetables, creamy mozzarella, and a zesty Italian dressing. Perfect as a side, light lunch, or potluck favorite, it offers customizable options and deepens in flavor when made ahead, making it a versatile and crowd-pleasing recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz rotini, fusilli, or penne pasta
Vegetables and Cheese
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, drained
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
Dressing
- 1/4 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- If homemade: 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 clove garlic minced, 1 tsp dried oregano, salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil the chosen pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool.
- Prepare the vegetables: While pasta cooks, wash and halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumbers, thinly slice red onions, and drain the Kalamata olives to have them ready.
- Mix the dressing: Shake store-bought Italian dressing well before use, or whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper for homemade dressing.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, toss cooled pasta with cherry tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, red onions, mozzarella balls, and fresh basil. Pour dressing over and mix thoroughly to evenly coat all ingredients.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Stir gently before serving to redistribute dressing evenly.
Notes
- Choose pasta shapes with ridges or twists like rotini or fusilli to hold dressing better.
- Start with less dressing to avoid sogginess; add more as desired.
- Chilling the salad helps the flavors develop fully.
- Add fresh basil or parsley just before serving for best aroma and flavor.
- Cut vegetables uniformly for balanced texture and presentation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Italian pasta salad, rotini pasta salad, easy pasta salad, Italian side dish, picnic salad, potluck salad
Find it online: https://marygourmet.com/italian-pasta-salad/