Description

Loaded with perfectly cooked pasta, juicy tomatoes, crunchy veggies, briny olives, and a creamy tangy homemade Italian dressing, this colorful and delicious pasta salad will be your go-to dish all summer long.

Ingredients

Salad

1 lb short pasta such as rotini or radiatore, cooked according to package and cooled

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup black or Castelvetrano olives, pitted

1/2 cup of red onion, thinly sliced

1/2 cup red bell peppers, thinly sliced

1/3 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped

Parmesan, grated (optional)

1 cup fresh arugula (optional)

Creamy Italian Dressing

1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons of red or white wine vinegar ( I use 1/3c white+2T red)

1/4 cup olive oil

1/3 + 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise (optional)

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon thyme, dried

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1 1/2-2 teaspoons sugar

2 tablespoons grated parmesan

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and cool.
Whisk or shake together all of the dressing ingredients in a bowl or jar.
Add the cooled pasta, onions, red bell pepper, olives, tomatoes, to a large salad bowl. Pour half of the dressing over the pasta mix and toss well to combine. Taste and add more dressing if needed. Add salt and pepper to taste if needed as well.
You can eat right away or let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This is a “sittin’ salad” so the longer it sits, the more the flavors marry.

Notes

If you want to add salami to this salad, use hard salami and cut in 1/4-inch thick slices
If you want to add chicken tenders or shrimp, marinate with 1/3 of the dressing and let sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. Grill chicken tender or shrimp on your grill , grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat. Grill the chicken tenders or shrimp until cooked through, turning halfway through cooking, about 8-10 minutes for the chicken tenders and 5-7 minutes for shrimp.
If making ahead and adding arugula, add the arugula right before serving.

Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 15
Category: Sides
Method: Mix
Cuisine: American

Keywords: pasta salad, pasta salad recipe, best pasta salad, potluck recipe, summer recipe