Easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
You can't go wrong with the classics when it comes to finding delicious side dishes for a dinner or party. This easy Italian pasta salad recipe is my go-to dish for BBQs and potlucks. To whip up this cold side dish, you only need simple pantry ingredients, a handful of fresh veggies, and some Italian dressing. And since there's no baking involved, this easy dish is ready with just a few minutes of work in the kitchen.
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What Do I Need to Make This Easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe?
Making a bowl of classic Italian pasta salad at home is easier than you might think. You can prepare it with just a handful of simple ingredients. And since this recipe is easy to customize, you can add or swap out ingredients to suit your own family's tastes. Grab these ingredients to prepare my recipe or keep reading to get other ingredient ideas for your own Italian pasta salad.
- Garden rotini pasta
- Salad Supreme seasoning
- Italian salad dressing
- Cherry tomatoes
- Green bell pepper
- Red bell pepper
- Yellow bell pepper
- Sliced black olives
How Do I Make This Easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe?
Everyone at your potluck will love this simple side dish's delicious combination of zesty Italian dressing, fresh vegetables, and tender pasta. But the best part about this recipe is how quick and easy it is to make! Follow these steps to prepare your no-bake side dish for your next get-together.
Step One: Prepare the Pasta
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Once the rotini noodles are tender, drain them from the water and run them under cold water to stop cooking.
Step Two: Prep the Ingredients
While the pasta is cooking, you can start prepping your other ingredients. Slice the cherry tomatoes into quarters. Then, seed and dice each of the bell peppers. Finally, drain the sliced black olives and rinse them under cool water.
Step Three: Mix the Salad Ingredients
Pour the cooked pasta into a large bowl, then add the salad supreme seasoning, Italian salad dressing, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and olives. Stir to mix all the ingredients together and coat everything evenly in seasoning and salad dressing.
Step Four: Chill the Pasta Salad
Once all the ingredients are mixed well, cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the salad to chill overnight. Stir well before serving.
Can Pasta Salad Be Prepared Ahead of Time?
This easy side dish is perfect for making in advance because it needs to chill for at least 24 hours before serving. That means you can whip it up the day before and allow the ingredients to meld in the fridge before serving it.
How Do You Store Italian Pasta Salad?
Since this recipe is prepared with fresh veggies, keeping it in the refrigerator until you're ready to enjoy it is a good idea. And once everyone is finished eating your pasta salad, it needs to be kept in the fridge for safe storage. Transfer your leftovers to an airtight container and they'll stay good in the fridge for up to four days.
Can You Freeze Pasta Salad?
While this delicious recipe is perfect for any occasion, it's best when it's enjoyed soon after it's prepared. Since this recipe is made with oil-based dressing, it's not a good idea to freeze the pasta salad to eat later. That's because the pasta will get mushy and the dressing will begin to separate as the pasta salad thaws.
Italian Pasta Salad Recipe Ideas
This simple side dish is perfect for a party because you can whip it up with just a handful of ingredients. And since it's so easy to make, it's also easy to customize! Try these recipe ideas as you make your own pasta salad to whip up a delicious side dish that's all your own.
- Try different pasta. Garden rotini is a great option for pasta salad because it adds a pop of color to your dish. But it's not the only type of pasta you can use to make this recipe. You can also prepare your own pasta salad with elbow macaroni, penne, or bowtie pasta.
- Mix in more veggies. You can add so many delicious vegetables to your Italian pasta salad to round out the dish. Try adding baby spinach, red onion, cucumber, banana peppers, pepperoncini, artichokes, or zucchini.
- Add some cheese. Give your pasta salad ever more Italian flavor with the help of some cheese. Mix in classic Italian cheese, like mozzarella or parmesan, to enhance your side dish.
- Stir in some meat. This meatless pasta salad is perfect for a hot summer day. But there's no reason you can't add a little more protein to the dish with the help of some meat! Chopped salami or pepperoni slices would make a delicious addition to this side dish.
- Season with fresh herbs. Add some fresh Italian flavor with the help of finely chopped herbs. For even more flavor, stir in some fresh basil, oregano, garlic, or chives to your pasta salad.
Easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce box garden rotini pasta
- 6 tablespoons salad supreme seasoning
- 1 16 ounce bottle Italian salad dressing
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes quartered
- 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
- ½ yellow bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 2.25 ounce can sliced black olives, drained
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Once the rotini noodles are tender, drain them from the water and run them under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- While the pasta is cooking, you can start prepping your other ingredients. Slice the cherry tomatoes into quarters. Then, seed and dice each of the bell peppers. Finally, drain the sliced black olives and rinse them under cool water.
- Pour the cooked pasta into a large bowl, then add the salad supreme seasoning, Italian salad dressing, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and olives to the bowl. Stir to mix all the ingredients together and coat everything evenly in seasoning and salad dressing.
- Once all the ingredients are mixed well, cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap. Place the salad in the refrigerator to chill overnight or for at least 4 hours to allow the flavors to develop. Stir well before serving.
Nutrition
