A quick and easy pasta salad with a tangy 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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Pasta salad is so simple to make and absolutely delicious. Tender pasta tossed with all sorts of veggies, meats and cheeses and then marinated in a wonderful vinaigrette that'll just knock your socks off! What's not to like about that!
You can have it as a side dish, add some rotisserie chicken or grilled shrimp to it for a quick and easy lunch, or bring it to your next get together with friends. You just cannot go wrong!
What You'll Need (The Main Players)
Pasta - Use your favorite short cut pasta. I had bow tie, so that's what I used. I do recommend something with plenty of grooves to grab onto the vinaigrette!
Veggies - I used zucchini, red onion, tomatoes, and sweet peppers along with tangy pepperoncini.
Meat and Cheeses - We love salami around here and mini fresh mozzarella balls!
Vinaigrette - parmesan, extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, and red wine vinegar make up the majority of it. A little dried oregano and dijon mustard amp up the flavors.
Variations and Substitutions
For veggies - Think artichoke hearts, pickled okra, mushrooms, or even spice it up with some fresh jalapeños or even pickled 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.
Proteins - 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!
Make it spicy - You can add red chili flakes to the vinaigrette or your favorite spicy pepper to the pasta salad itself! There are a ton of fun pickled spicy options, too!
Other pickled things - Anything from your favorite olive to pickled green beans and briny pickled okra go great with pic
Fresh herbs - I love adding fresh herbs to this pasta salad, especially during the summer when my garden is overflowing. Anything from parsley to basil to tarragon would be so good here. Have fun with it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this pasta salad gluten-free?
Absolutely! All you need to do is use your favorite gluten-free pasta option!
Can this pasta salad be made dairy-free?
All you need to do to make this recipe dairy-free is substitute the parmesan cheese for some nutritional yeast. As for the mozzarella pearls, you can simply leave those out or substitute your favorite non-dairy cheese.
Tips and Tricks
- Cook the pasta in heavily salted water. This is the only time to get actual flavor into the pasta.
- If making the pasta ahead, cook according to package instructions, drain, and toss with a little extra virgin olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Let the pasta salad sit for at least 30 minutes before serving. I think it tastes better the next day.
- If you need to loosen up the pasta salad, toss in a splash of pepperoncini pepper brine.
Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Parmesan Vinaigrette
- ¾ cup olive oil
- ¾ cup avocado oil
- 1 cup red wine vinegar
- 1½ cup parmesan, finely grated
- 2 tablespoon 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. Drain.
- Toss remaining salad ingredients in a large bowl along with cooked pasta. Drizzle approximately ¾ of vinaigrette over the veggies, meat, and cheese. Toss to combine.
- Add remaining vinaigrette if desired or reserve for topping. Salt and pepper, to taste.
- Garnish with fresh chives, basil, and/or parsley.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Storage Instructions
This pasta salad will taste better the next day! I suggest storing it overnight in an airtight container in the fridge before serving. Additionally, it will stay good in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Don't freeze any of the leftovers. It won't end well.
Serving Ideas
This pasta salad 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 smoked St Louis style ribs to a side for grilled steaks in the summer!
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my 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
Other Recipes You'll Love
If you're in the mood for more salads recipes, try my Dill Pickle Pasta Salad. It's a fun twist on this pasta salad and a huge hit when I bring it to get togethers!
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 and Southern Chicken Salad recipe you'll ever need!
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