This Easy Italian Pasta Salad has been a go-to in my kitchen for years, made countless times for potlucks, cookouts, and easy lunches. I've made this recipe to be effortless but super flavorful. It’s the kind of crowd-pleasing dish you can count on for any occasion.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Click HERE to read my policies.
This post was originally posted on 5/1/2020 and updated on 6/4/2025.
Why We Love This Easy Italian Pasta Salad
- Perfect for Gatherings: A guaranteed hit at potlucks, cookouts, and parties.
- Quick and Easy: Simple prep with no complicated steps.
- Make-ahead Friendly: Tastes even better the next day after the flavors have time to meld.
- Fresh and Flavorful: Loaded with veggies, pasta, cheese and a zesty Italian dressing.
- Customizable: Easy to swap in favorite veggies, meats, or cheeses.
- Great for Leftovers: Holds up well in the fridge for lunches and snacks.
- Family Approved: A kid-friendly option that’s still bold enough for adults.
Italian Pasta Salad Ingredients
- Tri-Color Rotini Pasta
- English Cucumber
- Broccoli
- Pepperoni
- Grape Tomatoes
- Black Olives
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Italian Dressing
Substitution Suggestions
- Tri-Color Pasta: You can use any type of pasta you like and it doesn't need to be colored. You can use any short cut pasta like fusilli, cavatappi, farfalle, or gemelli. They are all good options.
- Veggies: I like to use cucumbers, broccoli and tomatoes in my salad. You can add any veggie you like! Bell peppers, cauliflower, carrots or red onion are delicious options! Sun dried tomatoes add great texture. Use what you have on hand or what your family likes best.
- Pepperoni: I like to use the mini pepperonis because it makes it a lot easier to prepare, no need to chop anything. Salami is a great and delicious substitute or addition.
- Black Olives: Kalamata olives are a good substitute. You can even use some whole or sliced pepperoncini for added brininess and a little spice.
- Mozzarella Cheese: I like to use a block of mozzarella and cube it small. But I have also used fresh mozzarella pearls and they are delicious in this salad!
- Italian Dressing: To keep this recipe as simple as possible I almost always use a bottled dressing. Use your favorite brand of Italian dressing or make your own homemade.
Did you know this recipe isn't even Italian? It's actually American. It gets it's name from the dressing. I also was told by my full blooded Italian grandma that she called it Italian Pasta Salad because the salad was the colors of the Italian flag. That was just her reasoning, it really is because the salad is made with Italian dressing and a few classic Italian ingredients: pasta, tomatoes and mozzarella.
How to Make Cold Italian Pasta Salad
- Make pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Drain pasta, rinse with cold water and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, prepare all your veggies, pepperoni and cheese. Add them all to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the cooled pasta and Italian dressing to the bowl and toss to combine everything evenly.
- Chill the pasta salad for at least an hour before serving.
- Serve and enjoy!
Family Tip: I leave my tomatoes and olives whole because I have children who have different likes. For example: one loves tomatoes, two hate them, one loves olives, the rest of us dislike them. Leaving them whole helps make it easier for certain individuals to leave them bigger pieces in the bowl, untouched.
Why you Need to Rinse Pasta for Cold Salads
Normally, I would never suggest rinsing pasta because it's a cardinal sin. The starch from the pasta helps the sauce adhere. However, that rule applies for warm pasta dishes. Rinsing pasta for cold dishes will help stop the cooking process and will also help reduce the temperature of the pasta. That allows the pasta to be combined with the rest of the ingredients sooner rather than later.
Serving Cold Italian Pasta Salad
I love serving this cold Italian Pasta Salad as a side dish at pot lucks, BBQs and parties. I also will package it up for the kid's school lunches and for days at the beach or softball field. It holds up well to all. Here are some of our favorites to enjoy with it:
- Pulled Pork
- Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken
- Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Breaded Chicken Cutlets
- Grilled Spiced Pork Chops
Make Ahead
This salad is a great make ahead recipe. Make it a day or two before you need it and let it marinate in the fridge until ready to serve. It actually tastes better when made the day before serving.
If you love cold pasta salads don't miss my recipes for Dill Pickle Pasta Salad and Ham Pasta Salad. Both are creamy and delicious! Looking for something a little more fun and exciting try this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad or this Chicken Tortellini Salad.
Storing Easy Italian Pasta Salad
Store this salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Tips for Cold Italian Pasta Salad
- Don't forget to salt the pasta water. It is the only opportunity you have to season the pasta.
- Don't overcook the pasta. You want it al dente and not mushy. Overcooked pasta will fall apart in the salad.
- Rinse the pasta right away with cold water after you drain it. This allows the pasta to cool down faster, and removes some of the starch so the pasta won't stick together as it cools.
- Cut your veggies into bite size pieces. Cut the cucumbers and broccoli into pieces that are a little smaller than bite size. This way you can enjoy more than one piece in every bite!
- Chill and marinate salad before serving. Let the salad chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving so all the flavors have time to meld.
- Get colorful! Use different color vegetables to make the salad really eye appealing and fun.
- To serve this salad for a crowd on a warm day, put the bowl of pasta salad inside another bowl filled with ice. It will help keep the salad cold throughout the party.
More Cold Salad Recipes:
- Creamy Fruit Salad
- Classic Potato Salad
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Creamy Tomato Cucumber Salad
- Homemade Cole Slaw
- Fresh Fruit Salad
- Tomato Cucumber Basil Salad
Did you make this recipe? Rate it!
If you enjoyed this recipe give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below. It really helps the recipe stand out and I appreciate the feedback to make recipes everyone will enjoy.
Easy Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 16 oz tri-color rotini pasta
- 1 cup diced English cucumbers
- 2 cups chopped broccoli
- 1½ cups mini pepperonis
- 2 cups whole grape tomatoes
- 1 cup whole black olives, drained
- 8 oz cubed mozzarella cheese
- 1½ cups Italian dressing, store bought or homemade
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare remaining ingredients. Add cucumbers, broccoli, pepperoni, tomatoes, olives and cheese to a large mixing bowl.
- Once the pasta is cooled add it and the Italian dressing to the bowl of veggies.
- Toss to combine it all evenly.
- Chill for at least an hour before serving.
Leave a comment