Make Ahead Italian Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is flavorful and easy to throw together! It includes three types of cheese, pepperoni or salami, fresh veggies, and a quick dressing. Make this tasty dish ahead of time so the flavors continue to build. Enjoy as an entree or side!

Update: This recipe was originally published in 2021 and has been republished with all new photos.

I made this Make Ahead Italian Pasta Salad for our 4th of July celebration with friends this year. It took many tries to get it absolutely perfect but it was worth it! (And also my family and neighbors thought it was perfect at every previous attempt too. I am maybe a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to food.) I am happy to report that this is the very best Italian pasta salad recipe and you’re going to love it as much as I do.

This pasta was a long time coming. I’ve been tagged no less than one hundred (billion) times on instagram by people using my Easy Homemade Italian Dressing for their pasta salad. It’s a zesty italian dressing that ranks high on Google because it’s so popular. Today I’m showing you how to use that same delicious dressing but I amped up the spices since we’re flavoring a lot of noodles and veggies.

The key to a cold pasta salad recipe is having just the right amount of dressing and other ingredients (like the fresh vegetables, cheese, and protein). It’s not really about the pasta at all! It’s about how everything else works together for maximum flavor.

I recommend making this easy pasta salad recipe ahead of time because the flavors just get better and more pronounced as it sits. You can absolutely enjoy it right after assembling, but if you have 8 to 12 hours to let it sit in the refrigerator you’ll definitely be happy you did.

Serve this pasta salad as a quick lunch or an impressive side when entertaining guests. It’s the perfect side dish for a summer party or your next bbq!

Make Ahead Italian Pasta Salad Ingredients

• Rotini or elbow pasta: Rotini pasta is my favorite for this recipe because the pasta shape is so fun in the finished dish. You can also use elbow pasta or even angel hair pasta if you like.
• Pepperoni or salami: We’ll dice our pepperoni or salami so we can enjoy a bit in every bite. If you enjoy some heat feel free to opt for a spicy salami. Summer sausage is another option you can use.
• Cucumber: A good pasta salad needs crunchy veggies and the mild flavor of cucumber does the trick! I like to leave the peel on for extra crunch.
• Sun-dried tomatoes: I recommend using julienne cut sun-dried tomatoes. You’ll find them in your grocery store in a small jar with oil. Drain the oil and slice the tomatoes into small pieces before adding to the pasta.
• Fresh parsley: Fresh herbs brighten up this pasta salad and make it even more perfect for hot summer months. I recomend fresh parsley but you could use fresh basil too.
• Mozzarella pearls: Mozzarella pearls are small mozzarella balls. If you have a hard time finding them in your grocery store you can use a larger mozzarella ball and slice into smaller pieces.
• Feta cheese: Crumbled feta adds a richness to the other flavors in this pasta salad.
• Grated parmesan: Parmesan cheese adds a salty cheesy flavor to the tender pasta and veggies. I recommend using grated parmesan because the pieces are small enough to really coat the pasta.
• Olive oil: Olive oil is the foundation for our homemade italian dressing. I like to use extra virgin olive oil.
• Red or white wine vinegar: Both red wine vinegar and white wine vinegar both work well in this salad dressing. Use whichever you have.
• Lemon juice: Lemon juice balances out the flavor of the dressing.
• Seasonings: Oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper flavor this pasta salad. We’re using more seasonings than I use in my basic Italian dressing because we’re seasoning a lot of pasta.

How to Make Italian Pasta Salad

Let’s make this simple recipe, shall we? Add all dressing ingredients to a jar, put the lid on, and shake until everything is combined.

Cook pasta per package directions.

Drain water and add the cooked pasta to a large bowl. Stir in pepperoni, cucumber, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, mozzarella, parmesan, and parsley.

Pour the dressing on top of your pasta and stir.

Refrigerate the finished pasta until you’re ready to serve. For best results prepare this ahead of time so the flavors can continue to mix and build. I like to make my pasta salad 8 to 12 hours before we’re planning to eat. When you’re ready to serve give it a good stir so the dressing isn’t settled on the bottom.

What Kind of Pasta is Best?

I’ve tested this pasta with rotini and elbow pasta. They both work beautifully! The rotini noodles are my favorite just because it makes for a really pretty finished dish. Angel hair would be another good option. That’s what I use in my 20-Minute Greek Pasta Salad.

Should You Peel or Remove the Seeds From Your Cucumber?

This is really a matter of personal preference. I like to leave the peel on my cucumber for that extra bit of crunch.

If using a medium sized cucumber you may have no problem leaving the seeds in. I tend to find large cucumbers extra seedy and I like to scoop the seeds out. To do that simply trim the ends and then slice the cucumber vertically so it’s in two long pieces. Run a spoon right down the middle of each half to scoop out the seeds. Slice each half into strips, lay the strips together on a cutting board and hold them still while slicing horizontally. Now that cucumber is perfectly diced!

What are Mozzarella Pearls?

Mozzarella pearls are mini-sized mozzarella balls. They’re the perfect size for a pasta salad. If you’re having a hard time finding them in your grocery store you can always purchase a mozzarella ball (they’re usually about the size of an orange) and dice it.

How to Add More Protein to this Pasta Salad

If you’re looking to make this dish a bit heartier just add shredded rotisserie chicken or diced sautéed chicken breasts.

Can You Make this Pasta Salad in Advance?

Yes! I actually recommend making this 8 to 12 hours before you plan to enjoy it so the flavors continue to build. Just refrigerate in an airtight container. Give it a good stir before serving so the dressing doesn’t stay sitting in the bottom of your bowl.

Do You Have to Make this Pasta Salad in Advance?

You can definitely enjoy this pasta salad as soon as you assemble it. But keep in mind that it’s only going to get better and more flavorful the longer it sits!

Is this Pasta Salad Good for Meal Prep?

This is actually a pretty perfect entree for meal prep since the flavors get stronger over time.

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