Easy Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing – Classic BBQ Side Dish
Fresh, colorful and bursting with zesty flavor, this Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing is the ultimate crowd-pleasing side dish. Tender pasta is tossed with crisp vegetables, savory cheese and a bold Italian dressing that soaks into every bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- chill time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 27 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
12 oz rotini or bowtie pasta
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cucumber, diced
½ cup red bell pepper, diced
½ cup black olives, sliced
½ cup red onion, finely chopped
1 cup mozzarella pearls or cubed cheese
¾–1 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Salt & black pepper to taste
Optional add-ins: salami, pepperoni, chickpeas, or shredded parmesan
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, olives, onion and mozzarella.
Pour Italian dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated.
Season with salt and pepper.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to blend.
Before serving, toss again and add extra dressing if needed. Garnish with parsley.
Nutrition
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 32g