The Ultimate Easy Summer Pasta Salad

When the weather gets warm, the last thing you want is a heavy, complicated meal. What you need is something that is bright, fresh, incredibly easy to make, and perfect for sharing at a picnic, barbecue, or for a simple dinner on the patio. This easy summer pasta salad is that perfect recipe.

This dish is a celebration of all the best flavors of the season. We’ll be using a fun, bite-sized pasta and tossing it with a vibrant medley of juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, fresh mozzarella, and aromatic basil.

Everything is brought together with a super simple but incredibly flavorful lemon-herb vinaigrette that is light, zesty, and refreshing.

This is a make-ahead marvel that is endlessly customizable and always a huge hit. It’s the only pasta salad recipe you’ll need for the entire summer. Let’s get mixing!

Essential Tools

• Large Pot for Cooking Pasta
• Colander
• Large Salad Bowl
• Small Jar or Bowl for the Dressing
• Whisk
• Sharp Knife and Cutting Board

Quick Recipe Snapshot

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

Ingredients

This simple, fresh recipe uses classic summer ingredients for a bright and flavorful result.

For the Pasta Salad:

• Rotini or Bowtie Pasta: 1 lb. The fun shapes are perfect for catching the dressing.
  • 5-6 servings: 8 oz
  • 10-12 servings: 1 lb
• Cherry or Grape Tomatoes: 1 pint, halved.
• Cucumber: 1 large, seeded and diced.
• Mozzarella Pearls: 8 oz. You can also use a block of fresh mozzarella, cubed.
• Red Onion: ½, very thinly sliced.
• Fresh Basil: ½ cup, leaves thinly sliced.

For the Lemon-Herb Vinaigrette:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: ½ cup.
• Lemon Juice: ¼ cup, freshly squeezed (from about 1-2 lemons).
• Dijon Mustard: 2 tsp.
• Honey or Maple Syrup: 1 tsp (optional, to balance the acidity).
• Garlic: 1 clove, minced.
• Dried Oregano: 1 tsp.
• Salt and Black Pepper: ½ tsp each, or to taste.

The Flavor Architects A Look at the Ingredients

• Fresh Lemon Juice: This is the star of the dressing. It provides a bright, zesty, and powerful acidity that is incredibly refreshing and quintessentially summer.
• Fresh Basil: Using fresh basil is a must for this recipe. Its sweet, aromatic, and slightly peppery flavor infuses the entire salad with the taste of summer.
• Mozzarella Pearls: These small, soft balls of fresh mozzarella add a wonderful, creamy texture and a mild, milky flavor that perfectly complements the juicy tomatoes and tangy vinaigrette.
• Dijon Mustard: This is the secret weapon in the vinaigrette. It not only adds a sharp, tangy flavor but also acts as an emulsifier, helping to bind the oil and lemon juice together into a creamy dressing.
• Crisp Vegetables: The combination of juicy tomatoes and crisp, watery cucumber provides the essential fresh, crunchy, and vibrant element that makes this salad so perfect for a hot day.

Cooking Instructions

This crowd-pleasing salad is a simple process of cooking the pasta and tossing it all together with a bright, homemade vinaigrette.

Step 1: Cook and Cool the Pasta

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

It is very important not to overcook the pasta, or it will become mushy in the salad. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it in a colander and immediately rinse it under cold running water.

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

Step 2: Prepare the Lemon-Herb Vinaigrette

While the pasta is cooking and cooling, you can prepare your vibrant and simple dressing.

In a small bowl or a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the extra virgin olive oil, the fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, optional honey, minced garlic, and dried oregano. Add the salt and black pepper.

Whisk the ingredients together vigorously, or seal the jar and shake it very well, until the dressing is emulsified and slightly thickened.

Step 3: Combine the Salad Ingredients

In a very large salad bowl, combine the cooled and well-drained pasta with all of your fresh, chopped ingredients.

Add the halved cherry tomatoes, the diced cucumber, the fresh mozzarella pearls, and the thinly sliced red onion to the bowl.

This colorful combination of ingredients is the heart of your summer pasta salad, providing a fantastic mix of textures and fresh flavors.

Step 4: Dress, Toss, and Chill

Just before you are ready to serve, or up to a few hours before, give your vinaigrette one last good shake or whisk.

Pour about two-thirds of the dressing over the pasta and other ingredients in the bowl. Add the thinly sliced fresh basil. Gently fold and toss everything together until all the pasta and mix-ins are evenly and lightly coated in the zesty dressing.

For the best flavor, cover the bowl and let the easy summer pasta salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This allows the pasta to absorb the flavors of the dressing.

Recipe Variations

This simple pasta salad is a perfect base for your own favorite summer ingredients.

• Make it Spicy: For a spicy kick, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the vinaigrette.
• Add Some Protein: To turn this into a heartier main course, you can add some grilled chicken, a can of rinsed chickpeas, or some sliced salami.
• Add More Veggies: This salad is great for using up extra summer produce. Try adding chopped bell peppers, grilled zucchini, or a handful of fresh spinach or arugula.

Serving Suggestions

This versatile pasta salad is the ultimate side dish for any summer meal.

• 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, perfect for a hot day.

Storage & Reheating Tips

This pasta salad is a fantastic make-ahead dish, and the flavors get even better overnight.

• Storage: Store the easy summer pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Reheating: This salad is designed to be eaten cold or at room temperature. Do not reheat it.
• Freshening Up: The pasta will absorb a lot of the dressing as it sits. Before serving leftovers, you may want to stir in a few extra tablespoons of the vinaigrette (it’s a good idea to reserve some) or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to freshen it up and make it vibrant again.

Common Mistakes & Fixes

FAQs

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 or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to freshen it up before you serve it, as the pasta will absorb a lot of the vinaigrette overnight.

Can I use a different kind of pasta?

Of course. While rotini and bowties are great, this salad is also fantastic with other short pasta shapes like fusilli, penne, or medium shells.

The most important thing is to choose a shape that has ridges or cups to hold onto the dressing and the small, chopped ingredients.

Can I use bottled Italian dressing instead of making my own?

Yes, in a pinch, a good quality, zesty Italian vinaigrette from a bottle is a great shortcut and will work well in this recipe.

The homemade version just allows you to control the freshness and the balance of flavors.

Enjoy Your Perfect Summer Side Dish!

You are now ready to make an incredibly easy summer pasta salad 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 every fresh and zesty bite!