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    Home » Recipes » Vegetables and Sides » Salads and Salad Dressings

    Italian Pasta Salad

    Pasta ,Pizza, Gnocchi, Salads and Salad Dressings

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    Jump to Recipe
    This Zesty Italian Pasta Salad recipe is packed with fresh vegetables, flavorful herbs, salami, and delicious cheese. It's perfect for potlucks, barbecues, and picnics! Plus, it's easy to make so you can focus on enjoying the warm weather. This antipasto farfalle pasta salad will go fast and this recipe makes plenty for the crowd.

    Look no further than this Italian Pasta Salad if you're looking for a delicious and healthy summer dish! It's perfect for potlucks and barbecues, and it's sure to be a hit with your friends and family. Plus, it's easy to make - just mix together some cooked pasta, fresh garden vegetables, and dressing, and you're good to go! So why wait? Give this salad a try today!

    A large bowl of Italian pasta salad.
    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 🗒 Instructions
    • 🔪 Equipment
    • 🤔 FAQs
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Tips
    • 📚 Variations
    • 🥫 Storage
    • 📗 Related Recipes
    • 🍽 Serve with
    • 📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
    • 📝 Recipe Card
    • Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

    ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

    • It's healthy and flavorful and all your friends and family will love it.
    • It's perfect for potlucks, gatherings, and summer BBQs.
    • So easy to make - just mix, chill, and serve!

    Summertime is the perfect time to enjoy a delicious zesty Italian pasta salad. This recipe is easy to make and will be a hit at any potluck or gathering. The best part is, that it can be tailored to your liking by adding your favorite ingredients.

    🛒 Ingredients

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Image of the ingredients needed to make the Italian Pasta Salad.

    Note: The full list of this recipe ingredients with their amounts and options are listed in the recipe card below.

    • bow tie pasta
    • salami
    • mozzarella
    • Parmesan cheese
    • green bell pepper
    • red onion
    • black olives
    • cherry tomatoes -- may also use grape tomatoes
    • fresh Italian parsley -- may also use fresh basil
    • extra-virgin olive oil
    • white wine vinegar
    • lemon juice
    • garlic cloves
    • Italian seasoning
    • salt and pepper

    🗒 Instructions

    Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

    The first four steps to making the Italian pasta salad.
    1. Add mozzarella, black olives, cherry tomatoes, parsley, red onion, green bell pepper, and salami to a large bowl.
    2. Cook pasta al dente - about 1 minute less than stipulated on the package. The pasta will absorb the delicious dressing. Drain and set aside to cool. Once cooled stir into the veggies in the mixing bowl and toss to combine.
    3. In a small bowl, whisk together all of the vinaigrette ingredients. Mix well.
    4. Pour over the Italian pasta salad ingredients and toss to season all of the ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
    Bow tie pasta salad with antipasto ingredients.
    This antipasto Italian Pasta Salad Recipe is a favorite among the backyard picnic crowd.
    1. Once chilled, serve and enjoy.

    🔪 Equipment

    The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    You’ll need the following items to make this Italian Pasta Salad Recipe successfully.

    • mixing bowl
    • sharp knife
    • cutting board
    • dry measuring cup
    • liquid measuring cup
    • measuring spoons
    • whisk

    🤔 FAQs

    These are the questions we are most frequently asked about making Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad Recipe.

    Does pasta salad exist in Italy?

    Yes, however, it's called "pasta fredda" and or cold pasta. It's typically eaten on a picnic or for lunch on the beach and usually only in the summer months.

    What is an antipasto salad made of?

    Antipasto is a traditional Italian dish that includes various cured meats and cheeses, as well as marinated vegetables.

    Why is it called antipasto salad?

    The word “antipasto” is derived from the Latin root "anti" meaning 'before' and pastus which means meal. The entire course simply refers to dishes that precede all others.

    What are some Italian pastas?

    Some famous Italian pasta dishes are: Pasta alla Norma, Bucatini all'Amatriciana,  Tagliatelle al Ragù Alla Bolognese, Rigatoni Alla Carbonara, Ragù Napoletano, Orecchiette ai Cime di Rapa, Pesto alla Genovese, Vermicelli Alla Puttanesca, Ravioli di Ricotta e Spinaci al Burro e Salvia, Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Tips

    • Cook the pasta to molto al dente so that it doesn't become soggy in the dressing while it chills in the fridge.
    • Cut the ingredients into uniform pieces so that they are evenly divided and you get a little of each flavor in every bite.
    • Be sure to give your pasta salad at least an hour or so to chill so that the flavors have time to develop and soak up the dressing. Notes
    • Leftover pasta salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

    📚 Variations

    • If you want to lighten up this recipe, you can use low-fat or fat-free cheese and dressing.
    • You could also add in some chopped fresh parsley or basil for extra flavor.
    • Switch up the vegetables in this pasta salad recipe by adding your favorites.
    • Use different proteins if your family prefers a certain type of protein with her pasta.
    Farfalle pasta made into an Italian pasta salad with homemade Italian salad dressing.
    When we serve this zesty Italian Pasta Salad recipe the gang always goes back for seconds.

