Pasta Salad Recipe
This Pasta Salad Recipe is the dish that everyone asks for the recipe to at every gathering. Vibrant, colorful and packed with bold flavors from every corner of the bowl. Furthermore, this Pasta Salad Recipe is incredibly versatile. Moreover, it works as a light lunch, a hearty side dish, a meal prep staple and the star of any picnic or barbecue spread.
Additionally, this recipe comes together in just 25 minutes. For more fresh and vibrant salad ideas, also explore our Classic Caesar Salad Recipe, our creamy Coleslaw Recipe and our full Salad collection.
The Best Pasta for This Pasta Salad Recipe
Pasta shape makes a significant difference to the finished Pasta Salad Recipe. Therefore, choosing the right shape is worth thinking about carefully.
Best Shapes for Pasta Salad
- Fusilli — The most popular choice. Its spiral shape traps dressing in every crevice. Furthermore, it holds its texture well after cooking and chilling.
- Farfalle (bow ties) — Visually beautiful and great at holding chunky mix ins. Moreover, it adds an elegant look to any salad spread.
- Penne — Sturdy and satisfying. Additionally, the hollow tubes fill with dressing for bursts of flavor in every bite.
- Rotini — Similar to fusilli. Consequently, it captures dressing beautifully and works perfectly with creamy or oil based dressings alike.
Pasta to Avoid
Long pasta shapes like spaghetti or tagliatelle do not work well in a pasta salad. Furthermore, they tangle, clump together and are difficult to serve and eat. On the other hand, small shapes like orzo can work well for a lighter, more refined version of this Pasta Salad Recipe.
The Italian Dressing for This Pasta Salad Recipe
The dressing is what makes this Pasta Salad Recipe exceptional. Furthermore, it is a bold, herby Italian style vinaigrette made from scratch in just 2 minutes. Consequently, it is far superior to any bottled dressing.
Key Dressing Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil — The base of the dressing. Moreover, use a good quality oil as its flavor comes through clearly in the finished salad.
- Red wine vinegar — Adds a sharp, bright acidity. Furthermore, it balances the richness of the oil and cheese beautifully.
- Dried oregano and basil — The essential Mediterranean herbs. Additionally, they give the dressing its unmistakably Italian character.
- Garlic — A small amount of minced garlic adds savory depth. Consequently, it elevates the whole dressing without overpowering the other ingredients.
- Dijon mustard — Helps emulsify the dressing so it stays cohesive. Moreover, it adds a gentle background sharpness.
Dressing the Pasta Salad Recipe Correctly
The most important technique in this Pasta Salad Recipe is dressing the pasta while it is still warm. Furthermore, warm pasta absorbs the dressing much more effectively than cold pasta. Consequently, every piece of pasta becomes deeply flavored all the way through rather than just coated on the outside.
Additionally, reserve a small amount of the dressing and add it just before serving. Pasta absorbs liquid as it sits in the refrigerator. Therefore, refreshing the salad with a little extra dressing before serving keeps it vibrant and well coated.
What to Add to This Pasta Salad Recipe
The vegetables and additions are what make this Pasta Salad Recipe so colorful and satisfying. Furthermore, all of the additions in this recipe are raw and require no cooking. Consequently, assembly is fast and simple.
- Cherry tomatoes — Burst of sweetness and color. Moreover, they add juiciness that complements the bold dressing perfectly.
- Cucumber — Cool, crunchy and refreshing. Furthermore, it provides a clean contrast to the richer ingredients.
- Black olives — Briny and deeply savory. Additionally, they add a distinctly Mediterranean character to the salad.
- Feta cheese — Salty, crumbly and creamy. Consequently, it adds a luxurious richness that makes the salad feel more substantial.
- Red onion — A small amount adds a sharp bite. Moreover, soaking sliced red onion in cold water for 10 minutes removes some harshness before adding it to the salad.
- Bell peppers — Sweet, crunchy and colorful. Furthermore, a mix of red and yellow peppers adds visual vibrancy and natural sweetness.
How to Make This Pasta Salad Recipe
The method is wonderfully simple. First, cook and drain the pasta. Then, dress it while warm and allow to cool. Next, prepare and add all the fresh ingredients. Finally, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. The full step by step method is in the recipe card below.
What to Serve with Pasta Salad
This Pasta Salad Recipe is a complete meal on its own. However, these pairings make it part of a truly spectacular spread:
- Our juicy Classic American Cheeseburger — furthermore, pasta salad is the perfect BBQ side dish alongside burgers
- Our crispy Classic American Fried Chicken — moreover, the cool creamy pasta salad contrasts beautifully with hot crispy chicken
- Our creamy Coleslaw Recipe alongside for a complete and satisfying summer spread
- Our light and fresh Greek Salad as a second salad for a larger gathering
- Garlic bread, focaccia or pita bread for scooping up the dressing at the bottom of the bowl
How to Store This Pasta Salad Recipe
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Furthermore, this Pasta Salad Recipe genuinely improves overnight. The pasta absorbs the dressing and the flavors deepen significantly. Moreover, always add a drizzle of extra olive oil and a splash of red wine vinegar before serving the next day. Consequently, it tastes just as fresh and vibrant as when first made.
Greek Style — Add Kalamata olives, roasted red peppers and sun dried tomatoes. Moreover, increase the feta and add a pinch of dried mint to the dressing.
BLT Pasta Salad — Add crispy bacon pieces, cherry tomatoes and romaine lettuce. Additionally, use a Caesar style dressing instead of the Italian vinaigrette.
Pesto Pasta Salad — Replace the Italian dressing with 3 tablespoons of good quality basil pesto. Consequently, the salad takes on a wonderfully rich and herby character.
