The Best Italian Pasta Salad

A bowl of Italian pasta salad with tomatoes, salami, and parsley

This is absolutely The Best Italian Pasta Salad! Salami, tomatoes, olives, onions, roasted red peppers, and a spicy pepperoncini vinaigrette. So delicious!

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The Best Italian Pasta Salad

Most of us have had our fair share of Italian pasta salads, but what makes the BEST Italian pasta salad? Let me tell you, perfectly cooked pasta, a collection of ingredients that vary in flavor, tang, and texture, and an absolutely mouthwatering homemade Italian vinaigrette that you may want to start drizzling on everything. Read on to learn more about The Best Italian Pasta Salad!

A bowl of Italian pasta salad with tomatoes, salami, and parsley

How To Make Italian Pasta Salad

Making this tasty pasta salad requires a few steps to yield the most delicious results. 

The basics of the recipe are:

  1. Make your pasta! I like using a short cut of pasta, since it’s easier to fit on your fork! I used fusilli here, since the corkscrew pasta is the quintessential option for an Italian pasta salad! The nooks and crannies of each piece are perfect for catching pockets of dressing.
  2. Prep your veg. If you’re a movie in the kitchen, fear not! I break down how to prepare a number of different vegetables in this article. It’s part of my broader series titled “So Happy In The Kitchen”, which is dedicated to teaching you to love to cook!
  3. Make your dressing. Now, you could easily opt for a store bought version to reduce prep time, but I promise you: you will not regret making this super tangy and delicious Italian dressing!It includes pepperoncini peppers which add a briny layer of flavor that is absolutely mouthwatering! 
A white bowl filled with Italian pasta salad

Ways To Make Italian Pasta Salad Your Own

While I definitely recommend you start with this recipe as it’s written, there are so many delicious ways you can make this pasta salad your own. There are a number of different ingredients you can swap in: here are a few ideas!

  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Shredded carrot
  • Zucchini
  • Kalamata or green olives
  • Feta or goat cheese
  • Fresh oregano or basil
  • Use your favorite store-bought Italian vinaigrette
  • Pump up the vegetables and reduce the pasta for a lightened up version!
A bowl of Italian pasta salad with tomatoes, salami, and parsley
A bowl of Italian pasta salad with tomatoes, salami, and parsley

What To Serve With Italian Pasta Salad

Italian pasta salad with salami, tomatoes, olives, parsley, roasted red pepper, and cheese

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Italian pasta salad with salami, tomatoes, olives, parsley, roasted red pepper, and cheese
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

The Best Italian Pasta Salad

This is absolutely The Best Italian Pasta Salad! Salami, tomatoes, olives, onions, roasted red peppers, and a spicy pepperoncini vinaigrette. So delicious!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time10 hours
Chilling Time:1 hour
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Black Olives, Italian, Pasta Salad, Salami, Side Dishes, Tomatoes
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 lb fusilli pasta, cooked
  • 1 cup red onion, chopped
  • 2 cups chopped cherry tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 cups salami, sliced into bite-sized pieces
  • 12 oz jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
  • 8 oz black olives, sliced
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese pearls (or cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • 1 cup parsley, chopped

For the pepperoncini dressing:

  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 2 Tbsp dried oregano
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers, drained

Instructions

  • Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a small food processor or blend. Process until fully combined.
  • Add pasta, tomatoes, red onion, salami, roasted red peppers, olives, mozzarella cheese, and parsley to a large bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and toss completely to combine.
  • Sprinkle with extra parsley to serve. You can enjoy it immediately or refrigerate it for up to 1 day in advance.
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4 thoughts on “The Best Italian Pasta Salad

    1. Thank you Dee! Oh no…I’ll need to review that cook time! Haha, I may have listed a chill time, but that still seems overkill 😉 Thanks for the callout!

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