    🥫 Storage

    Leftover pasta salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. I don't recommend freezing this dish as the pasta and veggies will become mushy.

    📗 Related Recipes

    • Tomato Cucumber Salad with a combination tzatziki-raita dressing that is mixed with fresh veggies. It's the perfect light and refreshing side dish for grill night.
    • This Mediterranean Antipasto Herb Pasta Salad is fresh and flavorful and makes for the perfect salad for family dinners.
    • Cheese Tortellini Salad is a simple side dish to make and it's filled with feta, fresh veggies, and delicious cheese-filled tortellini. You will love this simple pasta salad recipe.

    🍽 Serve with

    • Grilled Marinated Venison Steak is a simple dish that is tender, and tasty when grilled to perfection.
    • These Grilled Vegetables are marinated in a delicious Italian marinade that transforms the everyday veggies into a sensational side dish that everyone loves!
    • Are you looking for the perfect dessert for a warm summer day? Look no further than this Easy No Bake Key Lime Pie recipe.

    📞 Chiacchierata (chat)

    Is there anything more summery than a big bowl of pasta salad? This Zesty Italian Pasta Salad recipe is packed with fresh vegetables, flavorful herbs, salami, and delicious cheese. It's perfect for potlucks, barbecues, and picnics! Plus, it's easy to make so you can focus on enjoying the warm weather.

    Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!

    A bowl with Bow tie pasta salad with cheese and salami.
    We love using farfalle pasta in our Italian Pasta Salad Recipes. It captures the zesty seasoned dressing in its little nooks and crevices.

    If you love pasta, then you're going to love this Italian Pasta Salad recipe. It's the perfect mix of flavors and textures, and it's perfect for a summer picnic or barbecue.

    Tutti a tavola, è pronto!

    What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.

    📝 Recipe Card

    Summer is here and that means cookouts and picnics galore! This easy Italian pasta salad recipe is the perfect side dish for all of your summer festivities. It's simple to make and packed with flavor. Plus, it's sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

    If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

    Zesty Italian Pasta Salad in a white bowl.

    Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

    The perfect potluck dish! This Italian Pasta Salad is quick and easy to make, with all your favorite flavors.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: pasta dish - side, pasta salad
    Cuisine: American-Italian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 448kcal
    As An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients

    Salad ingredients

    • 16 ounces Farfalle pasta or Bow Tie Pasta uncooked
    • 1 cup Fresh mozzarella cheese cubed
    • 14 ounces Black olives canned and pitted
    • 1 pint Cherry tomatoes cut in half (may also use grape tomatoes)
    • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Italian parsley finely chopped
    • ½ Red onion diced
    • 1 Green Bell Pepper chopped
    • ½ cup Salami cut into quarters

    Italian Vinaigrette Dressing

    • ¾ cup Extra-virgin olive oil
    • ¼ cup White wine vinegar
    • 2 teaspoon Lemon juice
    • 2 Garlic cloves minced
    • 3 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese grated
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • Salt and Pepper to taste

    Equipment Needed

    • Sharp knife
    • Non-skid cutting board
    • Liquid measuring cup
    • Dry measuring cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Mixing bowl

    Instructions

    Bow Tie Italian Salad

    • Cook pasta al dente - about 1 minutes less that stipulated on package. The pasta will absorb the delicious dressing. Drain and set aside to cool.
    • Add mozzarella, black olives, cherry tomatoes, parsley, red onion, green bell pepper, salami, and cooked pasta to a large bowl. Toss to combine.

    Italian Pasta Salad Dressing

    • In a small bowl, whisk together all of the vinaigrette ingredients. Mix well. Pour over the Italian pasta salad ingredients and toss to season all of the ingredients.
    • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Notes

    • Cook the pasta to molto al dente so that it doesn't become soggy in the dressing while it chills in the fridge.
    • Cut the ingredients into uniform pieces so that they are evenly divided and you get a little of each flavor in every bite.
    • Be sure to give your pasta salad at least an hour or so to chill so that the flavors have time to develop and soak up the dressing. Notes
    • Leftover pasta salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 448kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 851mg | Potassium: 294mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 590IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 2mg

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      Italian Pasta Side Dishes

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