Classic Italian Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Classic cold Italian Pasta Salad with a homemade Italian dressing is the perfect potluck or summer side dish. It’s easy to make and everyone always loves it!
Is Italian pasta salad really an Italian dish?
No. This is not an authentic Italian dish. It is called Italian pasta salad because it uses Italian dressing, not because it is a traditional Italian pasta. “Italian” pasta salad is very much an American dish.
Are pasta salads healthy?
While I can not speak for other pasta salads, this pasta salad, in the right proportions, can be a great healthy choice. It not only has a good amount of vegetables, it has a great amount of healthy fats, it is packed with protein, and only has one teaspoon of sugar.
Do you rinse pasta for a cold pasta salad?
Yes, you do need to rinse your pasta with cold water for a cold pasta salad. This is for a few reasons. The first reason to rinse your pasta with cold water is that it will stop the pasta from cooking any further. Second, rinsing it will get rid of a lot of the starch that causes your noodles to stick together. Third, you need cold pasta for a cold pasta salad.
How long does pasta salad with Italian dressing last?
Pasta salad with the dressing on it can be stored for later with no problems. You can put it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days, but I highly recommend that you do not freeze this salad.
If you like this recipe you may also be interested in these other delicious pasta dishes:
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Easy Classic Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 8 ounces fresh mini mozzarella cheese balls halved
- 1/2 -1 cup sliced olives
- 1 cup mini pepperonis
- 1/2 cup pepperoncinis roughly chopped
- 1/2 red onion diced
Italian Dressing
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water until pasta is cooled.
- In a large mixing bowl, make your dressing by whisking together olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, sugar, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
- Add cooked pasta in with the Italian dressing. Toss with tomatoes, mozzarella, olives, mini pepperonis, pepperoncinis and onion.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
Nutrition
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