Description
Simple Italian Pasta Salad is the kind of dish that makes me excited to cook because it is fresh, colorful, and packed with bold flavor in every bite. Tender rotini, juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, red onion, olives, salami, and mozzarella all get tossed in a zesty Italian dressing for an easy recipe that works as a quick lunch, easy dinner side, healthy-ish snack, meal prep favorite, and one of my go-to food ideas for potlucks, cookouts, and simple family meals.
Ingredients
12 ounces rotini pasta
1 cup salami, sliced or quartered
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cucumber, diced
1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup black olives
1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
3/4 cup Italian dressing
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini until al dente according to the package directions.
2. Drain the pasta and rinse briefly under cold water to stop the cooking, then let it drain well.
3. In a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, salami, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, black olives, and mozzarella cheese.
4. Sprinkle in the parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
5. Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors can blend.
7. Toss again before serving and add a splash of extra dressing if needed.
Notes
Do not overcook the pasta, or the salad can turn soft and heavy after it chills.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 860mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: simple italian pasta salad, pasta salad, easy pasta salad, summer pasta salad, picnic side dish, quick lunch, easy dinner side, food ideas, meal prep salad