Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

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

I love cold pasta salads and this easy zesty Italian pasta salad is the one I’ve been making a lot lately.  This is a great pasta salad to share with family and friends at get togethers, BBQs and parties

Looking for more pasta salads?  Try this greek pasta salad or this caprese pasta salad.

This 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 black olives, fresh basil and a zesty Italian dressing made with red pepper flakes and oregano.

Pasta salad recipes are a great make ahead recipe that hold 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.

Why I’m sharing this recipe

Easy to make:  Pasta salads are quick and easy to make – this one is ready in 20 minutes.

Customizable:  This recipe if packed with vegetables but you can easily customize it to include vegetables that your whole family enjoys.

Stores well:  Cold pasta salads hold up well in the refrigerator so make a big batch.

Key ingredients to make this recipe

Pasta: I used rotini but penne or fusilli will work as well.

Vegetables:  This recipe is packed with vegetables – cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts and black kalamata olives.

Mozzarella:  Fresh is best.  I used small mozzarella balls that I sliced in half.

Zesty Italian Dressing:  This recipe features a homemade dressing that’s easy to make.

Step by step instructions

Step 1:  Boil the pasta in a large pot water according to the package instructions.  Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water until the pasta is cool.

Step 2:  While the pasta is cooking, prep all the rest of the ingredients and make the salad dressing. 

Step 3:  Add the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl and add the remaining ingredients.  Add the zesty salad dressing to the bowl and toss everything together to combine.

Top tips for making this recipe

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

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?  Yes, you can make this pasta salad ahead of time.  It holds up well in the fridge and by making it ahead of time you allow the flavors to blend.  Give a good stir before serving.

What else can I add to this zesty Italian pasta salad?  Bell peppers, pepperoncini peppers, broccoli, red onion, sun dried tomatoes, chickpeas or fresh parsley would be good additions to this salad.

Salt your pasta water.  By adding salt to the pasta water you are adding flavor to the pasta.  Don’t be afraid to add salt to the pasta water – the pasta will not be overly salty.

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!

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