• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Piper Cooks
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Dressing

    Published Mar 17, 2020 · Modified: Mar 14, 2022 · by Jacqueline Piper · Leave a Comment · This post may contain affiliate links

    419 shares
    Jump to Recipe Rate this recipe

    Italian Pasta Salad | This cold pasta salad is great for an easy dinner, or a side for a picnic or BBQ. This recipe is based around simple pantry items like pasta, vinegar, oil, and spices plus some jarred additions like artichokes, roasted red peppers, olives, and pepperoncinis.

    Italian Pasta Salad

    If you're looking for a great pantry staple dish, this is it. You might be looking for a two week meal plan for eating all of your meals at home or the perfect side dish for a picnic or backyard BBQ. Whatever your needs are, this easy pasta dish is perfect alongside a burger, grilled chicken or simply with some steamed or roasted vegetables on the side.

    Italian Pasta Salad

    How to make easy pantry meals

    If you find that you can't get to the store for fresh produce but you don't want to eat frozen meals you can still make great meals with pantry items all while keeping ultra-processed foods out of your diet. A jar of roasted red peppers can contain only peppers, water, salt and citric acid such as these peppers by Mezzetta. (Not sponsored and I did not use this brand in this recipe, it's just an example).

    Pantry items used in this recipe:

    • pasta - the shape of your choice! This does not matter so use whatever is available to you
    • oil + vinegar - this is the beginnings of many salad dressings. From here you can add a variety of items to end up with different dressings - things like mustard, honey, spices, herbs, etc.
    • jarred red peppers, pepperoncinis, olives, and artichokes
    • a homemade spice mix - I love my homemade spice mixes, I've posted a few of them and this is one of the ways I use them
    • if you have access and have these ingredients in your fridge, the tomatoes, mozzarella, and salami are great in this recipe. Leave the salami out for a vegetarian dish!
    Italian Pasta Salad

    Let's make a cold Italian Pasta Salad

    You'll first need to boil and drain your pasta. Cook whatever pasta shape you're using according to the package directions and then drain it and rinse with cold water. This will stop the cooking process and help your pasta to not stick together.

    While the pasta boils, you can make the dressing. In a small bowl or in a container with a lid, combine the oil, vinegar, mustard, my homemade Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir the ingredients in the bowl or shake them if you're using a lidded container. (I like this way best, it helps the mustard emulsify the mixture, keeping it together.)

    Now chop everything you need to - the tomato, artichokes, olives, pepperoncinis, red peppers, salami, and basil.

    Add the pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add all of the ingredients and mix together. Eat immediately, or refrigerate until needed. Keeps a few days in the fridge, covered. Stir before eating.

    Italian Pasta Salad

    Other Easy Pantry Meals

    • Pasta + sauce + frozen or canned vegetables
    • Canned tuna or chicken salads
    • Oatmeal fortified with flax seeds, chia seeds, nut butter, dried fruits or overnight oats like these Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats
    • Homemade Soup - this is great for pantry items like stock, frozen or canned vegetables, spices + herbs, and pasta or rice, check out my Free Printable Guide on How to Make Homemade Soup with what you have on hand
    • Sesame Noodles
    • Easy Chow Mein Noodles with frozen vegetables
    • One-Pot Chipotle Pumpkin Bucatini
    • Pad Thai
    • Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken with frozen chicken and brown rice
    • Instant Pot Curries like this Chickpea Curry
    • Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo
    • Homemade bread, like Focaccia Bread - homemade bread is a great pantry recipe because it takes simple items like flour, yeast, water, salt, and sugar. You can also add pantry items like olives and herbs to change it up a bit

    Share your favorite Pasta Salads or Pantry Meals with me in the comments.

    Take Care

    Italian Pasta Salad
    Italian Pasta Salad

    Italian Pasta Salad

    Jacqueline Piper
    5 from 1 vote
    A cold pasta salad is great for an easy dinner, or a side for a picnic or BBQ. This recipe is based around pantry staples like pasta, vinegar, oil, and spices + some jarred additions like artichokes, roasted red peppers, olives, and pepperoncini. Add in the fresh items if you have – fresh mozzarella balls, genoa salami, cherry tomatoes, and basil.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Servings 8

    Ingredients
      

    Pasta Salad

    • 1 lb short pasta shape of your choice (I used Radiatore)
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
    • ½ cup fresh mozzarella balls
    • ¼ cup artichokes (chopped)
    • ¼ cup roasted red peppers (chopped)
    • ¼ cup green olives (halved)
    • ¼ cup pepperoncini (chopped)
    • ½ cup genoa salami (chopped )
    • fresh basil

    Italian Dressing

    • ¾ cup oil
    • ¼ cup white vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon yellow or dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
    • salt and pepper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Boil your noodles according to package instructions. Drain them and then rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set the noodles into a large mixing bowl.
    • Mix together all of the dressing ingredients, measure ½ cup and set aside.
    • To the bowl of pasta, add the sliced tomato, mozzarella balls, artichokes, roasted red pepper, green olives, pepperoncini, and salami. Add some chopped basil. Add the half cup of the dressing and then toss everything together. Garnish with more fresh basil.

    Notes

    1. Use whatever short pasta shape you have on hand.
    2. I used only ½ cup of the dressing recipe, use however much you like.
    *Nutritional information is an estimate and intended for informational purposes only, and not to be used as medical or dietary advice. Estimate is per serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 335kcal

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used.

    Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
    Keyword bbq, cold, egg salad, homemade pasta, Italian, italian seasoning, picnic, side dish
    Have you tried a recipe? Tag @pipercooksblog or tag #pipercooksblog!
    Italian Pasta Salad
    Italian Pasta Salad
    Italian Pasta Salad
    Italian Pasta Salad

    More Pasta Recipes

    • The Best Creamy 5 Ingredient One Pot Hummus Pasta
    • Instant Pot Sausage + Pasta
    • Spicy Mac and Cheese
    • Tomato Tortellini Soup with Spinach | 20 Minute Meal
    419 shares

    Enter your Email address to Subscribe to my Newsletter

    Reader Interactions

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Jacqueline Piper.

    Hi, I’m Jacqueline Piper and I’m all about the homemade because I love to make things. From 15 minute meals for your weeknight dinner to more effort for special dinners and desserts on the weekend, I’ll show you how to cook from scratch. We’ll do healthy and we’ll do delicious, everything from kale to chocolate with beautiful, fresh ingredients. Search my recipes for your cravings, because we can make it!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Cinnamon Bun Overnight Oats
    • Iced Coffee with Instant Coffee
    • Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Cocktail
    • Quinoa Ground Turkey Skillet - One Pan Dinner
    • Quick & Light Brioche Buns
    • Creamy Dill Chicken

    All photography and recipes on this site are Copyright © 2022 Jacqueline Piper + © PiperCooks except where stated and may not be used without permission.

    Featured on:

    Reader's Digest, Half Your Plate, NOOM, Parade.com, and Yogi Approved

    Footer

    as featured on

    ↑ back to top | Home  | About | Contact | Privacy Policy | Web Stories | How to Blog | Sign Up! for email updates | Copyright © 2023 Piper Cooks

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.