Easy Pasta Salad is one of my favorite spring and summer recipes. Great for a barbecue or potluck, it is easy to make and a real crowd-pleaser.

Made with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, cheese, and salami, this Easy Pasta Salad recipe has only seven ingredients, and it is so simple that it can be made in 25 minutes.

This pasta salad recipe makes enough to feed 10-12 people. You can easily serve it at a party or break it into lunch servings. Either way, you will love the flavor combination in this traditional summer side dish.

I grew up having my mom’s friend, Jean, pasta salad. She makes it all the time for really any summer get-together. We had its camp trips and her kids’ graduation parties.

I loved its ingredients and asked my mom to get the recipe from her. I knew I could easily throw it together, but I wanted to see the dressing she used.

If you know Jean, you would also expect the dressing to be homemade. When I was told that it was just bottled Italian dressing, I was a bit surprised but also grateful because the dish was turning out even easier than I thought.

My biggest pet peeve regarding pasta salad is the amount of mayo people use. It is typically overdressed with mayo, and these salads don’t even highlight the other ingredients. That is why I love this Easy Pasta Salad. You can taste every element, and together they are delicious.

This Easy Pasta Salad recipe also stores well. It doesn’t get nasty after the first time you serve it, so if you have to keep the leftovers, you will be just fine.

If you are breaking this Easy Pasta Salad into smaller servings for your lunch throughout the week, I would keep the cheese to the side and add it right before serving, as it can get a little mushy after a couple of days. It will still taste just great, but the texture ruins it for me.

Here are some tips for creating pasta salads that will be amazing every time.

Don’t overcook the noodles. Prepare the noodles according to the package directions.

Season your pasta to add flavor! My suggestion for this salad would be to add 1-2 tablespoons of Italian dressing (dry powder) to the pasta dish to boost flavor.

Please do not add the dressing or other ingredients to the pasta salad while it is warm. Rinse your noodles with cold water in a colander and then allow them to cool. You can give chill in the refrigerator while preparing the rest of the ingredients for the pasta salad.

Do not add cheese to the pasta until you are ready to serve.

Ingredients

  • Penne or rigatoni pasta 
  • Italian salami
  • Monterey Jack cheese cubed
  • Cherry tomatoes quartered
  • English cucumber sliced and quartered
  • Black olives sliced
  • 1/2 cup Italian vinaigrette dressing – 3/4 cup, depending on preference
  • 1 packet dry Italian-style salad dressing mix (optional)

How do you make Pasta Salad?

Prepare pasta according to package directions.

Once cooked, rinse with cold water in a colander.

Allow noodles to cool completely.

Place noodles in a large mixing bowl.

Cut-up salami, Monterey Jack cheese, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.

Add the cut salami, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, and sliced olives to the noodles.

Pour 1/2 cup Italian Dressing over the salad and toss to combine.

If you add the optional dry Italian-style salad dressing mix, add this with the Italian dressing and then toss to combine.

Other salad recipes made with pasta we love!

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Easy Pasta Salad

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 22 minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 281 kcal
Easy Pasta Salad is one of my favorite spring and summer recipes. Great for a barbecue or potluck, it is easy to make and a real crowd pleaser.
easy pasta salad overhead shot

Ingredients
 

  • 16 ounces penne pasta or rigatoni
  • 1 1/2 cups Italian salami
  • 1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese cubed
  • 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes quartered
  • 1 1/2 cups English cucumber sliced and quartered
  • 8 ounces black olives sliced
  • 1/2 cup Italian vinaigrette dressing – 3/4 cup, depending on preference
  • 1 tablespoon dry Italian-style salad dressing mix optional

Instructions
 

  • Prepare pasta according to package directions.
  • Once cooked, rinse with cold water in a colander. Allow noodles to completely cool. 
  • Place noodles in a large mixing bowl.
  • Cut up salami, Monterey Jack cheese, cherry tomatoes and cucumber.
  • Add the cut salami, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber and sliced olives on top of the noodles.
  • Add 1/2 cup of dressing toss to combine. If you want to add more dressing do so by adding 1/4 cup at a time. Taste and add more if you desire.
    If you are adding the optional dry Italian-style salad dressing mix, add this in with the Italian dressing.
Calories: 281kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 9gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 679mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 245IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 151mgIron: 0.8mg
easy pasta salad overhead shot
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!

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16 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love this recipe! So quick and easy and perfect for any party or get together. It is always a huge hit!

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