This is the most delicious quick and easy pasta salad with Italian dressing. It features spiral rotini noodles, doctored up store-bought Italian dressing, mozzarella, fresh herbs, and lots of fresh garden vegetables. This classic pasta salad is a side dish that’s perfect for summer get-togethers like BBQ’s, potlucks, and picnics.

Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing

Are you looking for the best pasta salad recipe ever? Look no further! This zesty, colorful, and delicious pasta salad with Italian dressing is perfect for any occasion.

Whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue, attending a family gathering, or simply looking for a light and refreshing lunch, this pasta salad is sure to be a hit.

Using easy-to-find ingredients and simple techniques, you’ll have a kid-friendly dish that’s bursting with flavor. It’s light, flavorful, loaded with fresh crunchy vegetables, and super colorful. Everyone will be asking for seconds of this amazing recipe!

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Ingredients

Rotini Pasta: I used rotini pasta because of its unique spiral shape that holds onto the dressing, ensuring every bite is full of flavor. Using tri-color rotini would add a beautiful pop of color. You can also try using other pasta shapes such as fusilli, farfalle, or elbow pasta.

Cherry Tomatoes: These sweet and juicy tomatoes add a burst of freshness and color to the salad. You can also use grape tomatoes or diced regular tomatoes.

Cucumber: Cucumbers add a satisfying crunch and refreshing taste to the pasta salad. I recommend using English cucumbers. Feel free to substitute with zucchini or squash if you prefer.

Bell Pepper: Diced bell pepper adds color and a slightly sweet flavor to the salad. You can use any color pepper, or mix and match for a more colorful dish.

Red Onion: Red onion adds a sharp and tangy flavor that complements the other ingredients. You can also use green onions or shallots if you prefer a milder taste.

Black Olives: Sliced black olives provide a nice salty and savory contrast to the other ingredients. You can substitute with green olives or even artichoke hearts for a different twist.

Mini Mozzarella Balls: These bite-sized cheese balls add a creamy and slightly tangy element to the salad. You can also use cubed mozzarella or swap it out for feta or parmesan cheese.

Fresh Basil and Parsley: These fresh herbs elevate the flavor of the pasta salad, giving it a bright and aromatic quality. Feel free to experiment with other herbs like cilantro or dill.

Italian Dressing: I love using Olive Garden Signature Italian Dressing. You can use any store-bought Italian dressing or even make your own homemade version.

Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a tangy and refreshing element to the dressing, balancing out the flavors.

Honey: A touch of honey adds a subtle sweetness to the dressing, rounding out its flavor profile.

Alternative Ingredients

• Protein: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, tuna, some crumbled bacon, cooked ham, or even chickpeas for a more filling and protein-packed dish.
• Cheese: Swap out the mozzarella for crumbled feta, goat cheese, or shaved parmesan for a different flavor profile.
• Veggies: Toss in some blanched broccoli, asparagus, peas, or green beans for added crunch and nutrition. Artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, or pepperoncini are also great additions.
• Pasta: Use different pasta shapes like farfalle (bow tie), fusilli, or even tortellini for a fun twist on the classic rotini pasta salad.

How To Make Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing

Prepare the pasta: Start by cooking the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool it down and stop the cooking process. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)

Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, lemon juice, and honey. Set aside.

Assemble the salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the pasta with the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, mozzarella, basil, and parsley.

Dress the salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta salad and toss gently to combine, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.

Chill and serve: Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least an hour, or overnight, to let the flavors meld together. Give it a good stir before serving and adjust the seasoning if necessary. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid With Pasta Salad?

• Overcooking the pasta: Make sure to cook the pasta until it’s al dente, meaning it’s still slightly firm when bitten. Overcooked pasta can become mushy and won’t hold up well in a salad.
• Not rinsing the pasta: After cooking, rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. This also helps to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
• Skimping on the dressing: Be generous with your dressing to ensure that each bite is full of flavor. However, don’t drown the salad in dressing – it should be well-coated but not swimming in it.
• Not letting the flavors meld: To achieve the best flavor, allow the pasta salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour or even overnight. This gives the ingredients time to absorb the dressing and the flavors to meld together.
• Not seasoning the pasta salad just before serving: Taste and adjust the seasoning of the pasta salad before serving, adding more salt, pepper, or dressing as needed.

Should You Rinse Pasta When Making Pasta Salad?

Yes, you should definitely rinse pasta when making pasta salad. Rinsing the pasta under cold water serves a few important purposes:

• It stops the cooking process, ensuring that the pasta remains al dente and doesn’t become mushy.
• Rinsing the pasta cools it down, which is important for a cold pasta salad.
• It helps to prevent the pasta from sticking together, making it easier to mix with the other ingredients.

How Do You Keep Pasta From Sticking Together For Pasta Salad?

To keep pasta from sticking together when making pasta salad, follow these tips:

• Rinse the cooked pasta under cold water to cool it down and remove excess starch.
• Add a little olive oil or some of the salad dressing to the pasta and toss gently. This creates a light coating that helps prevent the pasta from sticking together.
• Stir the pasta frequently while it’s cooking to prevent the pieces from sticking to each other or to the pot.

Should I Dress My Pasta Salad The Night Before Or The Day Of?

I like to do a mixture. I pour half the dressing on the night before so that the noodles have a chance to soak up some of the flavor. Then I mix in the rest of the dressing about an hour before serving so that the noodles are still saucy. This method achieves the perfect balance of having seasoned noodles without them soaking up all of the dressing.

What’s The Best Italian Dressing For Pasta Salad?

Olive Garden Signature Italian Dressing is my favorite salad dressing for this recipe, I think the flavors pair really nicely with the other ingredients. Any store-bought or homemade Italian dressing should work though. I’ve heard that people had good results with Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing and Wish-Bone Italian Salad Dressing.

How Long Is Italian Pasta Salad Good For?

Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to come together.

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Pasta Salad Recipes

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other side dishes. Some reader favorites are:

• Rotini Pasta Salad
• Ranch Pasta Salad
• Bow Tie Pasta Salad
• Chicken Macaroni Salad
• Caprese Pasta Salad

The next time you’re looking for the perfect potluck or picnic side dish, try making this incredible pasta salad with Italian dressing. It’s the best summer pasta salad, and your friends and family will all love it!