Protein Packed — Add grilled chicken strips, tuna chunks or hard boiled eggs. Furthermore, this transforms the pasta salad into a complete and satisfying one bowl meal.
Make This Pasta Salad Recipe Today
In conclusion, this Pasta Salad Recipe is one of the most versatile and universally loved dishes you can make. Therefore, whether it is a quick weekday lunch, a barbecue side or a meal prep staple, this recipe always impresses. Browse more of our fresh and vibrant Salad recipes and share your favorite variation in the comments below!
Pasta Salad Recipe
Fresh, colorful and packed with flavor. Tender pasta with crisp vegetables, feta and olives in a bold Italian dressing. The ultimate make ahead salad.
Ingredients
- The Pasta
- 350 gFusilli, farfalle or penne, driedCook to al dente — firm but tender. Overcooked pasta becomes mushy when chilled
- 1 tbspOlive oil — stirred through the hot pasta after draining to prevent sticking
- The Italian Dressing
- 6 tbspExtra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbspRed wine vinegar
- 1 tspDijon mustard
- 1 cloveGarlic, finely minced
- 1 tspDried oregano
- ½ tspDried basil
- ½ tspCaster sugar
- ½ tspSalt
- ¼ tspBlack pepper
- The Salad
- 200 gCherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 largeCucumber, diced into small chunks
- 1Red bell pepper, diced
- 1Yellow bell pepper, diced
- 100 gBlack olives, halvedKalamata olives add the best flavor. Regular black olives also work well
- ½ smallRed onion, finely slicedSoak in cold water for 10 minutes to reduce sharpness before adding
- 150 gFeta cheese, crumbled
- HandfulFresh basil leaves, torn
Equipment
Method for This Pasta Salad Recipe
- 1 Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to packet instructions until al dente — firm but with no chalky center. Drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Stir through 1 tablespoon of olive oil immediately to prevent the pasta from sticking together as it cools.
- 2 Make the dressing: While the pasta cooks, combine all dressing ingredients in a small jar or bowl. Whisk or shake vigorously until completely emulsified. Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning. Furthermore, adjust the vinegar to taste — some people prefer a sharper, more acidic dressing while others prefer a milder, more rounded flavor.
- 3 Dress the warm pasta: Pour three quarters of the dressing over the warm pasta immediately after draining. Toss well to coat every piece. Reserve the remaining dressing for later. The warm pasta absorbs the dressing deeply. Consequently, every piece is flavored all the way through rather than just on the surface. Allow the dressed pasta to cool to room temperature.
- 4 Prepare the vegetables: While the pasta cools, prepare all the salad ingredients. Halve the tomatoes, dice the cucumber, dice the peppers and halve the olives. Soak the sliced red onion in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow its sharpness. Then drain well before adding to the salad.
- 5 Combine and chill: Add all the prepared vegetables, olives, drained red onion and crumbled feta to the cooled dressed pasta. Toss gently to combine everything evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Moreover, refrigerating overnight produces the best possible flavor.
- 6 Finish and serve: Remove from the refrigerator 10 minutes before serving. Drizzle over the reserved dressing and toss gently. The pasta will have absorbed most of the first dressing during chilling. Consequently, the fresh dressing restores the vibrancy and coating. Scatter torn basil leaves on top and serve immediately.
Nutrition (Per Serving — 1 of 6 portions with feta)
* Nutritional values are estimates per serving with feta cheese and full dressing. Omitting feta reduces calories by approximately 40 kcal per serving. Using wholegrain pasta increases fibre by approximately 2g per serving.
Notes
- Always dress the pasta while it is still warm. This is the single most important technique in this Pasta Salad Recipe. Furthermore, warm pasta absorbs dressing deeply and becomes flavorful all the way through. Cold pasta merely gets coated on the surface.
- Cook the pasta to al dente and not beyond. Overcooked soft pasta becomes mushy when chilled. Moreover, al dente pasta holds its texture beautifully even after a day in the refrigerator.
- Always reserve some dressing to add before serving. Pasta absorbs liquid as it chills. Consequently, a fresh drizzle of dressing just before serving restores the vibrancy and makes the salad taste freshly made.
- This Pasta Salad Recipe serves 6 as a side dish or 4 as a main course. To serve 10 to 12 as a side, increase all quantities by 1.5 times. The method and timing remain identical.
- Stores in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Furthermore, it genuinely tastes better on day 2 as the flavors deepen. Always taste and re season with salt, vinegar and olive oil before serving leftovers.
Tips for the Perfect Pasta Salad Recipe Every Time
- Salt the pasta water generously. It should taste as salty as the sea. Furthermore, this is the only opportunity to season the pasta itself from within. Pasta cooked in properly salted water tastes dramatically better than pasta cooked in plain water.
- Cool the dressed pasta quickly by spreading it on a large tray. Moreover, this prevents the pasta from continuing to cook in its own heat and becoming too soft. Additionally, it speeds up the chilling process before the other ingredients are added.
- Soak the red onion in cold water before adding. Even 10 minutes of soaking significantly mellows the harshness of raw red onion. Consequently, the onion adds flavor without overpowering everything else in the salad.
- Add the feta last and fold it in gently. Feta crumbles easily. Furthermore, folding it in too vigorously breaks it down into tiny crumbs that disappear into the salad. Large, visible crumbles of feta are more visually appealing and more satisfying to eat.
- Tear the basil rather than chopping it. Torn basil releases more aroma and has a better texture than finely chopped basil. Moreover, it wilts less quickly. Therefore, add it at the very last moment just before serving rather than mixing it in during assembly.
- Take the pasta salad out of the refrigerator 10 minutes before serving. Cold pasta salad straight from the fridge has muted flavors. Furthermore, bringing it slightly closer to room temperature allows the olive oil to loosen and the flavors to open up significantly.