This quick and easy pasta salad takes just minutes to make, and it can be served as a main dish or a side dish. This simple, classic pasta salad is made with spiral rotini pasta, olives, salami, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and a simple vinaigrette. Perfect for any occasion or any season, this pasta salad recipe will surely become one of your favorite pasta salad recipes.
This pasta salad recipe is truly my go-to pasta salad. I make it throughout the year, and it is perfect for any potluck, or a get-together and easily serves a crowd. To make this pasta even easier and quicker, I use a box of pasta salad to help me serve as the base of this salad and I add all fresh ingredients to make this the best pasta salad you will ever have! But you could absolutely just use any shape of regular pasta. This delicious pasta salad recipe is also very versatile. You can add any kind of fresh vegetables or other dressings to give it a different spin.
Sometimes, there is nothing better than a big bowl of cold pasta salad after a long day. It is so satisfying and decadent. It can be a stand-alone meal on its own or a great side dish!
Why you will love this quick and easy cold pasta salad
Quick and easy – This pasta salad is a great side dish or a main course and it is made with easy-to-find ingredients you most likely have on hand at all times. It only takes 15 minutes to put together and the leftovers are even better!
Versatile – This salad is very versatile and budget-friendly as you can play with the ingredients and add the ones you like and have on hand. You can add beans, peas, carrots, pickles, spinach, pepperoni, and fresh mozzarella to name a few.
Make ahead – pasta salads usually taste even better the next day. This one is no exception. All the flavors marry together so well as the salad chills in the fridge.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need for this quick and easy pasta salad recipe.
- Pasta – you can use your favorite brand and shape of pasta. I prefer to use rotini pasta for this recipe. Because I make it often, I have found that using this Betty Crocker pasta salad kit, works great and it is so much faster and easier to make this delicious pasta salad. You can use any variety you are able to find in your grocery store, or any other regular box of pasta will do – rotini, penne, bow ties, or elbow.
- Vegetables – I love using cherry tomatoes, red onion, and olives for this pasta salad recipe. I also love adding some fresh spinach when I have that on hand. You could use really any other veggies. Peppers, cucumbers, artichokes, scallions, roasted red peppers, broccoli. Really, the options are endless.
- Protein – I love using hard or margarita salami for this recipe, but bacon or cubed or shredded rotisserie chicken will also work great. If you are looking for some meatless options, you can use beans or chickpeas instead.
- Cheese – Any cheese you love will work for this versatile pasta salad recipe. Fresh cubed mozzarella or provolone, feta cheese, or any other shredded cheese will be delicious in this salad.
- Mayo – I like to use a bit of mayo for this recipe. I really enjoy the creaminess it gives the pasta salad as well as it helps to incorporate everything together and adds another layer of flavor.
- Dressing – I use the salad dressing packs that come with the pasta salad kit but when I use regular pasta for the recipe and not the kit, I dress it with olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, and mayo. It is so delicious!
Note: if you do not have the boxed kit on hand, here is a quick dressing that I make when I do not have the kit. In a mixing bowl add 2/3 cups olive oil and one package ranch dressing seasoning. Stir well until well combined. Pour it over the salad and then add 3 tablespoons of mayo (or more if you’d like it to be creamier). Stir well to make sure the mayo and the dressing have coated all the pasta.
How to make this light, quick, and delicious pasta salad
Start by cooking the pasta in a pot of salted water according to package directions. While the pasta is cooking, start chopping all your veggies and adding them to a large mixing bowl. Then prepare the dressing. Assemble the salad by adding the drained and cooled pasta to the veggies, pour over the dressing and the mayo, and toss gently to combine it all.
Serving suggestions
This delicious pasta salad can be enjoyed as a main dish or it is the perfect side dish. Try it with my stuffed meatloaf or my light and healthy salmon baked in foil.
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Quick and Easy Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2 boxes 7.5oz each of Betty Crocker Suddenly Pasta or 1lb (16oz) of your favorite small pasta (rotini, penne, bow ties, or elbow)
- 1- pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup red onion diced
- 1/2 cup pitted olives halved
- 8 ounces salami slices cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
- 3 tablespoons mayo or more if you’d like the pasta salad creamier
Instructions
- In salted boiling water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and let it cool down.
- In a large bowl, add red onion, olives, tomatoes, salami, and cooled pasta.
- In a small mixing bowl, prepare vinaigrette according to package instructions, or if not using the pasta box, mix 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste. Another option for the dressing is to mix 2/3 cups of olive oil and 1 package of Ranch seasoning.
- Pour vinaigrette over pasta salad, then stir gently to combine all the ingredients. Add the mayo and toss again.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
- Enjoy!
