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Italian Pasta Salad in a glass bowl

Italian Pasta Salad

Italian Pasta Salad is loaded with yummy ingredients. Salami, cherry tomatoes, olives, fresh mozzarella and more! This pasta salad recipe comes together quickly.

Course Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 332 kcal
Author Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

  • 12-16 oz Rotini Pasta, uncooked
  • 2 tsp Salt

The Salad

  • 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1 lb Italian Salami or Summer Sausage, cut in rounds, then quarter them
  • ½ cup Pepperoncinis, sliced
  • 10 oz Mozzarella Balls (pearls)
  • ½ cup Kalamata Olives, pitted, cut in half
  • ½ cup Large Black Olives, pitted, sliced in thirds
  • cup Red Onion, diced
  • ½ Orange Bell Pepper, diced
  • 9 lg Fresh Basil Leaves, Chopped
  • 1 (16 oz) bottle Italian Dressing (use your favorite)

Garnish

  • ½ cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

  1. Bring a pot of water to boil. Add the rotini and the salt. Cook until al dente, or softer if you like. Don't cook too much as the pasta might fall apart when stirred in the salad.

  2. Drain the pasta and immediately rinse it with cold water until cooled. This prevents overcooking. Add pasta to a large bowl.

  3. Add all of the ingredients except for the dressing and parmesan, then stir.

  4. Pour in half of the bottle of dressing, then gently toss to coat all of the ingredients.

  5. Chill the pasta salad in the fridge for about 2 to 3 hours before serving, if you can. This helps the flavors all soak in.

  6. Right before serving, add half of the remaining dressing and toss the salad. Taste and add more dressing if desired.

  7. Garnish with shredded parmesan cheese.

Recipe Notes

Calories will vary by type of dressing and ingredients you choose.