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This Italian pasta salad features al dente fusilli tossed with a colorful mix of crisp bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, briny black olives, creamy avocado, tangy red onion, and fresh mozzarella pearls, all tossed in a zesty homemade dressing.
It’s incredibly healthy too, thanks to the abundance of fresh vegetables and heart-healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, plus it’s free from heavy dressings and processed ingredients.
Rather than using mayo, this pasta salad gets its bold, bright flavor from an Italian homemade vinaigrette made with Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, olive oil, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, and a touch of garlic.
This Italian pasta salad recipe is very easy to make and serves approximately 10 people. It’s a perfect choice for summer gatherings, BBQs, potlucks, or a light weeknight dinner.
This Mediterranean salad stores wonderfully in the fridge, making it a great make-ahead option. In fact, the flavors deepen over time, so it’s often even more delicious the next day.
Another reason this Italian pasta salad is always a crowd favorite? It’s endlessly customizable. Don’t like olives? Skip them. Want more protein? Toss in grilled chicken, chickpeas, or tuna.
✅ Take a moment to read through the whole post first; you’ll pick up expert tips, handy equipment guides, and step-by-step details to help everything turn out perfectly. The full recipe is right below!
Ingredients You’ll Need for This Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Here are the key ingredients you’ll need for making this Italian pasta salad:
1. Fusilli or Rotini Pasta
- The spiraled shape of fusilli or rotini pasta is perfect for holding the dressing and other ingredients within its grooves, ensuring each bite is flavorful and well-balanced.
- Choosing tri-color varieties adds a pop of color and makes the salad even more visually appealing.
2. Bell Peppers
- Red and green bell peppers provide a refreshing crunch and a natural sweetness.
- Their bright colors also make the dish visually vibrant and inviting, balancing out the creamy and briny components.
3. Olives
- Black olives add a bold, briny depth that evokes classic Mediterranean flavor.
- Their saltiness contrasts beautifully with the other fresh ingredients, adding complexity to each bite.
4. Red Onion
- Red onion brings a sharp bite and crisp texture.
- It adds a bit of heat and aromatic lift to the salad, offering a counterpoint to the richer ingredients like mozzarella pearls and avocado.
5. Mozzarella Pearls
- Mozzarella pearls or diced bocconcini add a soft, mild, and slightly chewy richness to the salad.
- They add a subtle flavor and absorb the Italian dressing beautifully.
- You can leave them out or swap with feta or shaved Parmesan for a different twist.
6. Avocado
- Avocado adds velvety texture and healthy fats, making the salad feel more luxurious and satisfying.
- Its creamy nature also acts as a natural binder for the other ingredients.
7. Cherry Tomatoes
- These bite-sized tomatoes burst with juicy sweetness, balancing the salty and tangy components.
- Their natural acidity keeps the salad fresh and light, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
- You can also use grape tomatoes.
8. Fresh Herbs
- Fresh parsley brings a clean, grassy note, while basil adds a sweet, aromatic touch.
- Together, they provide brightness and a pop of herbaceous flavor that screams summer and Italian cuisine.
9. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- As the backbone of the dressing, it brings richness and a smooth mouthfeel.
- It’s fruity, peppery notes complement the herbs and veggies beautifully.
10. Red Wine Vinegar
- This adds brightness and acidity that helps cut through the richness of the cheeses and avocado.
- It also balances the olive oil for a well-rounded vinaigrette.
11. Garlic
- Minced garlic delivers bold, savory depth and aromatic punch.
- It anchors the dressing with classic Italian flavor.
12. Dijon Mustard
- Dijon acts as a natural emulsifier, helping the dressing stay blended.
- It also contributes a subtle tang that layers nicely with the vinegar.
13. Dried Oregano
- A staple of Italian seasoning, oregano gives the dressing an earthy, slightly bitter edge that contrasts with sweet ingredients like tomatoes and peppers.
14. Red Pepper Flakes
- These flakes add a gentle heat that lifts the dressing without overpowering it.
- They give the salad a lively kick that awakens the palate.
15. Salt & Black Pepper
- These essential seasonings enhance and unify all the flavors, bringing balance and making each ingredient taste its best.
Equipment for Making This Easy Pasta Salad
Preparing this easy Italian pasta salad requires only standard kitchen tools, making it accessible to most home cooks:
- Large Pot (5.5-Quart or larger): Necessary for boiling the pasta.
- Colander: Essential for efficiently draining the pasta after cooking and rinsing.
- Large Mixing Bowl: Used for combining and tossing the cooked pasta with all the salad ingredients.
