This zesty Italian Pasta Salad recipe is simple, delicious and ready in less than 30 minutes!!
It's full of all the southern Italian classics of tomatoes, olives and just a little spicy red pepper flakes. You will love how easy this Italian Pasta Salad recipe is to prepare!
This updated and improved recipe was first posted on November 21, 2018.
Why you will love this recipe!
This Italian Pasta Salad is super zesty and flavorsome because of the delicious, homemade Italian salad dressing. The dressing is what sets this pasta salad apart from all the other pasta salads. That’s right! It's amazing!! My zesty Italian dressing uses dried oregano, some garlic powder and just a little spice from red pepper flakes to add a piquant, tasty flavor that will keep you coming back for more!
Did you know that pasta is a great summer meal? This cold Pasta Salad recipe is perfect for summer picnics, pot luck dinners and packed lunches. The combination of tri colored tomatoes, bell peppers (capscium), green and black olives makes this pasta salad so tasty and will have your tastebuds buzzing!!
Adding canned tuna, cooked rotisserie chicken or ham not only adds flavor but also increases the protein and satisfies you for longer. I enjoy the taste of bocconcini or baby mozzarella but you may enjoy shaved Parmesan cheese in your pasta salad. That’s another thing you’ll love about this recipe - it’s so adaptable and you can adjust the ingredients to suit your preferences. Just be sure to use the homemade Italian dressing and you can’t go wrong!
In Italy, this type of recipe is known as Pasta Estiva or Summer Pasta. And it is the perfect dish for summer - fresh, cool and easily prepared. All that needs to be cooked is the pasta. In the time it takes to cook the pasta, the other ingredients can be prepared.
While homemade pastas like cavatelli, garganelli and tonnarelli are super delicious, store bought, dried pasta is best for this pasta salad recipe! Always keep a few packets in the pantry for Italian pasta salad at a moment's notice!
This Italian Pasta salad recipe is one of my go to dishes - easily prepared and everyone loves it. If you love this salad, why not try my Brown Rice salad or Pumpkin and Spinach salad or Mediterranean Cucumber Salad, these are just as easy!
For complete ingredient quantities and full instructions, please scroll to the printable recipe card bottom of the page.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Don't you just love recipes that use simple pantry staples? Using basic ingredients from the pantry plus a few fresh ingredients makes preparing a meal a snap! This recipe uses convenient ingredients that you will have in your pantry.
- Dried pasta - Any good quality, short pasta will work for this recipe. I like fusilli but orecchiette, rotini, and penne are also good. Try whole grain pasta for extra nutrition.
- Canned tuna - Use good quality, canned tuna in olive oil for the best flavor. Tuna is full of vitamins and minerals as well as being a good source of protein. Alternatively use cooked rotisserie chicken, diced ham, cooked shrimp (prawns) or thin slices of pepperoni.
- Tri color cherry tomatoes - These are excellent for adding color and flavor but if you can’t find them regular cherry tomatoes are fine.
- Sweet bell peppers - Also known as red capscium in some parts of the world. Be sure to choose firm bell peppers that are heavy for their size.
- Sun dried tomatoes in oil - I prefer the ones in olive oil and herbs but use what you can find. The ones I use are already sliced or julienned.
- Black olives - To make it easier for yourself, purchase pitted black olives.
- Stuffed green olives - I like the green olives stuffed with pimento but choose whichever you prefer.
- Bocconcini - These are small balls of fresh mozzarella also known as mozzarella pearls or cherry bocconcini. If you can’t find these, cut fresh mozzarella into bite size chunks.
- Extra virgin olive oil - Always best for flavor but use regular olive oil if you prefer.
- Red wine vinegar - Easily purchased at the supermarket. You’ll find it handy for so many salad dressings.
- Dried oregano - Even dried herbs become stale so if you’ve had a jar of dried oregano sitting in the pantry for over a year, it’s best to buy a new jar.
- Garlic powder - I like to use garlic powder for convenience but one small crushed garlic clove can be used instead.
- Red pepper flakes - This can vary in strength so adjust the amount accordingly. Also known as chilli flakes in some parts of the world.
Variations
- Add extra fresh veggies like lightly steamed broccoli or cauliflower florets, diced cucumber and red onion to boost flavor and vitamins.
- Herbs like parsley, chives and mint are a delicious addition.
- Include hard boiled eggs.
- Pickled vegetables are delicious too.
- Stir through a spoonful of pesto to make this pasta salad extra zesty!
Instructions
Make the dressing by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl.
Cook the pasta in boiling, salted water according to the package directions. I like to taste a few minutes before the time is up to ensure it is not overcooked.
- Deseed and dice the red bell pepper. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half.
- In a large bowl combine the red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes with drained tuna, bocconcini, sun dried tomatoes and olives and mix well.
- Add the barely warm pasta and prepared dressing and combine. Serve immediately or refrigerate until needed.
Tips for success and FAQ’s
To make this zesty Italian Pasta salad recipe perfectly, it’s important to choose not only the correct pasta but also good quality pasta. Cheap pasta won’t have a good texture, doesn’t absorb flavors in the same way and will swell and soften in the dressing.
It’s also important to salt the pasta water before adding the pasta. And then taste, taste, taste and add just enough salt to bring out the flavor of the ingredients.
Cook the pasta in boiling, salted water according to the package directions. I like to taste the pasta a few minutes before the time is up to ensure it is not overcooked. Tip into a large colander to drain. If you have overcooked it, run briefly under cold water to stop the pasta cooking. I prefer not to do this because it washes away the starch but it is an alternative.
