I love making this quick and easy make ahead zesty Italian pasta salad. It is light, fresh, colorful, and bursting with flavor. Fresh veggies are diced and tossed with perfectly cooked rainbow twist pasta then coated with Italian dressing. Italian dressing is a versatile condiment that has a tangy, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of herbs.

bowl of quick and easy make ahead zesty Italian pasta salad in a glass bowl on a wooden board

The main ingredients in Italian dressing are vinegar, olive oil, water, sugar, salt, garlic, onion, and herbs such as oregano, basil, and parsley. This combination of flavors produces a delicious and easy pasta salad making it the perfect side dish.

What Is Great About Italian Pasta Salad

Italian pasta salad is a great dish because it is:

Easy to make and can be customized to your liking.
Versatile- can be served as a main course or side dish.
Portable- can be easily packed for picnics or potlucks.
Nutritious- can be made with a variety of healthy ingredients.
Delicious- can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Refreshing- stuffed with fresh vegetables
A crowd-pleaser!
Use any spices you like.

Pasta salads are also a great way to use up extra pasta. You can add whatever ingredients you like, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, and cheese.

Where To Serve Pasta Salads

We love making pasta salads for group gatherings. One of the best parts is they can usually be made ahead of time. This easy make-ahead zesty Italian pasta salad is almost better on day 2! The zesty dressing has a chance to marry the pasta with the veggies.

backyard set with a pop up white tent and balloons with a happy birthday sign

Make-ahead dishes are perfect if you need/want to get something done the day before or don’t have time to fuss in the kitchen right before the summer BBQ. Try this pulled pork recipe! It is also easy to transport in a sealed airtight container.

Pasta salad can be served in a variety of places, including:

Picnics
Summer Potlucks
Birthday parties
Barbecues
Pool parties
Wedding showers
Lunches
Work luncheons
Holiday parties
Dinners
Brunches
As a side dish with any meal

Things You Can Add To Zesty Pasta Salad

oval plate with artfully arranged diced cucumbers, yellow pepper, tomatoes, cheese and mini pepperoni - ingredients for quick and easy make ahead zesty Italian pasta salad.

Quick and easy make ahead zesty Italian pasta salad is a great salad because it can be customized any way you like. Here are some suggestions:

Pickled red onion
Pickled Jalapeno
Black olives
Parmesan cheese
Katamala olives
Chopped hot peppers
Meats such as grilled chicken or ham
Sliced baked chicken breasts
Hard boiled eggs
Croutons
Green bell pepper
Green olives
Diced hot red peppers
Add a dash of red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
Fresh mozzarella pearls
Homemade zesty Italian dressing
Banana peppers – diced
Hard salami
Fresh broccoli florets

Different Pasta Shapes That Work

white bowl with dry tri-colored rotini for quick and easy make ahead zesty Italian pasta salad.

For this quick and easy make ahead pasta salad, I love using rainbow rotini pasta (similar to fusilli pasta but tighter rings). This pasta shape works perfectly with the diced vegetables and the dressing. Here are some other great suggestions… (Any type of pasta shape will work)

wooden board with assorted piles of different pasta shapes that can be used to make quick and easy make ahead zesty Italian pasta salad.

Rotini: This spiral-shaped pasta is perfect for trapping dressing and other ingredients. Tri-color rotini is my favorite.
Macaroni: This traditional pasta shape is excellent in most pasta salads.
Farfalle: These bow-tie pasta are also great for holding onto dressing and other ingredients.
Penne: These short, tube-shaped pasta are perfect for pasta salads that include chunky ingredients, like vegetables or meat.
Mafalda: These baby “lasagna” noodles are irresistible in salads holding the veggies like little plates.
Orzo: This small, rice-shaped pasta is a good option for pasta salads that are light and refreshing.
Cavatappi: These corkscrew-shaped pasta are perfect for pasta salads with creamy dressings.
Fusilli: These corkscrew-shaped pasta are also great for creamy dressings.
Gemelli: These twisted pasta are a good option for pasta salads that include both chunky and soft ingredients.
Conchiglie: These seashell-shaped pasta are perfect for pasta salads that include a variety of ingredients.

