This delicious and easy pasta salad is a potluck must-have! Filled with pasta, veggies and Italian dressing. This really is the best pasta salad out there!
There’s always a cold pasta salad at every potluck. It’s one of those sides that everyone loves and looks forward to. If you’re looking for more potluck favorites, check out my broccoli salad with bacon, cucumber tomato salad, ramen noodle cabbage salad, southwest cornbread salad and honey lime fruit salad.
Cold pasta salad
When it comes to potluck side dishes, cold pasta salad is a must! It’s always a hit with the crowd and is so simple to throw together. Plus the leftovers taste delicious all week long (that is, if there are any!).
I got this easy pasta salad recipe from my mother in law and changed a few things up to make it my own. It’s made with just noodles, veggies and Italian dressing. I mean, does it get more simple than that?!
Simply throw in your favorite extras to make it your own and dig in! Trust me, this easy pasta salad is a dish that your whole family will love. It really is a favorite around our house!
How to make pasta salad
This easy pasta salad comes together in just 20 minutes and is so simple tom make! Just follow the simple steps below to get started and scroll down for the printable pasta salad recipe.
- Prepare noodles. Cook noodles according to package. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Combine ingredients. Add all ingredients to a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Add dressing and chill. Pour Italian dressing on top and sprinkle with fresh parsley or basil. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with parmesan cheese if desire.
Can you make pasta salad the night before?
Yes, you can definitely make this cold pasta salad recipe the night before. 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 some parmesan cheese. Delicious!
How long will pasta salad keep in the refrigerator?
The beauty of this cold pasta salad is that it will keep in the fridge for 5-7 days. Leftovers are perfect to enjoy throughout the week and make an amazing side dish for so many lunches or dinners.
What main dish goes with pasta salad?
Our favorite main dish to serve with pasta salad is grilled meat! Whether it’s hamburgers, chicken or steak, they all taste delicious alongside the pasta. For lunch we like to serve the cold pasta salad with sandwiches, such as an egg salad sandwich, grilled caprese sandwich or chicken caesar wrap. Yum!
Other pasta salad recipes:
- Tortellini Italian pasta salad
- Chicken caesar pasta salad
- Pesto chicken pasta salad
- Orzo salad with vinaigrette
- BLT pasta salad
- Macaroni salad
Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound box tri-color rotini noodles
- 1 red bell pepper , chopped
- 1 green bell pepper , chopped
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes , sliced in half
- 1/2 red onion , sliced
- 1 cup sliced olives
- 8 ounces small mozzarella balls
- 1 cup Italian dressing or vinaigrette , more if desired
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley or basil , chopped
Optional add ins: chick peas, snap peas, shredded parmesan cheese, chopped salami, fresh parsley or basil
Instructions
- Cook noodles according to package. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl.
- Pour Italian dressing over the top and sprinkle with fresh parsley or basil. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with parmesan cheese if desired.
Nutrition
Fresh cherry tomatoes are my favorite. Topped with Italian dressing…mmm. Don’t you just want to take a bite?!
Made this yesterday and had to make a new batch….didn’t last long….yum
I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for your comment! :)
Am I crazy or does the picture look like sugar snap peas instead of chickpeas? Lol I love both and I’m sure the recipe would be equally great with either!
I rate myself at 3 on a scale of 10 as far as cooking skills are concerned.
And I’ve come across such amazingly simple yet wonderful recipes around here today that I am sure come back for more in the near future.
Already subscribed to your email updates. :)
That looks awesome….love the jars. Do you have a special place you get them ?
Thanks Bev! I found the jars at Target. Love that store! :)
it sounds like a perfect dish for hot summer days. looks awesome, too!
I love this salad and I am sure that I can eat a lot of this. Thanks for sharing the recipe so I am sure that I will make this one afterward.
This looks delicious! Great pics too.
Thanks Kara! It’s such a yummy and easy salad. XO
We make this salad all the time in the summer! We add black olives, cubed cheese, and turkey pepperoni to it also! So good and the kids love it!
I love pasta salad and make one similar to this one. I use Bernstein’s Cheese Fantastico Italian dressing. It is awesome and stands up well with the pasta and veggies.
Yes! It is one of my favorite salads too, especially in the summer. Sometimes i also add cubed cheese and black olives. Like you said, it is so simple and so easy to make it your own.