Fresh, colourful, and packed with flavour, homemade pasta salad is the perfect dish for summer gatherings, BBQs, picnics, or easy meal prep. Tender pasta is tossed with crisp vegetables, cheese, and a simple homemade Italian dressing for a refreshing side dish that comes together quickly and tastes even better after chilling.
Classic Italian Pasta Salad
This easy pasta salad combines fresh vegetables, salty cheese, and a tangy homemade dressing for the perfect balance of flavours and textures.
Ingredients
For the Pasta Salad:
- 12 oz rotini or fusilli pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- ¾ cup mozzarella pearls
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
For the Dressing:
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
Drain and rinse briefly under cool water, then allow the pasta to drain thoroughly.
2. Prepare the Vegetables
While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes and chop the cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, parsley, and basil.
3. Make the Dressing
Whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
4. Assemble the Salad
Add the cooled pasta to a large bowl with the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, olives, mozzarella, parsley, and basil.
5. Dress & Toss
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
6. Chill & Serve
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavours to come together. Give everything another toss before serving and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Why This Recipe Works
Rotini and fusilli are perfect for pasta salad because their shapes hold onto the dressing, giving you plenty of flavour in every bite. Crisp vegetables add freshness and crunch, while mozzarella brings a creamy contrast. The homemade dressing ties everything together with acidity, herbs, and just enough richness.
Tips for the Best Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta al dente so it maintains its texture after chilling.
- Cut the vegetables into similar sizes for a little bit of everything in each bite.
- Let it chill before serving to give the flavours time to develop.
- Save a little dressing to refresh the salad just before serving.
- Customize your salad with feta, grilled chicken, salami, artichokes, or roasted peppers.
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