- Whisk or Jar with Lid: For preparing and thoroughly emulsifying the vinaigrette dressing.
- Cutting Board: Provides a stable and sanitary surface for chopping vegetables and herbs.
- Sharp Chef’s Knife: Facilitates precise and effortless chopping of all ingredients.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate quantities for both the salad components and the dressing.
- Serving Spoon or Tongs: Useful for tossing the salad and serving individual portions.
- Airtight Container: Crucial for storing the prepared pasta salad in the refrigerator, maintaining its freshness and preventing spoilage.
Why You’ll Love This Italian Pasta Salad
This Italian pasta salad isn’t just a side dish, it’s a fresh, feel-good favorite that you’ll find yourself making again and again. Here’s why you’ll love it:
- Super Quick & Easy: With simple ingredients and minimal prep, this no-fuss pasta salad comes together in under 30 minutes, ideal for busy weeknights or last-minute gatherings.
- High in Fiber: Pasta, especially whole grain pasta and fresh veggies, provides dietary fiber, which promotes a healthy gut and regular digestion.
- Rich in Antioxidants: Antioxidant-rich foods like tomatoes, red onions, basil, and olives help combat oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Heart-Healthy Fats: Thanks to olive oil, avocado, and olives, this salad is rich in monounsaturated fats that help lower bad cholesterol and support cardiovascular function.
- Low Cholesterol: This Italian pasta salad is naturally low in cholesterol, especially when made with lighter cheese options or without cheese at all.
- Low Sugar: With just 5g of sugar and plenty of slow-digesting carbs, this easy pasta salad is a diabetic-friendly choice that supports stable energy levels throughout the day.
- Low Calorie: With just 380 calories per 150g serving, this pasta salad is light yet satisfying, perfect for anyone keeping an eye on their calorie intake or looking for a wholesome, calorie deficit meal.
- Good for Meal Prep: This pasta salad holds up beautifully in the fridge for several days, making it a fantastic make-ahead option for lunches, picnics, or quick dinners during the week.
What to Serve with Italian Pasta Salad
This Mediterranean-inspired Italian pasta salad is refreshingly versatile and pairs effortlessly with a variety of mains and sides:
- Grilled Meats: Juicy grilled chicken, steak, or sausages make a hearty pairing that complements the salad’s fresh and zesty flavors.
- Sandwiches & Wraps: Add this salad to your plate with a warm panini or turkey wrap for a satisfying and balanced lunch.
- Soup: A bowl of mushroom soup or tomato basil soup brings comfort and warmth, making a cozy combo with the chilled pasta.
- Garlic Bread: Crunchy, buttery garlic bread is always a hit and perfectly echoes the salad’s Italian roots.
- Roasted Vegetables: Oven-roasted zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers add a smoky, earthy depth that pairs effortlessly with the pasta salad.
Pro Tips for Making the Best Pasta Salad
These are the guiding tenets recommended by culinary experts to make this pasta salad a memorable one:
1. Choose the Right Pasta Shape
- Shapes with ample surface area, nooks, crannies, and spirals, such as fusilli, rotini, or cavatappi, are highly favored.
- These shapes are specifically designed to trap and hold onto the delicious dressing and all the small bits of vegetables and cheese, ensuring that every bite is bursting with flavor.
2. Cook Pasta Slightly Softer Than Al Dente
- While traditional Italian cooking often advocates for a firm al dente bite, for a chilled dish, it is beneficial to cook the pasta just a minute or two past al dente.
- A slightly softer initial texture ensures the pasta remains tender and pleasant to chew, rather than becoming rubbery or hard, once it is cold.
3. Rinse Your Pasta After Cooking
- In contrast to hot pasta dishes where rinsing is generally avoided to preserve flavorful starch, for pasta salad, rinsing is crucial.
- Rinsing with cold water immediately stops the cooking process, preventing the pasta from becoming mushy.
- More importantly, it washes away excess surface starch that can make the salad gummy and cause the pasta to clump together.
4. Dress Your Pasta Twice
- Pasta, especially when at room temperature or slightly warm after rinsing, is highly receptive to absorbing liquids.
- An initial toss of the cooled pasta with approximately two-thirds of the dressing allows the pasta to absorb the flavors deeply, much like a sponge.
- The second dressing, added just before mixing in the more delicate ingredients and serving, revives any muted flavors from earlier absorption and ensures the salad remains vibrant, fresh, and evenly coated.
5. Chop Ingredients Evenly
- All ingredients should be cut into roughly the same bite-sized pieces.
