Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette is an essential to keep in your back pocket at all times. It’s simple to make, easily customizable, and is the perfect accompaniment to so many different meals. For a picnic, potluck, or just a easy meal for any weeknight, try this pasta salad now and you’ll crave it all the time!
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Let’s Talk Pasta Salad Basics
To make this Easy Pasta Salad the best we can make it, let’s go over a few things first.
To begin, pasta needs to be seasoned. The way to do this is through the cooking water. The water should taste almost as salty as sea water. Don’t be scared to add a heaping handful to your water to start!
Next, don’t overcook it! Pasta doesn’t need to be cooked until it’s falling apart. Just cook according to package instructions (to al dente) and it’ll be great!
As far as shape, use your favorite, but I do suggest one with a lot of nooks and crannies. This is so that the vinaigrette gets in there all nicey-nice. I picked bow tie for this recipe, but use whatever looks good to you!
Making the Parmesan Vinaigrette
The parmesan vinaigrette for the easy cold pasta salad is super easy and comes together quickly…which is exactly what we like! Simply mix everything together and set aside. It’s also a wonderful salad dressing just by itself!
Pasta Salad ingredients
- Avocado Oil
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Pepperoncini Peppers
- Parmesan Cheese
- Dried Oregano
- Dijon Mustard
- Chives
- Your Favorite Pasta Shape
- Salami
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Red Onion
- Sweet Peppers
- Zucchini
- Tomatoes
How to make Pasta Salad
To put this easy cold pasta salad together, just toss all the ingredients together!
I throw in the chopped salami, cheese and veggies and drizzle with the 3/4 of the vinaigrette. Taste for any needed salt and pepper at the end. Then I add in the pasta. Toss and taste for salt and pepper. Add the remaining vinaigrette if you like it with more sauce. That’s it!
I like to guild the lily with a little extra parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes, to be honest. But, that’s it! Serve along side your meal of choice or simply enjoy all by itself. It’s a win-win no matter how you do it.
Time needed: 45 minutes
For the Best Easy Pasta Salad Recipe, simply:
- Parmesan Vinaigrette
Whisk all ingredients together and set aside.
- Cook pasta and prepare the add-ins.
Cook pasta of choice according to package instructions. Toss remaining ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle approximately 3/4 of vinaigrette over the veggies, meat, and cheese. Toss to combine.
- Drain and toss with the goodies.
Drain pasta. Add to the vinaigrette coated veggies, meat, and cheese. Add remaining vinaigrette if desired. Salt and pepper, to taste.
- Garnish and Enjoy!
Garnish with fresh chives, basil, and/or parsley. Enjoy!
Make It Your Way
One of the best things about this type of cold pasta salad is its flexibility. You can add almost any vegetable imaginable. Think artichoke hearts, pickled okra, mushrooms, or even spice it up with some fresh jalapeños! Use whatever pasta shape you want – rotini, fusilli, bow-tie, and on and on.
For cheeses , think feta or parmesan chunks. Pepper jack cubes or even a simple colby-jack would be delicious. Meats could range from salami to capicola to proscuitto and everything in between. You could even use a rotisserie chicken in this easy pasta salad! Whatever makes your heart happy!
More Salad Ideas
If you’re in the mood for more salads, try my dill pickle ranch salad. The dressing alone is worth it and you can even use that for your next take on pasta salad!
Try my grinder salad recipe if you’re in the mood for a salad that’s wonderfully tangy and delicious AND you can turn into a sandwich dreams are made of!
And, let’s not forget, I have the Best Tuna Salad recipe you’ll ever need!
salad recipes
frequently asked questions
Absolutely! All you need to do is use your favorite gluten-free pasta option!
All you need to do to make this recipe dairy-free is substitute the parmesan cheese for nutritional yeast. As for the mozzarella pearls, you can simply leave those out or substitute your favorite non-dairy cheese.
This recipe is wonderful for so many things. It’s a great meal prep recipe that can be served for lunch throughout the week. Have a party or get together? This recipe is the perfect thing to bring! My pasta salad recipe is great for everything from church potlucks to a side for grilled steaks in the summer!
Recipe and Kitchen Essentials
This microplane is such a wonderful tool in the kitchen. I use mine on everything from cheeses to lemons and limes. It’s an affordable addition to your culinary arsenal!
Another great tool for this recipe, and in my opinion, a kitchen essential, is a nice whisk set. This particular set has three different sizes and is in a great price range.
shop more kitchen essentials
Easy Pasta Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Parmesan Vinaigrette
- ¾ cup olive oil
- ¾ cup avocado oil
- 1 cup red wine vinegar
- 1½ cup parmesan, finely grated
- 2 tbsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- ½ cup chives, minced
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Pasta Salad
- 1 lb uncooked pasta of choice
- 2 cups zucchini, diced
- 2 cups salami, diced
- 2 cups fresh mozzarella pearls
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1½ cups pepperoncini peppers, finely diced
- 1 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup mixed sweet peppers, sliced into rings
Instructions
Parmesan Vinaigrette
- Whisk all ingredients together and set aside.
Pasta Salad
- Cook pasta of choice according to package instructions.
- Toss remaining ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle approximately 3/4 of vinaigrette over the veggies, meat, and cheese. Toss to combine.
- Drain pasta. Add to the vinaigrette coated veggies, meat, and cheese. Add remaining vinaigrette if desired. Salt and pepper, to taste.
- Garnish with fresh chives, basil, and/or parsley.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you guys make this Easy Pasta Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Easy Pasta Salad recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or review. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
–Rufus
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