Italian Pasta Salad

Name: Italian Pasta Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: ½ cup olive oil; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon honey; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon ground pepper; 8 ounces dry rotini pasta; 8 ounces grape tomatoes (halved); ⅔ cup mozzarella pearls; 1 medium orange bell pepper (chopped); ½ cup English cucumber (sliced); ½ medium red onion (chopped); ⅓ cup black olives (sliced); ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese; 2 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped); Fresh Basil (to garnish (optional))

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Italian Pasta Salad is my go-to salad for good reason. It travels well, holds up in the fridge for days, and everyone at the table actually eats it. The homemade dressing takes about two minutes and makes a real difference compared to store-bought dressing. Ready in 30 minutes and tastes better the next day.

This Italian Pasta Salad is vegetarian salad packed with flavor and filling and is very easy to make with a homemade Italian Dressing. For some added protein I added some mozzarella balls, but if you like you can add some chopped-up chicken breast into it. The more the merrier. 😁 Serve it as a meal or as an appetizer. Quick, simple, easy, and ready in 30 minutes.

Recipe Overview

Skill Level

Beginner

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Why This One Works

Most pasta salads end up soggy or bland because the pasta soaks up all the dressing. Two things fix that: cook the pasta a minute under (it’ll firm up as it chills), and toss it with a tiny bit of olive oil before adding the dressing. That’s it.

The dressing here is bright and garlicky. It’s lemon-forward instead of the overly sweet versions you find in jars. It coats everything without making it heavy.

Tips Before You Get Started

Make it ahead: This is genuinely better after it sits in the fridge for a few hours. Make it the night before if you can. It keeps well for up to 5 days. If you want your tomatoes to stay firm, add them just before serving.
Add protein if you want a full meal: Sliced grilled chicken, tuna, or even canned chickpeas work well here. The mozzarella adds some protein, but it’s more of a side dish as-is.
Gluten-free? Use Chickpea or lentil pasta instead.
Too dry after sitting? Just add a splash of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon, toss again, and it comes right back.

Ingredients Needed

Below are the ingredients I used to make this salad. Full measurements are listed further down in the recipe card.

For the dressing: Olive oil, fresh lemon juice (not pictured), honey, Mustard, minced garlic, Italian seasonings, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.

For the salad:

Dry rotini pasta: or any pasta of your choice.
Grape tomatoes: I love cherry or grape tomatoes here. Do not try to use the larger tomatoes unless you really have to.
Mozzarella pearls: this adds in a bit of protein and pairs well with the salad, but it can be optional.
Bell peppers: I used orange, but any other color will do just fine.
Cucumber: Use whatever you have on hand. I used English cucumbers.
Red onions: these are perfect for salads, but if you have sweet white onions instead you can definitely improvise.
Black Olives: I used canned
Grated parmesan cheese: grate your own, or use store-bought. For a vegan option, use dairy-free parmesan cheese.
Fresh Parsley and Basil.

How to make Italian Pasta Salad

Serves 4 as a side | 30 minutes | 573 cal per serving

Make the dressing first: Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon, garlic, and seasonings. Set aside. This gives the flavors time to come together while you cook the pasta.

process shot to make dressing for pasta salad and cooking the pasta.

Cook pasta one minute less than the package says: Drain, rinse under cold water until fully cooled, then toss with a small drizzle of olive oil to keep it from sticking and soaking up all your dressing later.

Combine everything in a large bowl: pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella, bell pepper, cucumber, onion, olives, parmesan, and parsley.

process shot for adding the pasta salad ingredients to a bowl and then pouring the dressing over the salad.

Pour the dressing over and toss well. Taste and adjust salt if needed.

Garnish with fresh basil and serve cold or at room temperature.

Common Questions

What do you eat pasta salads with?

Pasta salads are considered a side dish or sometimes served as an appetizer. It can be served with many different types of main dishes like sandwiches, homemade hamburgers, grilled Italian chicken breast, baked chicken drumsticks, chicken strips, and so on.

Can Pasta salads be made the day before?

Absolutely. In fact, it is a great make-ahead dish that can be prepared in advance and enjoyed throughout the week. You can mix in the dressing and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Pasta salads taste even better the next day. If you like your tomatoes to stay crunchy though you may chop and add them in when ready to serve.

Do you rinse pasta when making pasta salad?

Yes. Rinse it under cold water right after draining. It stops the cooking, removes the starch that makes pasta clump, and gets it cold which you want for a pasta salad.

How do you keep pasta salad from absorbing dressing?

If you find that your pasta salads tend to be a bit on the dry side because they absorb all the dressing, then you can add a bit of olive or avocado oil to your pasta and then toss it together before adding the dressing. This will help prevent the pasta from absorbing the dressing to an extent where it feels a bit dry.

What if I don’t have rotini?

Any short pasta works. You can use penne, farfalle, or fusilli. Just avoid long pasta like spaghetti; it doesn’t mix well with the chunky ingredients.

How do I add more protein?

You can add sliced grilled chicken, chickpeas, or tuna are the easiest additions. The mozzarella helps, but if you want this as a full meal, add a protein.

a serving of pasta salad in a round bowl.

More pasta salad recipes

If you try a recipe and you like it, leave me some feedback in the comment section below, and don’t forget to rate it! I would love it if you shared it with friends and family.