Easy Italian Pasta Salad
A vibrant and flavorful Italian Pasta Salad that brings people together.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Cooking Required
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound fusili pasta
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 8 ounces baby bocconcini
- 4–6 oz salami or summer sausage, cut into cubes
- ¾ cup kalamata olives, sliced
- ½ cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced
- ½ cup roasted red peppers, sliced
- ½ cup sliced red onion
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 cup artichoke hearts
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1–2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon honey or sugar (optional)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Fusili Pasta: Start by boiling a large pot of salted water. Add your fusili pasta and cook according to the package instructions (usually about 8-10 minutes for al dente). Tip: Always reserve a cup of pasta water before draining!
- Prepare the Veggies and Protein: While your pasta is cooking, gather and prep your ingredients. Halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the olives, cut the salami, and chop the parsley.
- Make the Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, honey (if using), Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Combine Everything: Once the pasta is cooked and drained, add it to the bowl with the dressing. Toss until well coated.
- Add the Yummies: To your pasta, add the cherry tomatoes, bocconcini, salami, kalamata olives, pepperoncini, roasted red peppers, red onion, fresh parsley, and artichoke hearts. Gently fold them into the pasta.
- Chill and Serve: Let your pasta salad sit for at least 30 minutes in the fridge to meld the flavors. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
This pasta salad gets better with time; it can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Pasta Salad, Italian Salad, Healthy Salad, Recipe, Summer Dish