This Zesty Italian Pasta Salad recipe has all of the elements of a Chopped Italian Salad but in pasta salad form: abundant veggies, fresh cheeses, and a sweet and tangy Italian dressing.

Finished Italian Pasta Salad with text overlay for Pinterest.

This cold pasta salad with an Italian dressing recipe makes a huge batch! It will serve about 12 people as a main dish or 18-24 as a side dish! This salad makes it perfect for summertime cookouts, get-togethers, and potlucks. 

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

To me, summertime screams quick and easy meals. Pasta salads are it when it’s too hot to heat the kitchen. I find myself making pasta salads just about every week, and a giant salad like this pasta salad usually gets us through 2 dinners and a few lunches.

Italian Pasta Salad ingredients.

Can you freeze pasta salad?

There are differing beliefs when it comes to freezing pasta salads. Some believe that it changes the texture of the pasta too much. Others believe that while it does change the texture a tad, there are a few steps you can take to assist in a better outcome.

How to make Italian Pasta Salad.

This dish has all of the elements of your favorite chopped Italian salad but in pasta salad form, including a sweet and tangy Italian dressing that’s ah-mazing!

My daughter loves this pasta salad for school lunches, and I often bring it to cookouts or potlucks because this recipe serves a ton!

If you love pasta salads, then check out these: Southwest Pasta SaladChicken Poppy Seed Pasta Salad,   Simple Pasta Salad, and Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Loaded Italian Pasta Salad recipe.

Cook’s Note – Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing:

  • This recipe will serve 12 people as a main dish or 18-24 as a side dish. 
  • This pasta salad makes a TON, feel free to cut the recipe in half. The pasta salad is even tastier the second day as the flavors continue to marinate in the fridge.

Cook’s Tools:

food processer

pasta pot

large mixing bowl

Quick and Easy Italian Pasta Salad recipe.

Pasta Salad Add-Ins:

This recipe is delicious as is, but sometimes I like throwing in additional ingredients that I have on hand. Below are some of my favorite add-ins. 

  • pepperoni
  • grilled chicken
  • shredded chicken
  • crispy pancetta
  • grilled shrimp
  • cooked, sliced, and cooled Italian Sausage
  • sliced zucchini
  • capers 

How Much will this pasta salad with Italian dressing cost to make? 

RECIPE COST: $21.99

PER SERVING COST: $1.83

NOTE: I calculate the recipe prices by using name brand grocery prices on grocery store websites.

  • 16 oz pasta $1.38
  • (2) 14.5-ounce cans garbanzo beans chickpeas $1.72
  • 1 6.5-Ounce can sliced black olives $2.79
  • 1 ½ cups salami $4.20
  • 8 oz whole milk mozzarella cheese $1.46
  • 1 ½ cups Roma tomatoes $0.78
  • 1 small red onion $0.70
  • 2 medium cucumbers $0.96
  • 1 ½ cups artichoke hearts $1.92
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese $1.98
  • ¾ cup red wine vinegar $0.78
  • ¼ cup honey $0.33
  • 2 Teaspoons dried Italian seasoning $0.39
  • 4 large garlic cloves $0.20
  • 1 cup olive oil $2.32

How do you make Italian pasta salad?

Italian Pasta Salad loaded with veggies, cheese, and a tangy Italian dressing.
4.93 from 14 votes

Italian Chopped Pasta Salad

Author A Food, Folks and Fun original!
Recipe Cost $ 21.99
Serving Cost $ 1.83
Prep Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 27 minutes
12 servings
This Italian Pasta Salad recipe has all of the elements of a Chopped Italian Salad but in pasta salad form: abundant veggies, fresh cheeses, and a sweet and tangy Italian dressing.

Equipment

  • food processer
  • pasta pot
  • large mixing bowl

Ingredients
 
 

Italian Dressing:

  • ¾ cup red wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
  • 4 large garlic cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper

Pasta Salad:

  • 16 oz pasta
  • 2 14.5-ounce cans garbanzo beans chickpeas
  • 1 6.5-Ounce can sliced black olives
  • 8 oz whole milk mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1 ½ Cups salami chopped
  • 1 ½ Cups chopped Roma tomatoes
  • 1 small red onion diced
  • 2 medium cucumbers chopped
  • 1 ½ Cups artichoke hearts chopped
  • salt & pepper
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup olive oil

Instructions

MAKE ITALIAN DRESSING:

  • Place vinegar, honey, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic, and salt and pepper in a blender or food processor. While the machine is running, slowly drizzle the olive oil until the dressing is combined and emulsified. Adjust the seasoning if necessary, or add more oil if you want it less acidic.

COOK PASTA:

  • Cook the pasta as per the package instructions. Drain and rinse pasta with cool water, set aside.

MIX PASTA SALAD:

  • In an extra-large bowl, mix together the cooked pasta, garbanzo beans, olives, mozzarella cheese, salami, tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, and artichokes. Toss with the Dressing and evenly coat. Season with salt and pepper.
    All of the pasta salad ingredients in a bowl ready to be mixed.

CHILL AND SERVE:

  • Chill the pasta salad for at least 4 hours. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Video

Notes

This recipe will serve 12 people as a main dish or 18-24 as a side dish. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 784mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 670IU | Vitamin C: 7.6mg | Calcium: 309mg | Iron: 1.4mg

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I recently updated the photos to this Italian pasta salad recipe; you can see the original ones here:

Italian Chopped Pasta Salad

Italian Chopped Pasta Salad

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Recipe Rating




23 Comments

  1. Oh, how I adore a chopped salad…and I love the twist of adding pasta! Perfect for all the summer cookouts and BBQs 🙂

    1. Thanks, Liz. I love making pasta salads during the summer.

  2. This sounds yummy! Thank you for sharing this recipe.

  3. Brandi Crawford says:

    I love pasta salad and have not had Italian. This looks incredible.

  4. Janette | Culinary Ginger says:

    I’ve never met a pasta salad I didn’t love and this one has all my favorites. The dressing sounds delicious too.

  5. All the best flavors combined into a pasta salad!! This is just calling my name.

  6. Amy | The Cook Report says:

    This looks like my perfect pasta salad, I love that cut of pasta as well!

  7. Maggie Unzueta says:

    I haven’t had Italian pasta in years. Must make this recipe. Thanks for sharing.

  8. Looks so delicious and perfect for a balanced healthy everyday dinner or lunch.

  9. The ideal salad for Summer! We have a similar one in Greece. I will try out your version.

  10. Laura | Wandercooks says:

    Gorgeous recipe, love all those beautiful colours and textures, not to mention flavour! Also thanks for the tips for freezing this salad perfectly. I’ve never thought to do that before and it works perfectly!

  11. I love a good pasta salad, and this lighter than most. Good BBQ fare! thanks for the recipe

  12. Fantastic and flavorful! Love bringing a big batch of pasta salad to barbecues and neighborhood gatherings – always a hit!

  13. Tanya Schroeder says:

    Such a great BBQ side!

  14. Susan Broughton says:

    I love my pasta salads and am always looking for new ways of trying them! This recipe looks so tasty and easy!

  15. Barbara Atkinson says:

    One of my favorite dishes.

  16. Nellie Tracy says:

    This is a great recipe. I love making it and taking it to barbecues and other gatherings. So delicious!

  17. Michelle Goth says:

    We made this for a small barbecue for Father’s Day. It was perfect!

  18. Cassandra D says:

    The cold italian pasta salad recipe above looks wonderful.

  19. Love all the ingredients you chose especially the salami and garbanzo beans. Not your momma’s pasta salad, yummy!