A tasty Italian pasta salad perfect as a side or main dish. Filled with sliced salami, cherry tomatoes, pepperoncinis, kalamata olives and fresh mozzarella cheese.
Make this salad in the morning and let all the flavors meld together for a tasty pasta salad to serve for dinner.
Why make this recipe
Pasta salads are comfort foods in the salad world. You've got the carbohydrates from the pasta that fill you up, lots of tasty add-ins like olives, salami, tomatoes and onions all covered in a highly flavored vinaigrette. What's not to love?
There are so many versions of pasta salad and just as many versions of Italian pasta salad. This is a recipe you can feel good about serving to your family or taking to a potluck dinner.
It's sure to be eaten up and will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Key ingredients
- Pasta - I use tri-color fusilli pasta
- Salami - Dry cured Italian salami sliced into thin strips
- Mozzarella - Fresh mini balls cut into quarters
- Kalamata olives
- Cherry tomatoes
- Pepperoncinis
Step by step directions
- Make the dressing by combining olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, honey and dried Italian seasonings into a glass jar with a lid
- Shake vigorously until everything is well combined
- Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions
- Drain and rinse pasta under cool water
- Place pasta, salami, mozzarella, olives, tomatoes, pepperoncinis and onions in a large bowl
- Mix carefully until ingredients are distributed
- Pour dressing over salad and mix to combine
- Add freshly chopped parsley and parmesan cheese
- Cover and refrigerate until chilled through
Recipe tips and variations
- Rinse pasta to help cool it down before adding other ingredients. Be certain to drain well.
- Stir pasta before serving to make certain the dressing is well distributed
- This pasta salad can be eaten right away, but it is best served chilled giving the flavors a chance to meld together
- Use your favorite type of pasta - a short to medium pasta works best. Use farfalle, rotini or even elbow macaroni
- Substitute sliced black olives for the kalamata olive
Recipe Faqs
This pasta salad will last for 3-4 days if covered and stored in the refrigerator.
Yes, this salad is best made ahead and refrigerated before serving.
Serving suggestions
Pasta salad can be served with almost any meal as a side dish and makes a wonderful main dish for lunch too. Consider serving with any barbecued entrees.
- Smoked Baby Back Ribs
- Beer Basted Chicken
- Grilled Flank Steak
- Burgers or Hot Dogs
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Be certain to check out all my delicious salad recipes!
Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (fresh squeezed)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (dried)
- ½ teaspoon salt
Salad
- 8 ounces Tri-color Fusilli pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ¾ cup Fresh mozzarella cheese (mini balls cut into quarters)
- ½ cup Dry Italian salami (sliced into thin strips)
- ½ cup Pepperoncini peppers (sliced into thin strips)
- ½ cup Kalamata olives (quartered)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
- ¼ cup Red onion (diced)
- ¼ cup Italian parsley (fresh, chopped)
Instructions
Dressing
- Make the dressing by combining olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, honey and dried Italian seasonings into a glass jar with a lid
- Shake vigorously until everything is well combined
Salad
- Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions
- Drain and rinse pasta under cool water. Drain well.
- Place pasta, salami, mozzarella, olives, tomatoes, pepperoncinis and onions in a large bowl
- Toss with a large spoon to carefully incorporate all ingredients
- Pour dressing over pasta. Toss again.
- Add Parmesan cheese and freshly cut parsley. Toss until combined.
- Cover and refrigerate until chilled
Notes
- Rinse pasta to help cool it down before adding other ingredients. Be certain to drain well.
- Stir pasta before serving to make certain the dressing is well distributed
- This pasta salad can be eaten right away, but it is best served chilled giving the flavors a chance to meld together
- Use your favorite type of pasta - a short to medium pasta works best. Use farfalle, rotini or even elbow macaroni
- Substitute sliced black olives for the kalamata olive
Susan K says
1st rule of making pasta salad, NEVER RINSE IT UNDER COLD WATER. You put the dressing on the warm pasta so it sticks to it!!!!!!
Kathy says
Thanks for the tip! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Such a delicious pasta salad, perfect for summer! Love all the flavourful, hearty ingredients. This one needs to happen over the summer. I know it'll be a hit!
Kathy says
Perfect for summertime!
Enjoy 🙂
David @ Spiced says
My mother-in-law makes a similar pasta salad, and I'm not kidding when I say it's one of my top 3 favorite summer recipes! Summer can't officially begin until we've had a batch of that pasta salad. Her version uses cubes of provolone cheese, but I need to try this with fresh mozzarella now - sounds delicious, Kathy!
Kathy says
I like having options to mix things up a bit. Provolone sounds like a delicious option!