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad will last in the fridge for about 3 days. The cherry tomatoes will start to soften but it will still be good.
Firstly, choose the correct pasta - fusilli, penne, orecchiette and rotini are all good choices. Be careful not to overcook the pasta.
Add enough salt but not too much. Keep in mind that Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is served cold which dulls taste so check the seasoning again after the salad has been stored in the fridge.
Don’t let the cooked pasta become too cold. Slightly warm pasta will absorb more flavors.
My preferred vinegar for homemade Italian dressing is red wine vinegar. White wine vinegar is also a good choice for this recipe. Depending on the recipe, lemon juice can also be used.
This zesty Italian Pasta Salad can’t be frozen because it contains fresh cherry tomatoes and red bell peppers. These ingredients will be soft and soggy when thawed. However, you can freeze pasta salad before adding the tomatoes and bell peppers and then add them in after thawing.
Serving Suggestions
Our family loves eating this zesty Italian Pasta Salad with a side of Ligurian Focaccia, a few Grissini breadsticks or my delicious Ciabatta Garlic Bread. And what could be better than tasty Baked Peaches for dessert?
More recipes like this
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Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound (500 grams) fusilli pasta or short pasta of your choice
- 6.5 oz (185 grams) canned or bottled tuna (Italian style in oil) See Note 1
- 8 ounces (250 grams) tri colored cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium red bell pepper See Note 2
- 1 cup quartered bocconcini See Note 3
- ½ cup stuffed green olives sliced
- ½ cup black olives sliced
- ½ cup sun dried tomatoes in oil sliced
Homemade Italian Salad Dressing
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) See Note 4
- 3 tablespoons oil from the dried tomatoes or extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- salt to taste as needed
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to the boil and salt it well.
- Drain the tuna and place into a large serving bowl, breaking it up slightly.
- Cut the tomatoes in half. Deseed and chop the red bell pepper. Place in the a the bowl with the tuna, bocconcini, sun dried tomatoes and olives and mix well.
- Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions but for a minute or two less. I like to taste a few minutes before the time is up to ensure it is not overcooked. The pasta should be a little bit firm because it will continue to cook.
- When the pasta is ready, drain it. If it's been overcooked, run it very briefly under cold water to stop cooking. Remove all excess water. I prefer not to run the pasta under cold water so I don't cook it completely through.
- Allow to cool a little if it's still really hot. But it's important for the pasta to be a bit warm when mixed with the other salad ingredients.
- Tip the slightly warm pasta into serving bowl with tuna, tri colored cherry tomatoes and bocconcini mixture.
- Pour over combined dressing and toss to combine.
- Taste, and adjust salt if needed.
Homemade Italian Salad Dressing
- In a small bowl combine oil from the sun dried tomatoes, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, red pepper flakes and garlic powder.
Notes
- As an alternative to canned tuna, use cooked rotisserie chicken, diced ham, cooked shrimp (prawns) or thin slices of pepperoni.
- Also known as red capsicum.
- It may be labelled "baby mozzarella",
- Also known as chilli flakes in some parts of the world.
- Choose good quality pasta. It has better texture, absorbs flavors well and won't swell and soften in the dressing.
- Boil the pasta in salted water.
- Seasoning well. Taste and adjust salt to suit you. Salt brings out flavors and if a dish is bland, it just may need a sprinkle more of salt.
Nutritional Information Per Serving
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. For accurate results, it is recommended that the nutritional information be calculated based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Ramona
This was our lunch yesterday after the gym and it was delightful. Easy to put together and so delish.
Linda
Really enjoy this pasta! So easy to make and flavorful
Marcellina
Happy to hear you enjoyed this pasta salad, Linda! It's a regular on our menu and a family fav.
Addie
This pasta salad is so flavorful! Great as a side dish or appetizer.
Peter
This pasta salad was incredibly delicious, and tasted authentic too compared to many Americanized versions! The combination of sun-dried tomatoes, bocconcini and olives were perfect! I also added artichoke hearts to the mix, deeee-licious!
Marcellina
Mmmm, I adore artichoke hearts in this salad. Great choice, Peter! Thanks for commenting!
Lucas
All of these ingredients seem so right together on a pasta dish! I loved it! Thanks for sharing this incredible recipe!
Freya
Pasta salad is my fav but your recipe takes it to another level! The sundries tomato oil is full of flavour and so good!
Marcellina
That's true, Freya, the oil for the sun dried tomatoes is too good to waste!
Sunrita
Simple ingredients and so easy to make. Perfect salad for potlucks and summer! Loved it
Oscar
Can't believe how quick and easy it was to make this pasta. I love the combination of tomatoes and bocconcini so this recipe totally hit the spot for me. Thank you.
Pauline McNee
This looks like a perfect dinner for a casual midweek meal. Love it and very colourful.Thanks for a great recipe Marcellina.
Marcellina
It's delicious, Pauline! Glad you like it!
Jan
Oh yum! The whole family enjoyed this flavoursome meal. Leftovers were great for lunch too.
2pots2cook
LOL ! We both do exactly the same thing: cook more so we have office lunch the other day or another week dinner next day. Why not ?! ! For seasons ingredients make this one a keeper !
Marcellina
Haha! I can’t imagine why not! I always cook extra, best thing!
Pauline
Marcellina this looks delicious, and just might make it to my Christmas salad menu this year where I won't be in my own kitchen. Knowing I can just buy these ingredients and throw it all together sounds great. Thanks for sharing. Pauline
Marcellina
It’s perfect for exactly that!