Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad is the kind of pasta salad you make when you want something cold, filling, and loaded with all the good stuff from an antipasto platter.
You’ve got rotini pasta, mozzarella pearls, salami, pepperoni, olives, roasted red peppers, cucumber, red onion, Parmesan cheese, and parsley all tossed with a tangy Italian dressing.
This works well for lunch, dinner, potlucks, cookouts, or meal prep when you want something that can chill in the fridge and still taste good later. The mix of pasta, cheese, meat, and vegetables gives it a lot going on without making it fussy.
Use a large mixing bowl so everything has room to toss evenly. Measuring cups and measuring spoons help keep the dressing balanced without guessing.
Why You’ll Love This Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad
It’s Filling Enough For A Meal
This pasta salad has rotini, salami, pepperoni, mozzarella, olives, and vegetables, so it works as more than a small side dish.
It’s Made With Antipasto Ingredients
The recipe uses familiar antipasto-style ingredients like cured meats, cheese, olives, roasted peppers, and Italian seasoning.
It’s Good For Make-Ahead Meals
The pasta salad chills before serving, which makes it helpful for meal prep, cookouts, and potlucks.
It Has A Tangy Homemade Dressing
The dressing uses olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
It’s A Cold Pasta Salad
This recipe is served chilled, so it’s a good option when you don’t want a hot meal.
Ingredient Substitutions
Rotini Pasta
Use penne, bowties, fusilli, or medium shells instead of rotini. Choose a pasta shape that holds dressing well.
Mozzarella Pearls
Use diced fresh mozzarella if you don’t have mozzarella pearls.
Salami
Use chopped ham, turkey pepperoni, or another deli meat you like.
Pepperoni
Use more salami or leave it out if you want fewer cured meats in the salad.
Black Olives And Green Olives
Use only one kind of olive if that’s what you have.
Roasted Red Peppers
Use fresh bell pepper for more crunch.
Cucumber
Use zucchini or extra cherry tomatoes if you don’t have cucumber.
Red Wine Vinegar
Use white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
Parmesan Cheese
Use Romano cheese or Asiago cheese.
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Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad
Recipes are written with one action per step for accessibility. Short lines. Fewer rereads. A calmer kitchen on mobile or desktop.
Equipment
Ingredients
Pasta Salad:
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup mozzarella pearls drained
- ¾ cup sliced salami chopped
- ½ cup sliced pepperoni halved
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- ½ cup sliced green olives
- ½ cup roasted red peppers chopped
- ½ cup cucumber chopped
- ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Italian Dressing:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions until tender. Drain the pasta. Rinse the pasta under cold water.
- Add the pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add the tomatoes, mozzarella, salami, pepperoni, black olives, green olives, roasted red peppers, cucumber, red onion, Parmesan cheese, and parsley.
- In a small bowl, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Whisk the dressing until blended.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad. Toss until the pasta and toppings are evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Stir before serving.
Notes
Storing
Store in the Refrigerator – Place the pasta salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Stir Before Serving – Stir the pasta salad before serving because the dressing may settle at the bottom. Do Not Freeze – Freezing is not recommended because the pasta, cucumber, tomatoes, and mozzarella can change texture after thawing.Nutrition
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