How to Make the Best Easy Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

Need a light and refreshing dish for a summer get-together or a little something to eat on a weeknight? Our delicious pasta salad recipe is your one-stop shop. This dish will wow even the most finicky diners with its explosion of color and flavor. Plus, this show-stopper will be ready for guests in no time at all if you follow our simple directions.

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Number of Servings: 8

Pasta Salad Ingredients:

Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with the following ingredients:

• 1 pound of uncooked pasta
• 3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese balls, halved
• 1 pound salami or summer sausage, cubed
• 3/4 cup kalamata olives, sliced
• 3/4 cup pepperoncini (optional)
• 1/2 cup sliced red onion
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Ingredients for Italian Dressing:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1–2 tablespoons coarse sea salt
• 2 cloves garlic (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons dry oregano
• 2 teaspoons dry basil
• Black pepper to taste
• Fresh herbs if desired (such as parsley, basil, or chives)

Instructions:

Preparation:

1. Pasta can be enhanced with more taste by cooking it in salted water as directed on the package. Drain and rinse with cold water to cease cooking once cooked. Before tossing the pasta with a little oil to keep it from sticking, let it cool a bit.
2. Get everything else ready while the pasta cooks. Round up the ingredients: cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese balls, salami or summer sausage, pepperoncini, olives, red onion, and fresh parsley. Cut everything in half.

Cooking:

1. All of the Italian dressing ingredients—olive oil, white vinegar, water, coarse sea salt, garlic, sugar, dried oregano, dry basil, black pepper, and, if preferred, fresh herbs—must be mixed in a blender or covered container. Mix or shake vigorously until fully mixed.
2. Pasta, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, pepperoncini, red onion, olives, salami, summer sausage, and fresh parsley should all be combined in a big dish after cooking.
3. Coat the salad thoroughly by drizzling it with the Italian dressing you just made.

Serving:

Serve immediately, or refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld together before serving.

Nutritional Value Per One Serving:

Tips and Variations:

• You can personalize your pasta salad with Italian dressing by adding your favorite vegetables, like blanched green beans, fresh spinach, artichokes, or red bell peppers.

• Try out different types of cheese, such as feta or parmesan, that work great for taste.

• If you are the one who is trying to make pasta dishes for the first time, try a different shape of pasta, for instance, penne or fusilli, for an alternative appearance.

• Instead of that, go for whole wheat or gluten-free pasta to be healthy. Having the salad ready at least a day before storing it in the refrigerator will not only intensify its flavors but will also give it more taste.

Conclusion:

Finally, this pasta salad with Italian dressing is an easy, tasty, and adaptable dish that will be welcome at any gathering. Everyone will love this tasty salad, whether you serve it at a picnic, a potluck, or even just a weeknight supper. Thus, what are you waiting for? Indulge in the vivid tastes of this summertime staple by whipping up a batch now!

Dive into our selection of pasta & noodles recipes for a satisfying meal.