Pasta Salad made easy! Just grab spiral pasta, any veggies on hand, and drizzle on a zesty two-ingredient Italian dressing.
Best Pasta Salad Recipe
Growing up, homemade dressings were rare. Our fridge was filled with all kinds of store-bought bottles, with Kraft Zesty Italian being a staple for my mom’s “famous” pasta salad.
It was a must-have at every summer barbecue and, honestly, a favorite throughout the winter, too.
She’d mix cooked pasta with available veggies—olives, a bell pepper, cucumbers, and plenty of garden-fresh cherry tomatoes—add Italian dressing, and there you have it: a hit every time.
Our Favorite Ingredients To Add To Pasta Salad:
- Zesty Italian Dressing & Recipe Mix: Select good brands for better flavor.
- Spiral pasta: My mom frequently used tri-colored rotini in this salad which is another great option.
- Olives: I like black olives best — thinly slice or halve ’em.
- Bell pepper: Bright and firm for the best possible crunch; use orange or yellow for sweetness.
- Cucumbers: English cucumbers are my favorite. They have a nice mild flavor, they’re crisp, and they don’t have seeds!
- Cherry tomatoes: Use ripe for best sweetness. Halve (or quarter) them so they are even throughout the salad.
Perfect Pasta Picks and Prep for Pasta Salad
- The best pasta shapes: Use fusilli, farfalle, rotini, or penne to catch and hold more dressing. I also love small pasta shapes like orzo in pasta salads.
- Rinsing pasta: Cool pasta quickly and prevent it from clumping together by rinsing pasta in cold water right after draining. Don’t run it under water for too long though or it can turn soggy.
How To Make Homemade Pasta Salad
- Dressing: whisk together the 2-ingredient dressing OR if you prefer, make Italian Dressing from scratch.
- Veggies: prep the veggies (see my favorite hack for cutting cherry tomatoes quickly below).
- Pasta: cook pasta, drain, and cool. I like to rinse the pasta under cool water briefly to keep it from sticking.
- Assemble: combine pasta and veggies, toss with dressing, and enjoy!
Tomato-Cutting Hack
- Use two plates with raised edges.
- Flip one plate upside down, and add tomatoes into the bottom indent.
- Cover with the second plate, right side up.
- Apply light pressure and slice through the tomatoes.
- Lift the top plate to reveal perfectly halved cherry tomatoes.
What To Pair With Pasta Salad
- Vegetables: Serve with any side of vegetables, like roasted asparagus or broccoli.
- Sandwiches: So good with grilled, panini-pressed, or fresh sandwiches.
- Potluck favorites: Pair with classics like my grape salad.
- Baked Beans: A great side, either homemade or store-bought.
- Main course: Great with burgers like beef or chicken.
Pasta Salad Recipe Tips
- Customize your salad: Feel free to adjust the veggies to your liking. Not a fan of some? Skip them and add more of what you do like.
- Add protein: Turn it into a main dish with chickpeas, shredded chicken, salami, or pepperoni.
- Try different pasta: Experiment with mini shells, mini farfalle, or fusilli.
- Salt the pasta water: Make flavor better by salting the water well. Taste the finished salad and add more salt if needed.
- Cook pasta al dente: Avoid soggy pasta salad by cooking the pasta just until al dente. Use the package directions for exact timing.
Quick Tip
To check if pasta is al dente, taste it two minutes before the package’s suggested cooking time. It should be soft enough to chew but still slightly firm. If it’s too hard, cook it a bit longer until it’s just right for you. Al dente pasta will have a tiny bit of a lighter color in the middle when you look closely.
Storage
Pasta Salad Storage
Pasta salad gets better with time. The flavors deepen as the pasta and veggies marinate in the dressing, just like Potato Salad. To make ahead, prepare ingredients separately and toss them together just before serving.
Keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days, but I think it’s tastiest within the first 3 days.
Can You Freeze Pasta Salad?
Freezing changes the taste and texture; I don’t recommend it for this recipe.
Dressing options
If you would rather have a homemade dressing, try this popular (reader-favorite) Italian dressing from my Olive Garden Salad recipe.
More Easy Salad Recipes:
- Macaroni Salad with a creamy dressing
- Summer Couscous Salad with a white balsamic vinaigrette
- Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad with a zesty lime dressing
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad with loads of veggies
- Pesto Pasta Salad with a pesto-mayo dressing
Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Medium bowl
- Large pot
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 (16-ounce)bottle Zesty Italian Dressing
- 1 (0.7-ounce) package dry Italian salad dressing mix see note 1
Pasta Salad
- 1 (16-ounce) package rotini pasta
- 1 bell pepper yellow or orange, chopped
- 1 cup sliced black olives
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 1-1/2 cups sliced mini cucumbers or English cucumber
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 (0.5-ounce) packet fresh basil thinly sliced, optional
- Parmesan cheese or feta, optional
Instructions
- Add dressing ingredients to a medium bowl. Whisk until combined. Place in the fridge to chill while preparing the rest of the salad.
- Bring 12 cups of water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Once boiling, add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt. Boil to package directions for al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water 10 seconds, and toss with 2 tablespoons of the prepared Italian dressing. Set aside to fully cool.
- Place the cooled pasta in a large bowl. Add the prepared veggies. Stir in the dressing to preference and toss to combine. Top with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese if desired. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Sorry I can’t even consider making your salad because the sodium level is way over what our cardiologist recommends for our family. If you go low sodium, I can look at your website. It sounds delicious.
Glad you’re keeping your sodium in check for you diet. Good luck!
Amazing recipe. I love pasta salad. It is perfect for a healthy dinner. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Simple, delicious and tasty.
Have made this pasta salad for quite a few family events and cookouts. Every time I whip it up, I double it and think it is going to be way too much as a side (the 6-8 servings/recipe estimate is spot on); and every time, all of it somehow disappears. This has become my (and my mom’s) go-to summer side. We usually have it with grilled marinaded chicken or even salmon and it complements the meats wonderfully. Thanks for a great staple recipe!
What a great comment! I’m so thrilled this has been so well enjoyed!! Thank you Cait! 🙂
I can’t wait to try this one.
It does!! Thanks so much Ann! Hope you love it 🙂
Looks simple, fresh and wonderfully tasty!
Great recipe. Top marks. Thanks for sharing this.
Simon
It is so perfect for a healthy dinner. So vivid and colorful. I love it.
Looks simple, fresh and wonderfully tasty!