Ingredients For Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

Birds eye view of the ingredients to make quick and easy make ahead zesty Italian pasta salad arranged on a wooden board

These are the ingredients that I make this quick and easy make ahead zesty Italian pasta salad with. The amounts can be adjusted to what you like. Love cucumber? Add a bunch more. Vegetarian? – Don’t add the meat. What goes in Italian pasta salad?

1. 12-ounce box of tri-colored rotini

2. 1/2 of an English cucumber, diced. About 1 1/4 cup

3. 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes/ diced fresh tomatoes)

4. 1 cup of shredded or diced mozzarella cheese

5. 3/4 cup of mini pepperoni

6. 1 cup of diced yellow bell pepper

7. 3/4 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)

8. 1/4 tsp of each – salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, dried basil, and dried oregano

Adding freshly chopped herbs to the salad brings it to another level. Try fresh basil or fresh parsley.

Instructions On How To Make Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

Here are some step-by-step instructions on how to make this easy Italian pasta salad. It can be made a day in advance and comes together fast.

1. Boil the pasta according to the package directions for al dente and then rinse under cold water. Rinsing the pasta will stop the cooking process and get rid of a lot of the starch that coats the outside. Only rinse pasta when you are making salads.

metal colander with cooked pasta being rinsed at the sink

2. Chop up the vegetables and cheese. See the notes for a full explanation.

oval plate with chopped cucumbers, bell peppers, and tomatoes to make quick and easy make ahead zesty Italian pasta salad.

3. In a large bowl add the cool rinsed pasta, add in the chopped vegetables, pepperoni, cheese, and top with the dressing.

4. Mix all the ingredients well, cover, and store in the refrigerator. Let it sit for at least 2 hours before eating. Can be made a day ahead.

5. Give it and good stir and top with fresh herbs before serving.

Notes:

English cucumbers- they don’t need to be peeled. Slice them in quarters down the length and then dice. Use 1/2 or a whole if you really like cucumber,
Cherry tomatoes – cut into quarters or halves if they are small.
Cheese – mozzarella cheese, either diced or large shreds, is great in this dish. Any soft cheese would be tasty – try Fontina or Monterey Jack.
Pepperoni – Using the little pepperoni saves time, but it is also acceptable to use the regular-size ones and cut them into quarters (stacking them makes this easy).
Bell Pepper- I love the look and taste of yellow bell peppers but any color will work. Cut off the tops, remove the seeds, and slice & dice. Try a red bell pepper – they are so sweet!
Dressing – Make your own Italian dressing or buy some at your local grocery store. I usually buy some to save time but I always read the labels. The fewer ingredients there are, the better it is going to be for you. Watch out for high fructose corn syrup and dyes. There are plenty of healthier options.
Seasonings- Keeping it simple will please even the picky eaters. Salt, pepper, basil, and oregano. Feel free to add whatever you like.
Topping – In the summer months when the garden is bursting, I love adding chopped fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or thyme.

This salad gets better the longer it sits (at least a couple of hours in the refrigerator). It will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Stir the salad well before serving.
Make it your own by adding anything you like.

close up of oval plate with artfully arranged diced cucumbers, yellow pepper, tomatoes, cheese and mini pepperoni - ingredients for quick and easy make ahead zesty Italian pasta salad.

Wrapping Up Quick And Easy Make Ahead Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

This easy recipe is great for any time of the year. It is a light and refreshing cold salad that pairs beautifully with artisan rolls or French bread, soups, and meats. In my opinion, it is the perfect dish for hot summer days. It is a colorful and flavorful pasta salad that is easy to make and easy on the budget. With fresh and simple ingredients this perfect pasta salad can be served as a side or the main dish.

Quick and easy make ahead zesty Italian pasta salad is the best pasta salad because of all the great options to choose from. Make your own salad dressing, add in some sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese, or brighten it up with a splash of lemon juice. Any way you mix it, this cold pasta salad recipe can be made in your style and is great for any family gathering.

Recipe Card For Quick And Easy Make Ahead Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

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