Italian Pasta Salad

This vegetarian Italian pasta salad is a quick and tasty recipe filled with bright summer flavors.  An easy recipe to make for parties, BBQ or picnics – it’s ready in only 20 minutes. 

I love pasta salad in the summer and this Italian pasta salad is the one I’ve been making all summer long.  This is a great pasta salad to share with family and friends at get togethers, BBQs and parties. 

This Italian pasta salad is quick and easy to make – it’s full of healthy veggies and packed with flavor.  It has sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, salty olives, fresh basil and a zesty vinaigrette.

This pasta salad is a great make ahead recipe that holds up well in the fridge for a few days.  It works well as both a main meal or side dish.  Leftovers are easy to pack up in individual containers so you have a grab and go lunch ready for the next day.

Step by step instructions on how to make this easy Italian pasta salad:

• Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.  Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water until the pasta is cool.
• While the pasta is cooking, prep all the rest of the ingredients and make the salad dressing. 
• Add the cooled pasta to a large bowl and add the remaining ingredients.  Add the salad dressing to the bowl and toss everything together to combine.

Tips and questions about making this Italian pasta salad:

What kind of pasta should I use?  I used rotini pasta – a short curly pasta.  Penne would be a good choice as well.  Avoid long thin strands of pasta – those won’t work in this dish.

I don’t have roasted red peppers – what can I use instead?  If you don’t have a jar of roasted red pepper on hand, you can chop up a fresh green bell pepper or red bell pepper instead.  

What else can I add to this Italian pasta salad?  Bell peppers or sun dried tomatoes would be good additions to this salad.

Can I make this salad and store it in the refrigerator?  Yes!  It holds up really well in the refrigerator for a few days – so make a big batch.  If making ahead for a party, I would add the basil and parsley right before serving for a prettier presentation.

Looking for more easy summer salad recipes?  Then try one of these reader favorites:

• Tomato, cucumber, avocado salad – everyone loves this one!
• Israeli Couscous Salad with Summer Vegetables – easy to make and full of fresh veggies.
• Greek Pasta Salad – a cool refreshing pasta salad with greek flavors.

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If you make this recipe and enjoy it, please come back and leave a comment and rating.  I’d love to hear from you!