By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 22, 2019
This Classic Italian Pasta Salad Recipe is the cold pasta salad you need to be serving this summer! Made with tri-colored rotini pasta, this easy dish comes together in less than twenty minutes. It’s the perfect dish to serve at cookouts and summer parties.
Classic Pasta Salad
Is it even summer without a delicious pasta salad? I always love serving up a big bowl at our summer parties, or taking it along to cookouts at friends’. Loaded with fresh Italian ingredients, this dish is always a hit!
How to make this Classic Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Cook the pasta to al-dente, per package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking; shake off excess liquid. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Pour the cooked pasta onto the paper towels to let the pasta dry 10-15 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, add pasta, salami, tomatoes, onions, Mozzarella, peperoncini, olives and basil; stir to combine.
- Pour ¾ cup dressing over the pasta salad and toss well (all pasta ingredients should be coated with the dressing).
- Refrigerate in an airtight container until time to serve and add the remaining ¼ cup dressing. Toss together until well incorporated and serve.
Cold Pasta Recipe
A cold pasta salad is always a great option for a side dish during the summer months. You can make it ahead of time and it comes together so easily.
Italian meats add a real depth of flavor to this pasta and fresh basil leaves give it an amazing lift. Tri-colored pasta makes it extra pretty and perfect to serve to guests.
What goes with Classic Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Generally I serve this up as a side dish, along with some grilled meats, a Potato Salad and a big leafy green salad. Just pop the big bowl into the middle of the table and everyone can help themselves for easy entertaining.
This Italian Pasta Salad also keeps well, covered in the fridge for 3-4 days, so it’s also a great option for make ahead cold lunches and dinners.
What to pair with Classic Pasta Salad
Pasta Salad goes with everything, lets face it! Here are some of our favorite ways to pair this perfect Italian pasta salad recipe for Summer!
- Grilled Burgers
- Grilled Pork Chops
- Baked Chili Dogs
- Butter Burger Recipe
- Crockpot Ribs
- Egg Salad
- Chicken Avocado Pitas
- BLT Sandwich
- Slow Cooker French Dip
What makes this pasta salad Italian?
I love the classic Italian flavors in this salad – it quite simply tastes like summer! The Italian ingredients that make up this dish are;
- Rotini Pasta
- Italian Salami
- Glory Tomatoes
- Red Onion
- Mozzarella Pearls
- Peperoncini
- Olives
- Basil Leaves
- Italian Dressing
Be sure to use the freshest and best quality ingredients that you can for a real hit of flavor!
Tips!
- I love using tri-colored pasta for this dish, but you can use plain if that’s all you have.
- If you are making this pasta ahead of time, you will have to add a bit more dressing before you serve it (see instructions).
- Cook the pasta al-dente.
- Use your favorite store-bought Italian dressing for this recipe.
Be sure to check out these other summer salad recipes!
- Green Goddess Pasta Salad Recipe
- Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- Caesar Salad Recipe (Classic Caesar Salad)
- Easy Macaroni Salad
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 12 ounces tri-colored rotini pasta (1 box)
- ▢ ½ cup hard Italian salami chopped or thinly-sliced
- ▢ 1 pint Glory tomatoes cherry-type tomatoes, quartered
- ▢ ¼ cup minced red onions
- ▢ 1 cup mini mozzarella balls 8 ounces pearls, halved
- ▢ ½ cup diced Peperoncini
- ▢ ¼ cup pitted sliced black or green olives
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- ▢ 1 cup Italian dressing vinaigrette **See note for alternate dressing
Video
Instructions
- Cook the pasta to al-dente, per package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking; shake off excess liquid. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Pour the cooked pasta onto the paper towels to let the pasta dry 10-15 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, add pasta, salami, tomatoes, onions, Mozzarella, peperoncini, olives and basil; stir to combine.
- Pour ¾ cup dressing over the pasta salad and toss well (all pasta ingredients should be coated with the dressing).
- Refrigerate in an airtight container until time to serve and add the remaining ¼ cup dressing. Toss together until well incorporated and serve.
- Enjoy!
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Classic Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces tri-colored rotini pasta (1 box)
- ½ cup hard Italian salami chopped or thinly-sliced
- 1 pint Glory tomatoes cherry-type tomatoes, quartered
- ¼ cup minced red onions
- 1 cup mini mozzarella balls 8 ounces pearls, halved
- ½ cup diced Peperoncini
- ¼ cup pitted sliced black or green olives
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup Italian dressing vinaigrette **See note for alternate dressing
Instructions
- Cook the pasta to al-dente, per package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking; shake off excess liquid. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Pour the cooked pasta onto the paper towels to let the pasta dry 10-15 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, add pasta, salami, tomatoes, onions, Mozzarella, peperoncini, olives and basil; stir to combine.
- Pour ¾ cup dressing over the pasta salad and toss well (all pasta ingredients should be coated with the dressing).
- Refrigerate in an airtight container until time to serve and add the remaining ¼ cup dressing. Toss together until well incorporated and serve.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
