5.0 from 756 votes
Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Easy pasta salad with Italian dressing takes minutes to make. It's a classic side dish, perfect for BBQs, picnics, or any night of the week!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Refrigerating Time
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 27 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 344 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 16 ounces (4 cups) colored rotini pasta (fusilli, farfalle, and penne work too), cooked
- ½ cup diced black olives
- ½ cup cubed colby jack cheese
- ½ cup mini pepperoni slices
- ¾-1 cup Italian dressing
optional mix-ins
- chopped cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped peppers, ham cubes, pepperoncini, artichoke hearts
Instructions
- Cook pasta as directed on the package. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, olives, cheese, and pepperoni.
- Pour at least half of the Italian dressing into the pasta salad and mix well.
- Add any desired mix-ins to the pasta salad and mix well.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Stir in additional dressing to taste before serving.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Recipe Tips.
- Make it ahead of time. Prepare the pasta the day before and only toss it with half of the dressing. Keep it covered and refrigerated, adding the remaining dressing right before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container, and they will last in the fridge for 4-5 days. You can have pasta salad for lunches and dinners all week!
- To make sure you get a forkful of different flavors, be sure to chop your ingredients into bite-sized pieces.
- We only add ½ of the dressing when we toss it together so that all the flavors can meld together, then add the remaining dressing right before serving.
- Any short pasta with nooks and crannies to cradle the dressing works. Cook the pasta to al dente.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1g
Calories
344kcal
(17%)
Carbohydrates
46g
(15%)
Protein
11g
(22%)
Fat
13g
(20%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
Trans Fat
0.1g
Cholesterol
15mg
(5%)
Sodium
515mg
(21%)
Potassium
178mg
(5%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
123IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
0.1mg
(0%)
Calcium
77mg
(8%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 344
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 344kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 46g | 15% |
| Protein | 11g | 22% |
| Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 15mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 515mg | 21% |
| Potassium | 178mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 123IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 0.1mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 77mg | 8% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.