A Crowd-Pleasing Side or Main Dish with Mediterranean Flair

Italian Pasta Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish filled with bold Mediterranean flavors. It’s perfect for potlucks, picnics, and summer meals, combining colorful veggies, tangy dressing, and hearty pasta for a complete, satisfying salad.

Origin Italian Pasta Salad

Italian Pasta Salad is an American-inspired dish with strong Mediterranean roots. While cold pasta salads are not traditionally Italian, the use of ingredients like olives, salami, mozzarella, and Italian-style vinaigrettes pay homage to the flavors of Italy. It gained popularity in the U.S. as a picnic and potluck staple in the mid-20th century, where ease of preparation and fresh ingredients were key.

What I Love About This Recipe

This salad is super versatile, vibrant, and absolutely bursting with flavors and textures. The zingy Italian dressing soaks into the pasta, while crunchy bell peppers, briny olives, creamy cheese, and savory meats give every bite something special. It’s one of those dishes that tastes even better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours — perfect for make-ahead meals and gatherings.

Also Read : Honey Glazed Ham

Italian Pasta Salad

Recipe by RecipeWikkiCourse: Salad

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Calories

400

kcal

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked pasta (like rotini or penne)

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1/2 cup sliced black olives

• 1/2 cup cubed mozzarella or mini mozzarella balls

• 1/2 cup chopped cucumber

• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

• 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

• 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni or salami (optional)

• 1/3 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)

• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
• In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, and salami.
• Drizzle with Italian dressing and toss everything until well coated.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors blend.
• Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

• You can use any short pasta shape – rotini, farfalle, or fusilli work great.
• Add-ins like artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, or chickpeas can amp up the flavor.