Meet your new summer best friend: Make a simple pasta salad with pasta, juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, red onions, salami, olives, herbs, and a whole bunch of quick homemade condiments.
In my opinion, a delicious classic pasta salad comes in two ways:
- Attend picnics, potluck dinners, or other late summer gatherings that require bringing side dishes;
- Dispose of leftover meat, cheese, and vegetables in the fridge and turn them into a meal I want to eat 24 hours a day.
This delicious little number is the same for you.
Pasta salad ingredients
You got two and a half seconds? Cool.
You will need these materials:
- Your favorite pasta shape
- Cherry tomatoes (or other harmless vegetables)
- Mosquito cheese balls
- Salami (Choose a good spicy one)
- Black olive or Kalramatta live
- Pepperoni (Optional… A little)
- Red onion and parsley
When making pasta, choose pasta that has a solid texture, is in good shape, and can absorb all the sauces. I love Rotini (or pasta), pasta or pasta.
About spaghetti salad dressing
This is important.
We need a rich Italian dressing (no mayonnaise here!). This is our ingredient.
- Olive oil
- White vinegar
- Salt and pepper
- Oregano leaves and dried basil
- A little sugar
- Fresh herbs (such as parsley, basil, or chives)
Make your own in a blender or food processor. It takes about 60 seconds. You made the sauce, you pasta salad owner. ♡
How to Make Pasta Salad (4 steps!)
It’s summer, so we can’t be in the kitchen all day. We take this beautiful object to friends, family, neighbors, post office workers, daycare providers, and just about anyone who can hold a fork. Let’s make pasta salad!
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse. Let it cool a bit, then pour in a little olive oil.
- Chop up all vegetables, cheese, meat, and other foods.
- Please stir it in a blender or shake it in a jar.
- Stir it together, taste and adjust, and exercise every self-control muscle so you don’t eat everything before everyone gets over it.
Store pasta salad and make it in advance
The beauty of a pasta salad is that the longer it’s left together, the better it tastes!
- Storage: After making this pasta salad, whether in advance or store leftovers, I pop it in the freezer and keep it for 2-3 days.
- Make ahead: I like to make pasta salads 12-24 hours in advance. This gives it time to soak up the seasoning without getting mushy!
I’d like one last piece of advice. You don’t have to wait to be invited to a picnic or potluck to get some pasta salad magic in your life.
It’s a weeknight dream meal.
Stop at the store on your way home and pick up some excellent salami, cheese, olives, and fresh herbs. Cook some pasta, stir it all together, and voila! Cold pasta salad + a cup of rose for dinner, and cold pasta salad for the rest of the lunch throughout the week.
I’ll be right there.
The most straightforward Pasta salad: Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of salt do you recommend?
Please note that the amount written is crude sea salt. If you’re using table salt, start with two teaspoons and add more to taste. The sauce itself is salty—too salty for a regular salad. But in this recipe, that’s what we want! The sauce is tossed with a whole pound of regular pasta and lots of fresh, unseasoned vegetables, and once stirred, it’s delicious. Want to know why we recommend a particular salt? This helpful article will tell you why!
Can I add other vegetables to the pasta salad?
In any case, customize this salad—it’s what it does best! Try adding blanched green beans, fresh spinach, artichokes, red bell peppers, chickpeas, cauliflower, etc., for a better fit with vegetables. Or different kinds of cheese (feta? Parmesan cheese?), or different shapes of pasta (macaroni? fusilli? Or even ravioli?) … The possibilities are endless. I love this salad, but I also love the flexibility!
How long will this prepared pasta salad stay fresh in the fridge?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Can this pasta salad be prepared in advance?
Yes, we do! I recommend it! When all the flavors stay together, this tastes incredibly delicious. I’ll be 12-24 hours ahead.
Can you freeze pasta salad?
While we all love having a pasta salad ready, unfortunately, this can’t be frozen! The pasta will get especially weird and mushy, as will the vegetables.
- Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, and cook it in salted water for more flavor. Once cooled slightly, stir in a little oil to prevent sticking together.
- Mix the dressing or shake well in a jar.
- Stir all the ingredients together! I like to use three-quarters of the sauce and then add the rest to the rest of the dish.
- Store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. It tastes best the day after.
