There are certain classic recipes that are tried and true for a reason. This is definitely one of them! It’s an American staple pasta salad filled with simple and easy-to-find ingredients, and putting everything together is almost effortless.
If you like this salad, then you will love our Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta.
Why Our Recipe
- A quick and easy homemade Italian dressing that has the perfect flavor.
- All the little goodies like mini pepperoni, mozzarella, olives, pepperoncini, and more!
- Use with rotini pasta for the classic spirals, or mix it up with other pasta shapes.
The homemade Italian dressing really takes this dish up a notch. Paired with noodles, tomatoes, pepperoncini to add a bit of heat, and a bit of pepperoni. Serve it as an appetizer or as a side. Despite the name of this dish, it’s not really Italian at all. Though it gets its name from the addition of Italian dressing, it is very much an American dish. It’s great to bring along to a picnic, potluck, or barbecue. Who will you share yours with?
Ingredient Notes
- Rotini Pasta: We love using this shape of noodle, but you can feel free to use bowties, shells, radiatore, or macaroni.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes also work and you can use red or yellow.
- Fresh Mini Mozzarella Balls: These are our favorite in this dish, but you can use whatever type of cheese you prefer. Some other great options are diced block mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and cheddar.
- Sliced Olives: The sliced black olives in a can are a great option, or you could go green.
- Mini Pepperonis: Easily swap for regular, sliced pepperonis or salami.
- Pepperoncinis: You could also substitute with banana peppers.
- Red Onion: Diced into small pieces for the perfect bite. You can use sliced green onions if red is still too strong.
- Italian Dressing: We always recommend making homemade dressing, but we also know that you may not always have time. In that case, opt for your favorite bottled Italian dressing.
To Rinse or Not to Rinse
Rinsing pasta for warm pasta dishes is usually a big no-no – don’t get us started on wasting that precious pasta water! That said, for this dish you should rinse your rotini. Rinsing your noodles in cold water will stop them from cooking any further. It will also get rid of a lot of the starch that causes them to stick together. Finally, you need to use cold pasta for this recipe, and running the rotini under cool water will speed up the cooling process.
Make-Ahead
If you’re a fan of meal prepping, or simply want to get ahead of schedule before a big picnic or barbecue, you can make your classic pasta salad ahead of time. Cook the pasta and let it cool completely before placing it in the fridge. As a note, cooked pasta will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also prepare the dressing in advance and also store it in the fridge. We recommend chopping the rest of the ingredients just before you plan on serving for the best results.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
We highly recommend that you don’t try to freeze this Italian pasta salad. Freezing can give the pasta a funky texture when you defrost it, and the other ingredients generally don’t defrost well either.
VERY GOOD
Great recipe! I made this and added some cutup caprese sausages that I sauteed in a little Ghee til golden brown. Got us through a few hot summer nights and the guys loved it. Did add some salt & pepper to taste to the dressing but that’s just my personal preference as I’m sure is just as good without. Whether you stick to the classic recipe or add different veggies and/or proteins this is a keeper. The dressing is perfect, complementing the flavors of the other ingredients without being overbearing. Thanks!
CCan this be made with homemade ranch dressing?
Worth a try for Ranch dressing lovers!
Great salad. I used this dressing instead of making my own. It seems to be made for such a salad! Available at Walmart and Sam’s Club.: Virginia Brand Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette
Dear Rachel, This salad is fun and delicious. I love pasta salads like this….my family would love this too. Perfect for lunch or dinner!
Can you use elbow macaroni instead of rotini pasta?
Absolutely!
Found your recipe by chance after being assigned the duty of a pasta salad for my daughter’s volleyball team. Everyone loved it- even my picky daughter!
I left out the olives and added cooked chicken breast and substituted the pepperoncini for green pepper. There were no leftovers. So happy I found this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Rachel, I tried this salad yesterday for a potluck dinner with friends. It was a hit and I didn’t have any left over! I made it exactly as your recipe states and it was perfect, light, fresh and soooo colorful!! It was almost too pretty to eat! Thanks for all your recipes and I love the videos.
Sounds perfectly delicious! I love a good, traditional recipe that’s done right.
looks yummy! THANKS!