This easy pasta salad with Italian dressing is loaded with tender pasta, crisp veggies, and bold, zesty flavor. A crowd-pleasing side dish that’s perfect for potlucks or BBQs!

Colorful pasta salad with Italian dressing in a glass bowl, made with tri-color rotini, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, olives, and peppers.

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Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

When it comes to BBQ potluck side dishes, cold pasta salad recipes are a must! Whether it’s macaroni salad, pasta salad with spinach or Caprese pasta salad they are simple and crowd-pleasing.

I got this easy pasta salad with Italian dressing from my mother-in-law and changed a few things up to make it my own. Instead of a creamy dressing like in my bacon ranch pasta salad it’s simply made with spiral noodles, vibrant veggies, and a tangy Italian dressing.

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“Yummy! This is such a delicious and very colorful pasta salad! We love how tasty and easy this recipe is! Excited to make this again!”

Beth

Pasta Salad Ingredients

Rotini pasta, green and red bell pepper, mozzarella balls, red onion cherry tomatoes and olives in a bowl with Italian dressing to the side.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Rotini pasta: This is my favorite pasta to use, as the dressing adheres it to so nicely and the tri-color is pretty.
  • Bell peppers: Red and green add a nice bit of spice to the easy pasta salad recipe.
  • Red onion: Italian dressing and red onions are a match made in heaven.
  • Cherry tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes add a burst of sweetness to the salad.
  • Black olives: These are a great way to punch up the flavor.
  • Mozzarella: The small fresh mozzarella balls are a perfect size for pasta.
  • Italian dressing: I love to use my homemade recipe, but store-bought works as well. Sometimes I mix it up with my Olive Garden salad dressing recipe!
  • Fresh herbs: Parsley or basil are my picks for the best pasta salad recipe.

How to Make Easy Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

Tossing pasta salad ingredients with Italian dressing in a large glass bowl using wooden salad servers.
  • Cook. Make sure the rotini pasta is cooked and cooled.
  • Combine. Stir together the rotini, bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, olives, and mozzarella in a large bowl.
  • Chill. Drizzle with Italian dressing and sprinkle with fresh herbs over the easy pasta salad recipe. Toss then place in the fridge until ready to serve.

Recipe Tips

  • Salt the water. A trick when boiling the pasta is to salt the water first. It helps improve the flavor of the noodles, as well as helps the water boil slightly faster.
  • Cook pasta al dente. The goal is to cook the noodles al dente so that they’re tender to bite but will still remain sturdy enough to hold up in this Italian easy pasta salad recipe.
  • Pasta shape. Try different pasta noodles like farfalle, penne, or rigatoni, they are sturdy and will lock in the dressing. Save spaghetti for my spaghetti salad recipe!
  • Extras. Mix in some pepperoni or chopped salami, sliced cucumbers, corn, broccoli or cauliflower, and chickpeas, or add a sprinkling of fresh Parmesan cheese. Swap feta for mozzarella, or leave the cheese out entirely to make this a vegan dish.
  • Let is chill. For the best pasta salad side dish, refrigerate a few hours before serving. This gives the dressing time to soak in and makes the salad extra flavorful. Also, a cold pasta salad is so refreshing on a hot summer day!

Make Ahead Friendly

This Italian pasta salad recipe can be made the night before if you prefer. The longer it marinates in the fridge, the more flavor it will have. I love to make it ahead of time and then when ready to serve, I’ll add fresh chopped parsley and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Delicious!

Bowl of cold pasta salad with Italian dressing garnished with fresh basil and ready to serve.

More summer pasta salad recipes to try include easy Italian tortellini pasta salad, chicken pesto pasta salad and this orzo salad recipe.

More Pasta Salad Recipes

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Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

5 from 24 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 16
Filled with tender pasta, crisp veggies and a zesty Italian dressing, this delicious and easy pasta salad is a potluck must-have!
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Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 (1-pound) box tri-color rotini pasta
  • 1 red bell pepper , chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper , chopped
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes , sliced in half
  • ½ sliced red onion
  • 1 cup sliced olives
  • 8 ounces small mozzarella balls
  • 1 cup Italian dressing , more if desired
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (parsley or basil)
  • Shredded parmesan cheese , optional

Optional add-ins: Chickpeas, Snap peas, Chopped salami or pepperoni

Instructions

  • Cook rotini according to package. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  • In a large bowl, stir together rotini, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, olives, and mozzarella balls.
  • Pour Italian dressing over the top and sprinkle with fresh herbs. Cover and chill at least 2 hours. Top with parmesan cheese, if desired, before serving.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Dressing: Here is my favorite homemade Italian dressing recipe or try this easy vinaigrette dressing.
Substitutions: You may substitute mozzarella for feta cheese, or omit the cheese all together to make vegan. Other types of noodles will also work, such as penne or fusilli. 
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 136kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 291mg, Potassium: 105mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 432IU, Vitamin C: 21mg, Calcium: 64mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe FAQs

Can I double the recipe for this easy pasta salad with Italian dressing?

Absolutely! Just be sure to use a big enough bowl when stirring everything together.

Do I have to use rotini pasta?

Traditionally this dish is made with rotini noodles. They have the perfect shape and ridges to really soak in the flavor from the Italian dressing. That doesn’t mean you can’t use other varieties of noodles though. Penne, fusilli, or bow-tie pasta would all work great, too.

How long is a pasta salad with Italian dressing good for?

When stored covered in the refrigerator your pasta salad should stay fresh for about 5 days. If the pasta has soaked up all the dressing, add a bit more pasta salad dressing to freshen it up.

Can I freeze leftover pasta salad?

I don’t recommend freezing the pasta salad once it has been assembled as the veggies will change texture once thawed. You could freeze plain cooked pasta in advance by tossing it with a bit of olive, flash-freezing it, and then freezing it until ready to use. When ready to use just thaw and proceed with the recipe.