A tasty Italian pasta salad perfect as a side or main dish. Filled with sliced salami, cherry tomatoes, pepperoncinis, kalamata olives and fresh mozzarella cheese.
Make this salad in the morning and let all the flavors meld together for a tasty pasta salad to serve for dinner.
Why make this recipe
Pasta salads are comfort foods in the salad world. You’ve got the carbohydrates from the pasta that fill you up, lots of tasty add-ins like olives, salami, tomatoes and onions all covered in a highly flavored vinaigrette. What’s not to love?
There are so many versions of pasta salad and just as many versions of Italian pasta salad. This is a recipe you can feel good about serving to your family or taking to a potluck dinner.
It’s sure to be eaten up and will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Key ingredients
- Pasta – I use tri-color fusilli pasta
- Salami – Dry cured Italian salami sliced into thin strips
- Mozzarella – Fresh mini balls cut into quarters
- Kalamata olives
- cherry tomatoes
- Pepperoncinis
Step by step directions
- Make the dressing by combining olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, honey and dried Italian seasonings into a glass jar with a lid
- Shake vigorously until everything is well combined
- Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions
- Drain and rinse pasta under cool water
- Place pasta, salami, mozzarella, olives, tomatoes, pepperoncinis and onions in a large bowl
- Mix carefully until ingredients are distributed
- For dressing over salad and mix to combine
- Add freshly chopped parsley and parmesan cheese
- Cover and refrigerate until chilled through
Recipe tips and variations
- Rinse pasta to help cool it down before adding other ingredients. Be certain to drain well.
- Stir pasta before serving to make certain the dressing is well distributed
- This pasta salad can be eaten right away, but it is best served chilled giving the flavors a chance to meld together
- Use your favorite type of pasta – a short to medium pasta works best. Use farfalle, rotini or even elbow macaroni
- Substitute sliced black olives for the kalamata olive
Recipe FAQs
This pasta salad will last for 3-4 days if covered and stored in the refrigerator.
Yes, this salad is best made ahead and refrigerated before serving.
serving suggestions
Pasta salad can be served with almost any meal as a side dish and makes a wonderful main dish for lunch too. Consider serving with any barbecued entrees.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Be certain to check out all my delicious salad recipes!
Italian Pasta Salad
A flavorful pasta salad with sliced salami, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and olives all covered with a homemade dressing.
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Instructions
Dressing room
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Make the dressing by combining olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, honey and dried Italian seasonings into a glass jar with a lid
½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup red wine vinegar, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 Italian seasoning teaspoons, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon honey
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Shake vigorously until everything is well combined
salad
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Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions
8 ounces Tri-color Fusilli pasta
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Drain and rinse pasta under cool water. Drain well.
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Place pasta, salami, mozzarella, olives, tomatoes, pepperoncinis and onions in a large bowl
1 cup cherry tomatoes, ¾ cup fresh mozzarella cheese, ½ cup Dry Italian salami, ½ cup Pepperoncini peppers, ¼ cup Red onion, ½ cup Kalamata olives
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Toss with a large spoon to carefully incorporate all ingredients
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For dressing over pasta. Toss again.
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Add Parmesan cheese and freshly cut parsley. Toss until combined.
½ cup Parmesan cheese, ¼ cup Italian parsley
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Cover and refrigerate until chilled
Ratings
- Rinse pasta to help cool it down before adding other ingredients. Be certain to drain well.
- Stir pasta before serving to make certain the dressing is well distributed
- This pasta salad can be eaten right away, but it is best served chilled giving the flavors a chance to meld together
- Use your favorite type of pasta – a short to medium pasta works best. Use farfalle, rotini or even elbow macaroni
- Substitute sliced black olives for the kalamata olive
Nutrition Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
calories: 454caloriesCarbohydrates: 35gprotein: 14gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 812mgPotassium: 260mgfiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 583UIVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 207mgIron: 2mg
