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Recipe card image of Easy Summer Italian Pasta Salad

Easy Summer Italian Pasta Salad

Easy Summer Italian Pasta Salad brings fresh, vibrant Italian flavors to your table. Perfect for cookouts, picnics, or easy dinners—refresh your meals today!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 275
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Base
  • 12 oz rotini or fusilli pasta
  • Salt for boiling water
  • 1 tbsp olive oil optional, to prevent sticking
Veggies
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup cucumber diced
  • 0.5 cup red bell pepper chopped
  • 0.5 cup yellow bell pepper chopped
  • 0.5 cup red onion thinly sliced
  • 0.5 cup black olives sliced
Cheese & Garnish
  • 1 cup fresh mozzarella pearls or cubes
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley or basil chopped
Dressing
  • 1 cup Italian dressing store-bought or homemade

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente, about 8–10 minutes.
  2. Drain and rinse under cold water. Toss with a splash of olive oil if desired.
  3. Chop all vegetables and set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onion, olives, and mozzarella.
  5. Pour in Italian dressing. Toss everything until well coated.
  6. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to blend.
  7. Before serving, garnish with fresh herbs and toss once more.

Notes

Make it ahead—it tastes better the next day! Add salami or roasted veggies if desired. Use gluten-free pasta to make it GF-friendly.