Best Italian Pasta Salad

Close-up of Italian pasta salad in a small white bowl.

5 from 1 vote

You’ll be obsessed with this Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Recipe as soon as you try it! It’s a family-friendly dish featuring rotini noodles, yummy salami, crisp vegetables, creamy mozzarella pearls, and a delicious homemade dressing.

Prep Time10

Cook Time12

Total Time22

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Italian Pasta Salad, Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

Servings:

Calories: 557kcal

Author: Ryan Allen

Equipment

Glass Mixing Bowls

Ingredients

Pasta Salad

16 oz rotini pasta
10 oz salami (chopped into ¼ inch pieces)
1 cup English cucumber (quartered and sliced)
2 cups grape tomatoes (halved)
1 ½ cups bell peppers (diced, I like two use two different colors)
½ cup red onion (chopped)
8 oz black olives (drained and sliced)
8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls
½ cup parmesan cheese (shredded)
½ cup parsley (chopped)

Dressing

1 ¼ cup olive oil
3 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1 ½ tbsp Italian seasoning
2 tsp sugar
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp garlic (minced)
1 tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

In a large pot, cook pasta according to the package directions on the box for al dente. Drain in a large colander and rinse with cold water to cool the pasta down. Then set aside.
Add, olive oil, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, sugar, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper to a medium bowl. Whisk until well combined and set aside.
Add cooked pasta and the remaining pasta salad ingredients to a large bowl. Then pour dressing over the top. Mix until well combined!
Serve cold, and enjoy!

Notes

If you can't find pearl-sized fresh mozzarella, you can easily substitute it with fresh mozzarella in brick or ball shape cut into small cubes.
Can't track down salami? Mini pepperonis make a tasty alternative. They offer a similar flavor and are a great stand-in for this recipe.
When cutting the veggies, aim for uniform, bite-sized pieces.
If you're making this ahead of time, keep a few ingredients separate until it's time to serve the salad. Add the fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and herbs last to maintain their texture and keep the salad from getting too watery.
Sprinkle fresh basil on the salad when you go to serve it to add more color and freshness.

Nutrition