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Home » Recipes » Dinner Recipes » Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad (With Homemade Dressing!)

Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad (With Homemade Dressing!)

Published: Apr 26, 2023 by Lynn Polito · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

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Full of salty black olives, sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella balls, and artichoke hearts, this Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad is a Summer staple! It's a perfect side dish for any barbecue or Summer gathering!

A bowl of the Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad is on a cutting board and surrounded by tomatoes and basil.

This is the perfect recipe to make any time of the year! It's delicious as a side dish, a lunch, or even as a main course for dinner! It's loaded with Italian meats and classic antipasto salad ingredients.

Pasta salads are an easy recipe to make. They are great the day of, but they are even better the next day! I love Greek Pasta Salad with Penne, Linguine Pasta Salad, Bowtie Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing, Chicken and Bacon Caesar Pasta Salad, and Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad. They are perfect for any gathering!

If you need some recipes to serve with pasta salad, make sure to check out all these delicious recipes in this what to serve with pasta salad roundup!

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients to Gather
  • Variations
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • What to Serve With Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • It's great for meal prep! Make a big batch of this pasta salad and separate it into mason jars and enjoy it throughout the week for lunch or dinners.
  • It's versatile! There are lots of fresh ingredients that you can add to this delicious salad!
  • It's perfect for Summer! You can serve this salad cold or room temperature, so it's perfect for any occasion!

Ingredients to Gather

The ingredients for the Antipasto Pasta Salad are labeled and laid out.
  • Pasta. Use your favorite pasta variety. Rotini or penne would be classic.
  • Dressing ingredients. You will need red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
  • Veggies. Cherry tomatoes cut in half or grape tomatoes are best. You can use large tomatoes but cut into pieces.
  • Cheese. Fresh mozzarella gives this pasta salad a creamy texture. You can use marinated mozzarella pearls or cut a log of mozzarella cheese.
  • Fresh herbs. We are using both fresh basil and fresh parsley to add a brightness to this delicious pasta salad. It you do not have fresh herbs, use 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning to the simple homemade Italian dressing.
  • Italian meats. We will be using hard salami for this recipe.

Variations

  • Change up the veggies! Add red peppers, red onion, green onions, cucumbers, or green olives.
  • Change up the cheese! You can use feta, cheddar cheese, or parmesan cheese.
  • Change up the dressing! You can use balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, or champagne vinegar. Just keep in mind that balsamic vinegar will make the pasta darker.

Step by Step Instructions

The pasta is boiling in a pot.
Step 1: Add the pasta to a large pot of salted water and cook according to package directions.
The dressing ingredients are in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: In a large bowl, add the dressing ingredients. Mix well.
All the ingredients except the pasta is added to the large bowl.
Step 3: Chop the ingredients and add them to the large bowl.
The Antipasto Pasta Salad is tossed and ready to serve.
Step 4: Drain the pasta and run cold water over the pasta to stop the cooking process. Add it to the large bowl and mix well.

What to Serve With Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad

  • Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
  • Chicken Drumsticks in the Instant Pot
  • Chicken Thighs in the Instant Pot
  • Turkey Tenderloin in the Instant Pot
  • Chicken Burgers with Spinach and Feta

Recipe FAQs

What should I do with leftover pasta salad?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This Italian pasta salad recipe will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Can I make this with other types of pasta?

Yes! You can use your favorite gluten free pasta or chick pea pasta for this recipe.

Why do I have to run cold water over the pasta?

This will ensure that the pasta does not overcook. Running cold water over the pasta makes it so the pasta stops cooking and is al dente.

The ingredients of the Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad are shown in a bowl.

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Did you love this recipe? If you did, please leave a 5 ⭐️ rating below! Follow along on Instagram and Facebook!

📖 Recipe

A bowl of the Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad is on a cutting board and surrounded by tomatoes and basil.

Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad

Full of salty black olives, sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella balls, and artichoke hearts, this Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad is a Summer staple! It's a perfect side dish for any barbecue or Summer gathering!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 511kcal
Author: Lynn Polito

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowls
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Knives
  • Cutting Board

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Pasta Any variety
  • ½ cup Olive Oil
  • ½ cup Red Wine Vinegar
  • ¼ cup Fresh Parsley Chopped
  • ¼ cup Fresh Basil Chopped
  • 1 cup Artichoke Hearts Cut in half
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes Halved
  • 1 can Black Olives drained
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Balls Cut in half
  • 1 cup Hard Salami Diced

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water and add the pasta to the water and cook according to package instructions.
  • While the pasta cooks, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh parsley, and fresh basil to a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.
  • Add the artichoke hearts, black olives, mozzarella balls, black olives, and hard salami to the bowl.
  • Drain the pasta and run cold water over the pasta to stop the cooking process. Add the pasta to the large bowl and mix well. Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 2 hours and serve.

Notes

  • Change up the veggies! Add red peppers, red onion, green onions, cucumbers, or green olives.
  • Change up the cheese! You can use feta, cheddar cheese, or parmesan cheese.
  • Change up the dressing! You can use balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, or champagne vinegar. Just keep in mind that balsamic vinegar will make the pasta darker.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 511kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 1341mg | Potassium: 259mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LynnsWayofLife or tag #lynnswayoflife!
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Hey there! I'm Lynn and I'm based just outside of Boston. I'm a wife and mom of two with a passion for cooking and creating homemade food for my family.

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