Easy Classic Italian Pasta Salad

This Italian pasta salad has been a staple at family parties for years, and now it’s one of my favorite make-ahead sides for summer. This recipe doubles as a kid friendly pasta salad too. My daughter loves it in her lunchbox, and it always disappears fast at cookouts.

 

Why We Love Italian Pasta Salad

I begged and pleaded with my Aunt for years! She would always bring the BEST Italian Pasta Salad to summer BBQs and potluck parties and it was my favorite thing. I finally got her easy pasta salad recipe and she let me share this great recipe! This pasta salad is also kid friendly, the fun pasta shapes, cheese, and colorful veggies usually win my daughter over. Plus you can easily customize the flavors to your own family’s favorites.

You end up with tasty leftovers perfect for lunch or just to add to the dinner table again a second night! (My Greek Orzo Salad has different flavors but is similarly delicious on warm days!)

In the summer I love cold salads like this because they are great make-ahead recipes. I’ll meal prep them at the beginning of the week, and then we have a side ready. It frees me up to spend more time outside, with my family, or just to chill when we BBQ. Try the bean and chickpea salad (I make this one on repeat!), the easy pesto pasta salad (my daughter’s favorite) or the chicken macaroni pasta salad that eats like a meal on it’s own!

Ingredients For Italian Pasta Salad

The trick to making this Italian pasta salad delicious is having ingredients that are packed full of flavor, have lots of colors and a few that have a little crunch. Here’s what I include for ingredients in this pasta salad.

• Rotini Pasta– Any type of pasta that is a short pasta will work, but rotini pasta is my favorite for this salad because the dressing gets caught in the spirals of the pasta. The tri-color pasta can also be pretty!
• Broccoli– Cut this into small pieces, broccoli adds crunch!
• Bell Pepper– I tend to use red, yellow or orange bell peppers as they are sweeter than green peppers. This adds crunch too!
• English Cucumber– English cucumbers are my favorite for their mild skins, but any fresh cucumbers work. If your cucumber skins are super dark (like sometimes happens with hothouse cucumbers) consider peeling if the peel is especially bitter.
• Red or Sweet Onion– Crunch and flavor, if your family isn’t a huge fan on onion, you can reduce this a little.
• Cherry Tomatoes- grape tomatoes also work, other varieties of tomatoes diced can work too.
• Black olives– These add a little saltiness to the mix. I usually buy canned from the grocery store, but you can also buy olives from the deli often.
• Mozzarella cheese– Add cheese and more Italian flavor!
• Pepperoni pieces or salami– slice these small, they add great flavor and it doesn’t take tons. You can also use turkey pepperoni if you prefer.
• Fresh parsley- Fresh parsley just gives it a summery taste, but you can use dried if you need to. You can also use other fresh herbs like oregano or basil to give the salad an even more fresh flavor.
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Ingredients For A Homemade Italian Dressing

You can also use bottled Italian dressing for this recipe, but this quick and easy homemade dressing is delicious!

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 4 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups oil – I prefer olive oil, but any neutral cooking oil works.
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

FAQ About Italian Pasta Salad

Italian Pasta Salad Variations

This recipe is super easily adapted, here are a few ideas I’ve done to make swaps to this Italian Pasta Salad Recipe! If there is an ingredient your family really doesn’t like in the salad, you can also easily leave it out.

For a lighter pasta salad, try whole wheat pasta, swap mozzarella for feta, or skip the meat and add extra veggies.

Kid Friendly Swaps For Picky Eaters

This recipe can be as simple or as customizable as you like. Don’t be afraid to swap ingredients your family doesn’t love and add more of the ones they do.

Extra ingredients can always be served on the side as a “toppings bar” for each person to add as they like. This can work really well with young kids, I would always just encourage my daughter to try at least one topping. This gave her the control to just add one bite. Anything she really enjoyed I put in the pasta salad.

Cheese Swap Ideas

I like to start with a cheese my child is familiar with, especially if it is in bigger pieces.

• Fresh mozzarella cheese balls – marinated or plain
• Cubed mozzarella chunks
• Shredded provolone
• Parmesan cheese- I like to finish the salad with this, I put it on just before serving. My kid sometimes likes helping add the “cheese snow” which helps get her involved.
• Feta cheese

Meat Swaps Ideas

Meat can be left out for pickier eaters. Don’t hesitate to customize for ingredients your family loves.

• Mini pepperoni – my daughter always thinks the minis are more fun
• Sliced salami
• Spicy salami – Only if you are feeling dangerous and that’s your family’s vibe. I liked to add my spicy salami to just my dish as my kid is not a fan.
• Chicken – diced chicken can be added to this recipe to add protein and lighten up the recipe. Make sure the chicken is fully cooled before adding it to the pasta.

Vegetable Swap Ideas

If your kid is especially picky about vegetables, dicing them smaller can sometimes help. Additionally try to include at least one veggie you know they like or at least don’t reject. Don’t hesitate to customize this pasta salad for kids as you need to.

• Zucchini or other summer squash that has been diced- this is one of my favorites as it has a mild flavor and my kid doesn’t usually notice it.
• Diced sundried tomatoes – these add a lot of flavor.
• Kalamata olives – or whatever olive your kid may be used to enjoying can work.
• Fresh or marinated mushrooms
• Other colors of bell pepper

Pasta Swap Ideas

You can use all the different shapes and colors of pasta in this salad, but a chunkier pasta that will hold up to the dressing works best. Pasta like spaghetti and angel hair that are long skinny strands don’t tend to hold their own as well with the dressing.

Here are some of my favorite pasta shapes for pasta salad.

• Rotini- love the tri-colored versions!
• Penne
• Bowties
• Mini shells
• Elbow
• Cheese Tortellini- I prefer tricolor when I can get it!

Can I Use Gluten Free Or An Alternative Pasta?

You can use an alternative pasta like gluten free pasta, lentil pasta or chickpea pasta. I recommend eating the salad within the same day with alternative pastas, as they sometimes fall apart a little easier when left to sit in the fridge longer.

How Long Does Italian Pasta Salad Last?

Expect this pasta salad will last about 3-4 days if refrigerated and stored in an airtight container. It is a great recipe to use as a lunchbox pasta salad, my kid also loves this pesto pasta salad for her lunchboxes.

It tastes best if it is served chilled not room temperature. Allow at least a few hours for the flavors to meld together by refrigerating. This recipe can also be made ahead and kept in the fridge overnight to chill.

If making this pasta salad for a cookout or potluck, I recommend prepping the day before and tossing well with the dressing that falls to the bottom of the bowl just before serving so it doesn’t dry out.

I don’t recommend freezing this pasta salad, as the vegetables won’t keep their crispness once frozen.