- This is not merely for aesthetics; it ensures that every forkful delivers a perfect medley of flavors and textures, allowing all components to be enjoyed simultaneously.
6. Let It Chill Before Serving
- While this Italian pasta salad can be consumed immediately, the flavors truly meld and deepen after a few hours of refrigeration.
- Aim for at least 2 hours, or ideally, prepare it the day before, which allows the ingredients to harmonize, resulting in a more cohesive and delicious salad.
7. Adjust Seasoning Before Serving
- Cold temperatures can mute flavors, so what tastes perfectly seasoned when warm might require a little extra salt, pepper, or a splash more vinegar or lemon juice once chilled.
Final Remarks
This Italian pasta salad is fresh, colorful, full of texture, and delivers a bold Mediterranean flavor in every bite.
What’s more, it comes together quickly with simple, wholesome ingredients you probably already have on hand.
It also stores beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep or next-day leftovers that taste even better after the flavors meld.
Give it a try, customize it with your favorite add-ins, and don’t forget to leave a comment.
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
Easy Italian Pasta Salad
Description
This easy Italian pasta salad recipe serves about 10 and features a healthy mix of crisp veggies, al dente fusilli, and fresh mozzarella pearls, all tossed in a zesty Mediterranean-style vinaigrette.
Ingredients
For the Pasta Salad
For the Dressing
How To Make Italian Pasta Salad (Step-By-Step Instructions)
Prep All Your Fresh Ingredients
- Wash and dry all the vegetables thoroughly.
- Chop the bell peppers (red and green) into uniform, bite-sized pieces for even texture.
- Halve the cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes.
- Finely dice the red onion.
- Slice the black olives (pitted) into thin rounds.
- Drain mozzarella pearls.
- Dice the avocado last, right before mixing, to keep it fresh and prevent browning.
Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Season with salt.
- Add fusilli or rotini and cook according to package directions, but extend the cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes for a texture just past al dente.
- This slight overcooking helps the pasta stay tender after chilling, avoiding that firm or rubbery bite.
Drain the Pasta
- Drain the cooked pasta using a colander right after boiling.
- Then rinse pasta in cold water immediately to remove excess starch and halt the cooking process.
- Toss with a small drizzle of olive oil to keep the pasta from clumping.
- Set it aside to cool to room temperature.
Prepare the Dressing
- While the pasta cools, prepare the dressing.
- In a medium bowl or a jar, combine extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
- Whisk vigorously or shake the jar until the dressing is well combined and emulsified.
Toss the Pasta with Dressing
- Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour in about two-thirds of your dressing.
- Gently toss until every piece is well coated.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes to allow the pasta to soak in the flavors.
Assemble Your Italian Pasta Salad
- Add the chopped red and green bell peppers, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, diced red onion, and the fresh mozzarella pearls or diced mozzarella to the pasta.
- Sprinkle in half of the chopped parsley and basil.
- Gently toss everything together until the pasta salad is well mixed.
Add the Avocado
- Gently fold in the diced avocado, taking care not to mash it to keep the texture creamy and fresh.
- Sprinkle in the remaining fresh parsley and basil for a final burst of color and aroma.
- Drizzle the last one-third of the dressing over the top, then give the pasta salad a final gentle toss.
- This staggered layering keeps the avocado from browning and ensures the herbs stay bright and fragrant.
Chill & Serve
- For best flavor, cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 2 hours or even overnight.
- While optional, chilling allows the flavors to meld and deepen fully.
- Before serving, give the Italian pasta salad a good stir, as some dressing may settle at the bottom.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 10
Serving Size Approximately 1 cup (150g) per serving
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 380kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 15g24%
- Saturated Fat 4g20%
- Cholesterol 15mg5%
- Sodium 450mg19%
- Potassium 320mg10%
- Total Carbohydrate 35g12%
- Dietary Fiber 5g20%
- Sugars 5g
- Protein 8g16%
- Vitamin A 900 IU
- Vitamin C 35 mg
- Calcium 120 mg
- Iron 1.2 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
- Cook the pasta just 1 to 2 minutes longer than al dente so it stays tender, not rubbery, once chilled.
- Rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking instantly and wash away excess starch, keeping it from getting mushy or sticking together.
- Make sure to drain the pasta thoroughly after rinsing to keep the dressing from becoming watered down.
- Cool the pasta fully before mixing to keep veggies crisp and delicate ingredients like avocado from wilting.
- If you have time, let the salad chill for at least 2 hours so the flavors can meld for a more delicious result.
