With simple and tasty classic flavors and full of meat, cheese, and veggies this Classic Pasta Salad is an easy side dish recipe that you can bring to any function.
I love love love a good pasta salad. Really any flavor will do, but nothing really can compare to this Classic Pasta Salad. This has been one of my favorites for the longest time.
With a delicious dressing and it being full of meat, cheese, and vegetables you get a little bit of everything with this one. But it is also very versatile by adding and omitting things.
This is also a smaller portion salad so you can make it for your family, or you can easily double it and bring it to any of your spring or summer gatherings!
All around this Classic Pasta Salad is one for the books and one that once you make it you will want to keep on your menu rotation.
This goes great with pretty much any of your grilling items and other main dish recipes as well. It really adds to your meal and that is a reason to make it right there.
Some of my other favorite side dishes we have on our site include: Doritos Taco Salad, Baked Asparagus Fries and Easy Deviled Eggs.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- With multiple flavors, you get a lot in an easy recipe.
- This can be doubled to serve more.
- This can be adapted to add or omit ingredients.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (FULL RECIPE BELOW):
Tri-color rotini
Deli Genoa salami
Grape tomatoes
Mozzarella cheese block
Green bell pepper
Red onion
Black olives
Green olives with pimento
Olive oil
Red wine vinegar
Dijon mustard
Garlic
Grated parmesan cheese
Granulated sugar
Kosher salt
Pepper
Celery seed
HOW TO MAKE A CLASSIC PASTA SALAD:
- Cook the rotini per the directions on the back of the box to al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop it from cooking, drain well. Place in a large bowl.
- Cut the deli salami into half-inch cubes. Add to the bowl with the pasta along with the tomatoes, mozzarella, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and green olives, set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, garlic, parmesan, sugar, salt, pepper, and celery seed until combined.
- Pour the dressing into the bowl and toss the ingredients together so everything is covered in the dressing. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for one hour then serve.
HOW LONG DOES THIS SALAD NEED TO CHILL?
This salad will need to chill for at least 1 hour. This gives the salad enough time to have the flavors marry and really bring out the flavors of all the ingredients and dressing.
CAN I USE OTHER MEATS AND VEGGIES?
Absolutely, like I said this is very versatile some ideas include: diced ham, pepperoni, summer sausage, or hard salami, fresh broccoli florets, fresh zucchini, any color peppers, carrots, pepperoncini, artichoke hearts, or fresh baby spinach.
DO I HAVE TO USE TRI COLOR ROTINI?
No, if you are not a fan of it or cannot find it it can be replaced easily! Use any smaller pasta you like. We love rotini because the spiral helps to soak up the dressing.
Other options are bowties, macaroni noodles, cavatappi, ditalini, orzo, or orecchiette.
HOW TO STORE:
This can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container where it will keep for up to 3 days. The dressing might soak up so you can make some more to pour over and stir.
We do not recommend freezing this recipe.
TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Easily double this recipe to serve more people.
- You can change out the meats, pasta, cheese, and veggies, see some of my suggestions above.
- This needs to chill for at least 1 hour to soak up the flavors.
- Before serving, toss the salad again, some of the dressing may settle on the bottom of the bowl.
- This is a great base recipe to create what you’d like so feel free to switch it up!
Looking for that perfect side dish to bring to all your spring and summer gatherings? This Classic Pasta Salad is easy, flavorful, and fast!
If you like this recipe then you might also like:
If you’ve tried this CLASSIC PASTA SALAD let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!
Classic Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounces tri-color rotini
- 4 ounces deli genoa salami cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 1 pint grape tomatoes cut in half
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese block small diced
- 1 cup small-diced green bell pepper
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ¼ cup canned sliced black olives drained
- ¼ cup canned sliced green olives with pimento drained
For the dressing:
- ¾ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon celery seed
Instructions
- Cook the rotini per the directions on the back of the box to al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop it from cooking, drain well. Place in a large bowl.
- Cut the deli salami into half-inch cubes. Add to the bowl with the pasta along with the tomatoes, mozzarella, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and green olives, set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, garlic, parmesan, sugar, salt, pepper, and celery seed until combined.
- Pour the dressing into the bowl and toss the ingredients together so everything is covered in the dressing. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for one hour then serve.
Notes
- Easily double this recipe to serve more people.
- You can change out the meats, pasta, cheese and veggies, see some of my suggestions above.
- This needs to chill for at least 1 hour to soak up the flavors.
- Before serving, toss the salad again, some of the dressing may settle on the bottom of the bowl
- This is a great base recipe to create what you'd like so feel free to switch it up!
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