Delicious Italian Pasta Salad Recipe: A Perfect Dish for Any Occasion
Easily Make This Gluten Free!
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 box rotini or penne pasta | sub Barilla Gluten Free Pasta for GF
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup green bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup red onion, sliced optional
- ½ cup black olives, sliced optional
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls, quartered
- ½ cup pepperoni or salami, diced
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
For the Dressing
- 1 cup italian dressing
Or Homemade
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
- Boil the Pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
Step 2: Prepare the Vegetables and Other Ingredients
- Chop and Dice: While the pasta is cooking, chop the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, red onion, and black olives. Dice the salami or pepperoni and quarter the mozzarella balls.
Step 3: Make the Dressing
- Combine Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, dried basil, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Tip: Skip this step and use bottled Italian Dressing!
Step 4: Assemble the Salad
- Mix Everything Together: In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, black olives, mozzarella balls, salami or pepperoni, and fresh basil.
- Add the Dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until everything is well coated.
- Chill: Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least an hour to let the flavors meld together.