The trick to a great pasta salad, in my opinion, is that it should be more of a “salad pasta.” The salad comes first! Starting with a delicious salad is how I develop a next-level pasta salad recipe, whether it’s this Italian Pasta Salad, my Greek version or Orzo Strawberry Pasta Salad, just to name a few favorites. And by that I mean the pasta is more of a supporting role–something that’s there to soak up a really zippy, aromatic Italian dressing and humbly bow down to all fresh and briny things I’m going to add. For this antipasto salad-inspired number, I add the all-star Italian ingredients: bright bell peppers, juicy cherry tomatoes, tangy artichoke hearts, briney olives, spicy pepperoncini, rich salami, creamy mozzarella cheese, and fresh parsley and basil. It’s a pasta salad I could truly eat every day, right out of the container standing by my fridge, and never get sick of it. I’m packing it up for picnics and BBQs all summer long, and eating the leftovers for lunch. It’s mayo-free and not at all sad about it, and keeps for up to 5 days. Salad pasta for the win!
Italian Pasta Salad Ingredients and Substitutions
This pasta salad with Italian dressing uses all easy to find ingredients and pantry staples. You’ll need:
For the Pasta Salad
Pasta: I like fusilli or rotini pasta, since the sauce soaks into all the grooves and nooks. Any short pasta you have will work though, like bowtie or penne. Cherry tomatoes are nicely sweet and juicy, but any firm-when-ripe tomato will work, like Roma or grape. Bell pepper: Use any color you like, with red being the sweetest and purple being the most vegetal. You can use baby bell peppers too for an extra sweet pop of flavor. Shallot adds oniony goodness without overpowering the flavor, but scallion, chives, or 1/2 red onion could also work. Marinated artichoke hearts add a layer of tartness. Olives bring a briny element. I love the boldness of Kalamata, but something buttery like Castelvetrano would also be delicious (or a combination of your favorites). Pepperoncini adds an assertive pickled and spicy flavor. If you don’t like spicy, substitute with cornichons. Salami adds an extra rich and savory element, but you can substitute with your favorite cured meat of choice. For a vegetarian option, leave out the salami or substitute with sun dried tomatoes (we carry my favorite all-natural variety at our shop). Mozzarella adds rich creaminess. For dairy-free option, simply leave it out. For a lower lactose option, substitute with shaved Parmesan or Pecorino. Fresh herbs: Parsley and basil bring a classic Italian-style aroma, but any tender green herbs you like can work, like dill, mint, or tarragon.
For the Dressing
Olive oil is the base of the dressing. Because its flavor is soaked into the pasta, a high quality extra virgin variety is essential. No surprise, but I love our Italian Nocellara with this recipe. White wine vinegar adds a bold puckery tartness. Red wine or Champagne vinegar would also work. Fresh garlic adds a spicy kick and depth of flavor. Dried oregano is stronger than fresh, imparting a strong, classically Mediterranean flavor (more info below). Crushed red pepper flakes and black pepper build on each other for a more complex heat. Kosher salt enhances the flavor of both the dressing and the salad.
Ingredient Spotlight
Oregano is from the mint family, along with a number of Mediterranean heavy-hitters like rosemary, sage, thyme, basil, and lavender. The dried leaves are a staple ingredient throughout the region, but particularly in Italian and Greek kitchens. It’s the most dominant flavor behind Italian seasoning: a pleasant touch of bitterness with a peppery undertone and wonderfully aromatic quality. Italians are known for giving very simple, humble food this incredible richness, and I would give oregano, good olive oil, and a bold amount of garlic a lot credit for this talent. And though it doesn’t need to be super fancy, a high quality oregano will make all the difference in terms of potency and flavor. Look for green leaves and a strong aroma, which indicates freshness and proper drying by the producer.
TRY IT: Try our dried whole oregano bunch and highest quality dried oregano at our spice shop.
How to Make this Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Italian pasta salad is essentially 4 steps: Boil the pasta, mix, dress, and serve. Easy as that! But try to allow at least 30 minutes for the pasta to soak up all the flavor.
Get ready. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, a pinch of salt and pepper, and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (depending on how spicy you like things). Set aside. Cook the pasta. Generously salt the boiling water, then add the pasta and cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain and add to a large mixing bowl. Toss the pasta salad. To the bowl with the pasta, add 1 pint halved tomatoes, 1 chopped bell pepper, 1 chopped shallot, 1 cup artichoke hearts, 1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, 6 chopped pepperoncini, 6-8 ounces sliced salami, 6 ounces mozzarella, and 1/2 packed cup each of chopped parsley and basil. Toss to combine. Dress the salad. Pour the dressing over the pasta and toss to coat. Serve immediately, or better yet let it sit for 30 minutes to soak up all the flavor.
What to Serve with Italian Pasta Salad
This satisfying Italian pasta salad can stand as its own meal, and I often eat it for lunch. And it’s a no brainer for the next BBQ! But it also makes a great, satisfying side for simple grilled things. You have the meat covered with the salad, so I like to keep it light and colorful with Grilled Vegetable Kabobs, Corn on the Cob, and/or Fruit Salad. For dessert, usher in peak summer vibes with Strawberry Shortcakes with Sumac, Whipped Labneh, and Mint. Browse all Mediterranean recipes. Visit Our Shop
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Hand-picked and cold extracted Extra Virgin Olive Oil from 100% Nocellara del Belice Sicilian olives.
