This cold pasta salad with Italian dressing combines tender rotini pasta with fresh veggies and zesty Italian salad dressing.
The vibrant flavors of Italian dressing pasta salad are perfect for any lunch or potluck. Best of all, this easy pasta salad recipe can be prepared in fifteen minutes or less!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Rotini pasta - You can substitute your favorite small pasta noodle.
- Fresh Mozzarella pearls - Feta cheese also works well.
- Thick-sliced salami - You can substitute pepperoni.
- Cherry tomatoes
- Red bell pepper
- Red onion
- Canned sliced black olives
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil
- Bottle of Italian dressing
How to make it
To make this cold pasta salad recipe with Italian dressing, begin by boiling salted water in a large pot, then add the rontini noodles and cook until al dente.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the mozzarella, salami, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, black olives, Parmesan, basil, and Italian dressing.
When the pasta has finished boiling, drain it in a colander, and rinse the noodles under cold water to cool. Then combine with the salad ingredients and serve.
Storing Leftovers
Cold pasta salad with Italian dressing can be made in advance, but I believe it is best enjoyed fresh because the Italian dressing will get absorbed into the pasta noodles as it sits. Store leftover pasta salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to five days.
Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese ball cut into ½" cubes
- 8 ounces thick sliced salami chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- ½ red onion chopped
- 3.38 ounces canned sliced black olives drained
- ¼ cup fresh grated parmesan
- ¾ cup fresh basil chopped
- 1 cup Italian dressing
Instructions
- Add rotini pasta to a boiling pot of salted water and cook according to package instructions, until al dente.
- While pasta is boiling, combine all remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
- Drain cooked pasta from pot and rinse under cold water until the pasta has cooled.
- Add cooled pasta to the large bowl and stir to combine well, then enjoy.
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