The Easiest Pasta Salad Recipe with Italian Dressing

When you need a go-to side dish for a picnic, potluck, or summer barbecue, a classic pasta salad is always the right answer.

Today, we’re making the absolute easiest and most delicious version: a vibrant, flavorful, and incredibly simple pasta salad tossed in a zesty Italian dressing.

This recipe is all about combining a variety of fresh, crunchy textures and savory flavors with a bright, tangy dressing that ties everything together.

We’ll be using fun, bite-sized rotini pasta and loading it up with a colorful medley of cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, black olives, and spicy pepperoni.

The beauty of this dish is its simplicity and how quickly it comes together with a little help from your favorite bottle of Italian dressing.

This is a make-ahead marvel that is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and the perfect accompaniment to any meal. Let’s get mixing!

Essential Tools

• Large Pot for Cooking Pasta
• Colander
• Large Mixing Bowl
• Spatula or Large Spoon
• Sharp Knife and Cutting Board

Quick Recipe Snapshot

Here’s a quick look at how incredibly fast this classic and crowd-pleasing salad comes together.

Ingredients

This simple, classic recipe uses fresh ingredients and a smart shortcut for a speedy, flavorful result.

For the Pasta Salad:

• Rotini Pasta: 1 lb. The corkscrew shape is perfect for catching the dressing and all the little bits of ingredients.
  • 5-6 servings: 8 oz
  • 10-12 servings: 1 lb
• Cherry or Grape Tomatoes: 1 pint, halved.
• Cucumber: 1 large, seeded and diced.
• Black Olives: 1 (6 oz) can, drained and sliced.
• Red Onion: ½, finely chopped.
• Mini Pepperoni Slices: 4 oz (about 1 cup).
• Mozzarella Pearls (or cubed mozzarella): 8 oz.
• Grated Parmesan Cheese: ½ cup.

For the Dressing:

• Your Favorite Italian Dressing: 1 (16 oz) bottle. Use a zesty or vinaigrette-style dressing for the best flavor.

The Flavor Architects A Look at the Ingredients

• Italian Dressing: This is our flavor shortcut. A good bottled dressing provides an instant, perfectly balanced blend of oil, vinegar, and classic Italian herbs like oregano, basil, and garlic.
• Rotini Pasta: The shape of the pasta is important. The tight spirals of rotini are fantastic at trapping the dressing and holding onto all the finely chopped ingredients, ensuring a perfect bite every time.
• Pepperoni: This adds a wonderful, savory, and slightly spicy bite that contrasts beautifully with the fresh vegetables and creamy mozzarella.
• Mozzarella Pearls: These small, soft balls of fresh mozzarella add a creamy texture and a mild, milky flavor that balances the tanginess of the dressing and the saltiness of the olives and pepperoni.
• Fresh Vegetables: The combination of juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and sharp red onion provides the essential fresh, crunchy, and vibrant element that makes this salad so refreshing.

Cooking Instructions

This crowd-pleasing salad is a simple process of cooking the pasta and tossing it all together, making it the perfect easy side dish.

Step 1: Cook and Cool the Pasta

First, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add your rotini pasta and cook according to the package directions until it is al dente (tender but still has a firm bite).

It’s important not to overcook the pasta, as it will soften a bit more as it sits in the dressing. Once cooked, drain the pasta in a colander and immediately rinse it thoroughly under cold running water.

Rinsing is a key step that stops the cooking process and washes away excess starch, preventing the pasta from clumping together as it cools.

Step 2: Combine the Salad Ingredients

While the pasta is cooling, you can prepare all of your other ingredients. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, slice the olives, and finely chop the red onion.

In a very large mixing bowl, combine the cooled and well-drained pasta with the prepared vegetables: the tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and red onion.

Add the mini pepperoni slices, the mozzarella pearls, and the grated Parmesan cheese to the bowl.

Step 3: Dress the Salad

Now it’s time to bring everything together. Give your bottle of Italian dressing a very good shake to make sure it’s well combined.

Pour about half to two-thirds of the bottle of dressing over the pasta and other ingredients in the bowl.

Use a large spatula or spoon to gently fold and toss everything together. Continue to mix until all the pasta and mix-ins are evenly and lightly coated in the tangy dressing.

Step 4: The Crucial Chill

Once everything is mixed, give the pasta salad a taste. You can add more dressing at this point if you think it needs it, along with a little extra salt and pepper if desired.

For the absolute best flavor, cover the bowl and let the pasta salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours, or up to overnight.

This essential step allows the pasta to absorb the flavors of the Italian dressing, making the entire salad more cohesive and delicious. Before serving, give it one final stir.

Recipe Variations

This easy pasta salad is a perfect base for your own favorite mix-ins.

• Make it Spicy: For a spicy kick, choose a spicy Italian dressing, add ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes, or use spicy pepperoni. You can also add some chopped pepperoncini for a tangy heat.
• Add More Protein: To turn this into more of a main course, you can add some diced, grilled chicken, chickpeas, or cubes of salami or ham.
• Add More Veggies: This salad is great for using up extra vegetables. Try adding chopped bell peppers (any color), marinated artichoke hearts, or a handful of fresh spinach.

Serving Suggestions

This versatile pasta salad is the ultimate side dish for a huge variety of meals.

• At a Barbecue: It’s the perfect, classic side dish to serve alongside grilled burgers, hot dogs, sausages, or chicken.
• For a Potluck: This is a go-to recipe for potlucks and parties because it can be made ahead, travels well, and is always a huge crowd-pleaser.
• As a Light Lunch: A small bowl of this pasta salad is a great and satisfying light lunch on its own.

Storage & Reheating Tips

This pasta salad is a fantastic make-ahead dish.

• Storage: Store the easy pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Reheating: This salad is designed to be eaten cold. Do not reheat it.
• Freshening Up: The pasta will absorb a lot of the dressing as it sits overnight. Before serving leftovers, you may want to stir in a few extra tablespoons of Italian dressing to loosen it up and make it vibrant again.

Common Mistakes & Fixes

FAQs

Can I make my own Italian dressing for this recipe?

Yes, absolutely! A simple homemade dressing is delicious.

In a jar, just combine ½ cup of olive oil, ¼ cup of red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt, pepper, and sugar. Shake it very well before using.

Can I make this pasta salad a day ahead?

Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead recipe. You can prepare it a full 24 hours in advance. The flavors will have even more time to meld.

Just be prepared to add a little extra dressing to freshen it up before you serve it, as the pasta will absorb a lot of it overnight.

Can I use a different kind of pasta?

Of course. While rotini is great, this salad is also fantastic with other short pasta shapes like fusilli, penne, or bowtie pasta (farfalle).

The most important thing is to choose a shape that has ridges or cups to hold onto the dressing.

Enjoy Your Perfect Potluck Side Dish!

You are now ready to make an incredibly easy pasta salad with Italian dressing that is a guaranteed hit for any occasion.

It’s the perfect, stress-free recipe to have in your collection for summer parties, potlucks, and easy weeknight meals.

Enjoy!