The Best Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

This easy Italian pasta salad is loaded with fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, crisp cucumber, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, and a zesty Italian dressing. It’s fresh, flavorful, and one of my favorite cold pasta salads for summer cookouts, picnics, parties, meal prep, and beach days.

The combination of salty pepperoni, creamy mozzarella, crunchy cucumber, and sweet sun-dried tomatoes gives every bite so much flavor. And because there’s no creamy mayo-based dressing, it stays light and fresh while still being hearty enough to serve for lunch or alongside grilled chicken for dinner.

This Italian Pasta Salad Recipe is Perfect for Summer!

I am so excited for warm-weather gatherings, beach days, pool days, and packing all the delicious salads, sandwiches, and picnic essentials. I live for picnics in the summertime and will find any excuse to pack one. We’re only about a month and a half into spring, and we’ve already been picnicking everywhere! I hope you’re ready for all the summery recipes coming your way this year.

I’m currently at the beach with my family celebrating my son’s third birthday. I won’t talk about that too much or I’ll start to cry because how is he three already?! Gosh!!

Before we headed out for our trip, I prepped some food to take along for our road trip and beach days. To go with our favorite chicken salad (served on homemade sourdough bread), I made one of my go-to Italian pasta salads! I’m so excited for you to try this easy recipe. It comes together in minutes and is perfect for a summer backyard party or as a fresh side dish at your dinner table. It’s sooooo good!

Why You’ll Love This Italian Pasta Salad

• Fresh and flavorful: Creamy mozzarella, crisp cucumber, savory pepperoni, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil give every bite a little bit of everything.
• Quick and easy: It takes about 20 minutes to prep and uses simple ingredients.
• Perfect for summer: This is one of my favorite pasta salads for beach days, picnics, backyard BBQs, pool days, and summer parties.
• Easy to customize: Add salami, prosciutto, banana peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, or whatever vegetables and Italian meats you love.
• Great for making ahead: It tastes even better after chilling and letting all of those flavors come together.
• Perfect with grilled chicken: Serve it alongside marinated grilled chicken for an easy summer dinner.

This salad is so quick to make, which is one of the reasons I love it! You only need a handful of simple ingredients. And yes, I cheat by using my FAVORITE Italian seasoning mix. I also use it to make my slow cooker creamy Italian soup. It’s my secret weapon! It’s available at most grocery stores and makes salad dressings soooo good.

If you can’t find it at your store or prefer to make your own, I’ve included my homemade Italian seasoning mix below. I’ve made it from scratch plenty of times, and it’s super delicious that way, too!

WATCH THE RECIPE VIDEO BELOW!

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this Italian pasta salad. The combination of fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, cucumber, and sun-dried tomatoes gives it the perfect mix of creamy, salty, fresh, and tangy flavors.

• Bowtie pasta: I love bowtie pasta for this recipe, but you can use your favorite pasta shape. I also love making this with orzo! Use gluten-free pasta if needed.
• Cucumber: Adds fresh flavor and a really nice crunch. You can also add red onion, cherry tomatoes, or bell peppers.
• Fresh mozzarella: I love the creamy texture of fresh mozzarella with the pepperoni and sun-dried tomatoes. Fresh Parmesan is also delicious.
• Pepperoni: Adds a salty, savory bite. Salami or prosciutto are great substitutions or additions.
• Sun-dried tomatoes: One of my favorite ingredients in this pasta salad! They add so much concentrated tomato flavor. Banana peppers or roasted red peppers are also delicious additions.
• Fresh basil: Adds fresh Italian flavor and makes the salad especially good in the summertime.
• Extra virgin olive oil: Forms the base of the simple dressing.
• Italian dressing seasoning: This is my shortcut ingredient! I use a packet of Italian dressing seasoning, but I’ve also included my homemade version below.
• Black pepper: Just a pinch to finish everything off.

How to Make Italian Pasta Salad

Step 1: Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the bowtie pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, then let the pasta cool completely.

Step 2: Prep the Ingredients
While the pasta is cooking, chop the cucumber, fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil.

Step 3: Make the Italian Dressing
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil and Italian dressing seasoning mix until well combined.

Step 4: Assemble the Pasta Salad
Add the cooled pasta, cucumber, mozzarella, pepperoni, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil to a large bowl. Pour the Italian dressing over everything.

Step 5: Toss and Chill
Gently toss until everything is evenly coated in the dressing. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to give all those delicious flavors time to come together.

Step 6: Serve
Give the pasta salad another good toss before serving. Add a little extra fresh basil, black pepper, or Parmesan on top if you’d like. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Tips for the Best Italian Pasta Salad

• Let the pasta cool completely. After draining, rinse the pasta with cold water and let it cool before adding the mozzarella and other ingredients.
• Give it time to chill. Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving so all of the flavors have time to come together.
• Make it your own. Salami, prosciutto, banana peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and Parmesan are all delicious additions.
• Freshen up leftovers. If the pasta absorbs some of the dressing in the refrigerator, add a small drizzle of olive oil or a little extra dressing and toss again before serving.
• Make it ahead. This is a great pasta salad to prepare ahead for summer parties, BBQs, picnics, and beach days.

Italian Pasta Salad FAQs

Can I make Italian pasta salad ahead of time?

Yes! This is a great make-ahead pasta salad. Prepare it ahead of time, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. Give everything a good toss before serving and add a little extra olive oil or dressing if the pasta has absorbed too much.

How long does Italian pasta salad last in the refrigerator?

Store leftover Italian pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If it starts to look a little dry, add a small drizzle of olive oil or extra Italian dressing and toss before serving.

Can I make this pasta salad gluten-free?

Yes. Simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta and check the labels on the remaining packaged ingredients to make sure they meet your needs.

What else can I add to Italian pasta salad?

This recipe is super easy to customize! Try adding salami, prosciutto, banana peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell peppers, roasted red peppers, olives, or Parmesan. You can also swap ingredients based on what you already have in your refrigerator.

Is this pasta salad good for the beach or a picnic?

Yes! This is one of my favorite pasta salads to prep for beach days, picnics, and summer gatherings. Keep it properly chilled in a cooler with ice or ice packs until you’re ready to eat, especially since this recipe contains fresh mozzarella and pepperoni.

What goes well with Italian pasta salad?

Italian pasta salad is an easy side dish for grilled chicken, burgers, sandwiches, or other cookout favorites. I especially love serving it with my marinated grilled chicken for an easy summer dinner.

Make This Pasta Salad Your Own

I honestly make this pasta salad a little differently almost every time! The pepperoni, salami, cucumber, and Italian dressing are usually my starting point, but from there I use whatever sounds good or what I have in the refrigerator. Sometimes I add fresh cherry tomatoes, swap the basil for arugula, use little mozzarella balls, or throw in extra vegetables. Salami, prosciutto, banana peppers, olives, red onion, or Parmesan would all be delicious, too. That’s one of my favorite things about this recipe, you really can’t mess it up, and it’s an easy way to use up fresh ingredients you already have on hand.

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If you don’t have a packet of Italian dressing seasoning on hand, you can easily make your own! I love the store-bought mix for convenience, but I’ve made this homemade version plenty of times and it’s delicious in this pasta salad.

Mix together the dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, thyme, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and sugar. Use it in place of the seasoning packet when making the dressing.