If you’re craving a bold, zesty side dish that’s perfect for cookouts, meal prep, or backyard dinners, this Italian Pasta Salad is about to become your go-to recipe! It’s loaded with chunks of salami, creamy mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and briny olives, all tossed in tangy Italian dressing. Fresh, filling, and packed with flavor! If you are looking for amazing cold pasta salads, don’t miss our Chipotle Lime Pasta Salad!
Why You’ll Love This Italian Pasta Salad
- Make-ahead friendly: It tastes even better after the flavors meld in the fridge.
- Versatile: Serve it as a side dish or bulk it up for a main course.
- Customizable: Great way to use up pantry staples and leftover veggies.
Ingredient Highlights
Here’s what makes this pasta salad shine:
- Penne pasta – Holds the dressing beautifully and has a satisfying bite.
- Salami – Brings savory richness and heartiness.
- Mozzarella + Feta – Creamy, salty, and perfectly balanced.
- Cherry tomatoes – Fresh and juicy, adding brightness and color.
- Black olives + red onion – For briny depth and crunch.
- Fresh parsley – A finishing touch of herbaceous flavor.
- Italian dressing – Zesty, tangy, and the key to tying everything together.
Tips & Variations
Best Pasta Choices
Penne works great, but rotini or farfalle are also popular choices for holding onto dressing and mix-ins.
Swaps & Add-Ins
- Use pepperoni, grilled chicken, or chickpeas for a different protein.
- Add banana peppers, roasted red peppers, or artichoke hearts for more Mediterranean flair.
- Swap feta for shaved parmesan or goat cheese for a different cheesy twist.
Dressing Tip
Toss with dressing right before serving so the pasta stays fresh and doesn’t soak up all the liquid too early.
Make-Ahead & Storage
This pasta salad is ideal for prepping a day ahead—just store it in the refrigerator and add the dressing when you’re ready to serve.
Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Add a little extra dressing before serving if it seems dry.
Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 16 ounces penne pasta, cooked al dente according to package instructions, then rinsed under cold water.
- ½ pound salami, cut into chunks
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cubed
- 3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cans (3.8 ounces each) sliced black olives, drained
- 1 medium red onion, diced
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 ½ cups Italian dressing
Instructions
- To a large bowl, add the pasta, salami, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, black olives, red onion, feta, and parsley. Toss to combine.
- Right before serving, drizzle on the dressing. Stir to combine.
More Pasta Dishes
Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad
Caprese Pesto Salad is a cold pasta salad that is made with cooked pasta noodles, homemade pesto, fresh mozzarella cheese, and grape tomatoes.
Chipotle Lime Pasta Salad
Try this zesty Chipotle Lime Pasta Salad—tender pasta tossed with creamy chipotle dressing, avocado, black beans, corn & fresh veggies!
Garlic Chili Oil Pasta
Chili Oil Pasta features pappardelle noodles coated in a bold, flavorful chili oil sauce, ready in under 30 minutes!