Italian Pasta Salad Recipes

Simple Italian Pasta Salad

If you would like to spice up this salad just add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Rotini, cooked, drained
• 4 cups broccoli florets cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup pitted black olives, halved if desired
• 1 1/2 cups Italian salad dressing, or more to taste

Directions:

Cook pasta al dente according to package instructions, drain and place in a large serving bowl and let cool.

Add broccoli, Parmesan, bell pepper, red onion, and olives and toss well.

Add dressing, mix well, cover, and refrigerate for at least twelve hours to let the flavors meld.

By Deeli from Richland, WA

Pasta Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 lb. multi-colored Rotini, cooked
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 large cucumber, seeded and cut into small pieces
• 1 large sweet pepper (any color), seeded and cut into small pieces
• 1/2 small bag of baby carrots, cut into small pieces
• 1 large bottle Italian dressing (I prefer Kraft);
• 1/3 bottle Salad Supreme (in spice section of grocery store).

Directions:

Mix first 5 ingredients together in large bowl. Pour 1/4 of the salad dressing onto salad. Mix the Salad Supreme into the balance of the salad dressing, shaking until well combined.

Pour the mixture over the salad and stir well. Best if refrigerated for several hours or overnight until flavors meld together. Enjoy!

By Joyce from Gulfport, FL

Giardiniera Pasta Salad

Quick and easy Italian style pasta or macaroni salad

Ingredients:

• Cooked pasta of your choice
• Celery, chopped
• Onion, chopped
• Carrot, chopped
• Hard boiled eggs, chopped
• Pimiento stuffed olives, chopped
• Canned tuna, drained, flaked
• Bottled giardiniera mix, undrained. (Mild is best for this salad even though I love the hot mix)

Directions:

Put all the ingredients in a bowl, pour on the entire bottle of giardiniera mix and gently toss to mix.

If you do not like the vegetables listed above, do not like hard cooked eggs, or you'd rather have flaked crab or lobster in your salad - make the changes.

Taste, adjust seasonings if needed and either eat immediately or cover with plastic wrap and chill until needed.

By recipe collector from Peoria, IL

Mostaccioli Salad

Ingredients

• 12 oz. mostaccioli
• 1 Tbsp. cooking oil
• 1 medium cucumber, chopped
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 medium red sweet pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup snipped parsley or 2 Tbsp. dried parsley
• 1 tsp. garlic salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions, and drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again. Transfer pasta to a very large bowl. Toss with oil. Add cucumber, green pepper, onion, and red pepper to pasta. Combine vinegar, sugar, parsley, garlic salt and pepper in a small mixing bowl. Pour over pasta and vegetables, and toss mixture to coat. Cover and chill salad for 6-24 hours, stirring occasionally. Makes 12 servings.

By Robin from Washington, IA

Italian Pasta Salad

This recipe reminds me of spring. Very cool and fresh tasting!

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg. rotini (macaroni), 16oz.
• 1 red onion, chopped fine
• 1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• dry Italian seasoning
• Italian dressing

Directions:

Cook rotini; drain and rinse. Add onion, cucumber, and tomato and sprinkle on dry Italian seasoning to your taste. Put Italian dressing on and mix. Must be made a day ahead of time. If the dressing soaks into the macaroni, you may have to add more before serving.

By Robin from Washington, IA

Italian Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 1 package rainbow rotini (16 oz.)
• 1 cup Italian dressing
• 1 cup Creamy Caesar dressing
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 red onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 yellow pepper, diced

Directions

Cook the pasta according to the package directions, until done. Drain and rinse the pasta until cold water. In a large bowl, combine pasta, Italian dressing, Creamy Caesar dressing, Parmesan cheese, onion and peppers and mix well. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

By Robin from Washington, IA