Looking for the perfect summer side dish? This Easy Italian Pasta Salad is a must-have for your next barbecue or grill-out! Light, fresh, and incredibly versatile, it’s packed with vibrant flavors and can be customized to suit your taste. A delicious, crowd-pleasing recipe that’s quick to prepare and perfect for warm-weather gatherings.

Easy Italian Pasta salad with pepperoni, red onion, parmesan and red peppers in a white bowl

Serves: 10-12 (or 6 as a main course)
Time: about 20 minutes plus 30 minutes refrigeration time

Ingredients:

rotini pasta (we use tricolor)
salt
pepperoni slices
small red onion, finely chopped
roasted red peppers, chopped
shredded parmesan cheese
Italian dressing
optional:
- black olives
- halved grape tomatoes
- chopped broccoli
- fresh mozzarella

a box of pasta on a counter with bowls of pepperoni and parmesan cheese, next to a jar of roasted red bell peppers, a bottle of Italian dressing, and a red onion

Get the full printable instructions with measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Step-by-Step Directions:

Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to boil then season with a teaspoon of salt and add pasta. Boil according to package instructions. After carefully draining pasta into a colander, rinse under cold water until pasta is cool.

Step 2: While the pasta is cooking, prepare the toppings, if needed. Roughly chop the pepperoni slices and chop the veggies.

3 small bowls with chopped red peppers, pepperoni, and red onion

Step 3: In a large bowl, combine cool pasta, prepared toppings, and 1/2 a cup of dressing. Toss everything together and add more dressing, a 1/4 cup at a time, making sure it’s all being absorbed. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Toss one more time and serve!

dressing being poured over a bowl containing pasta and toppings

a bowl of easy Italian pasta salad with serving utensils

Tips:

Prepared Italian dressing is the easiest way to make this, but making a quick dressing from a packet of Good Season Italian Dressing Mix with 1/4 cup of white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 cup of olive oil gives this a more robust flavor.
We use turkey pepperoni, but any pepperoni or salami would taste great! Or, omit for vegetarian.

Easy Italian Pasta Salad

Looking for the perfect summer side dish? This Easy Italian Pasta Salad is a must-have for your next barbecue or grill-out!

Beth

Prep Time 20

Refrigeration Time 30

Total Time 50

Servings side dishes

Ingredients

12 oz box of rotini pasta (we use tricolor)
1 tsp salt
40 pepperoni slices (about 1 cup – roughly chopped)
1/2 red onion (about 1 cup – finely chopped)
1/2 jar of roasted red peppers (chopped)
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 cup Italian dressing

Optional:

sliced black olives
halved grape tomatoes
chopped broccoli
fresh mozzarella

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to boil then season with a teaspoon of salt and add pasta. Boil according to package instructions. After carefully draining pasta into a colander, rinse under cold water until pasta is cool.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the toppings, if needed. Roughly chop the pepperoni slices and chop the veggies.
In a large bowl, combine cool pasta, prepared toppings, and 1/2 a cup of dressing. Toss everything together and add more dressing, a 1/4 cup at a time, making sure it’s all being absorbed. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Toss one more time and serve!

Notes

- Prepared Italian dressing is the easiest way to make this, but making a quick dressing from a packet of Good Season Italian Dressing Mix with 1/4 cup of white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 cup of olive oil gives this a more robust flavor.
- We use turkey pepperoni, but any pepperoni or salami would taste great! Or, omit for vegetarian.