The Best Pasta Salad Recipe – A Classic Picnic Side Dish Recipe

When it comes to making the best pasta salad to share at barbecues, picnics, and backyard gatherings, there are many things to consider. From what type of pasta to use, what vegetables to add, and what dressing to use there are so many factors to choose from.

Although you can never go wrong with serving this popular side dish, there are a few tips for making the flavors and textures blend well together. However, pasta salad is a very versatile recipe that can be made with several different ingredient combinations.

Therefore, I am sharing not only my favorite recipe (located at the bottom of this article), but also various recipe adaptions and combinations that you can try out as well to make it your own. In addition I have also provided a simple and easy to make, homemade dressing recipe that has a surprise ingredient that takes the flavor to the next level!

What Type Of Pasta For Pasta Salad

When it comes to making the best pasta salad you want to choose a variety of pasta that holds up well so that both the dressing and added ingredients can cling to the noodles. There are a few varieties that I would recommend and have listed them below.

1. Fusilli: This spiral-shaped pasta is great for holding dressing and other ingredients.

2. Rotini: Similar to fusilli, rotini has a corkscrew shape that is perfect for holding onto sauces and dressings. You can even purchase tri-color rotini for added visual appeal.

3. Farfalle: Also known as bow-tie pasta, farfalle adds a fun and playful touch to pasta salad.

4. Penne: This tube-shaped pasta is sturdy and therefore holds up well in salads with heavier ingredients.

5. Orzo: This small, rice-shaped pasta is great for lighter salads and adds a delicate texture.

Ultimately the choice of what type of pasta to use depends on your preference, and what you have available in your kitchen. However, when given a choice, I most often use rotini pasta.

What Veggies To Use In Pasta Salad

There are many vegetables that can be used in pasta salad, but here are some common options:

1. Cherry tomatoes
2. Cucumber
3. Red onion
4. Bell peppers (red, green, yellow, or orange)
5. Carrots
6. Broccoli
7. Cauliflower
8. Zucchini
9. Snap peas or snow peas
10. Corn
11. Olives
12. Artichoke hearts
13. Roasted red peppers
14. Arugula or spinach (for some greenery and freshness)

Of course, you can also add any other vegetables that you like or have on hand. Get creative to make pasta salad with the best flavors and textures that you enjoy!

Other Possible Add-Ins

Besides vegetables, there are many other ingredients that can be added to pasta salad to enhance its flavor and texture. Best of all you can make it different each and every time, depending on who are serving it to.

For instance, when I am making this for the kids, I will often make it a BLT Pasta Salad, adding in bacon, lettuce and tomatoes. However, when making this recipe for a potluck or family reunion, I will keep it more traditional with the veggies and then add in bacon and cubed cheese.

There are so many options to make it the best pasta salad recipe for each and every occasion. To give you some inspiration, I have listed some common add-ins below.

Cheese:

• Crumbled feta, grated Parmesan, shredded or cubed cheddar, mozzarella, or Swiss cheese can all add both flavor and texture to the salad.

Meat:

• Grilled chicken, cooked shrimp, bacon, pepperoni, or diced ham can all be added to make the dish more substantial and satisfying. By adding protein you can turn this popular side dish recipe into a complete meal.

Nuts and Seeds:

• Toasted almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds can add crunch and nutrition to your salad.

Herbs:

• Fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, cilantro, or dill can add a burst of flavor and an added pop of green color.

Beans:

• Want to add more protein and fiber to the salad? Add some cooked beans such as chickpeas, kidney beans, or black beans to the mixture.

Fruit:

• One of my favorite ways to sweeten up the tangy flavor of pasta salad is to add a little fruit. Dried cranberries, raisins, chopped apples, or sliced grapes are all great choices.

It is a great idea to experiment with different combinations of ingredients until you find the perfect mix for your taste preferences.

Best Dressing For Pasta Salad

The best dressing for pasta salad is made from a simple mixture of a few common ingredients. It all starts with a little vinegar and oil.

Then you can doctor up the flavor with salt, pepper, and oregano. However, the surprise ingredient is the juice from a jar or pickled pepperoncini or banana peppers.

This juice adds a little tang and a lot of flavor. However, if you prefer, you can leave it out when making the homemade dressing.

And if you want to skip making the dressing all together and use a store-bought dressing, you can certainly do so. Below I have listed some great options.

Italian Dressing: The most common dressing used in pasta salad is Italian dressing. You can choose from classic or Zesty Italian dressing.

Balsamic Vinaigrette: This sweet and tangy dressing is also a great choice. The lighter flavor pairs well with the pasta and vegetables.

Lemon Vinaigrette: If you want to keep the flavor on the lighter side, choose a lemon vinaigrette dressing. This is the perfect dressing for a Spring or Summer event.

Ranch Dressing: Want a creamier pasta salad? Then Ranch dressing is your answer. However, be sure that the pasta salad doesn’t sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Pesto: You can even use pesto as the dressing to your pasta salad. However, remember pesto has a stronger flavor so a little goes a long way.

In fact, with all dressings it is best to start with a small amount and add more as needed.

The Best Pasta Salad Recipe

*Complete recipe instructions including specific measurements, cook temperatures and times are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to keep reading for helpful tips and tricks when making this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound dried pasta
• 1 cup sliced red bell pepper
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup diced pepperoni
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions (3-4)
• 1/4 cup sliced pepperoncini or banana peppers, (optional)
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls, chopped
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley or basil, (optional)

HOMEMADE DRESSING INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 to 3 tablespoons juice from pepperoncini or banana pepper jar, (optional)
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once the water is at a rapid boil add the pasta and cook until al’ dente. See the package recommendation for cook time required.

Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water, being sure that the pasta at the bottom of the strainer also gets rinsed well. Then add the cooled pasta to a large bowl. Set aside.

Make the pasta salad dressing by whisking together the red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano, pepperoncini juice, and the olive oil until well blended. Then pour the dressing over the pasta and toss until the noodles are well coated.

Stir in the red bell pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, pepperoni, green onions, pepperoncini peppers, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and the parsley/basil. Toss until the ingredients are well distributed.

Taste the pasta salad and then add salt and pepper to taste. It is best to cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour before serving. However, you can make this a day or two ahead of time and allow the flavors time to meld to make it even more delicious.

Toss before serving, and add additional dressing and salt and pepper as desired.

Enjoy!

Mary and Jim

Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.

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