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This easy Italian Pasta Salad takes just minutes to make with spiral pasta, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, black olives, shredded carrots, mozzarella pearls, and fresh basil tossed together with creamy Italian dressing! This cold summer salad is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or grilling dinners. So quick, easy, and delicious!
There's something you should know about me...I love all things creamy! Creamy dressings, sauces, and desserts. I can't explain it, I was just born this way. So this Italian Pasta Salad is my favorite side dish! I have made variations of this salad since high school. Of course back then, I was using a box!
Yes folks, a box. Does anyone remember Suddenly Salad? My sister-in law still teases me about the first time I was at their house and they were making dinner. Someone asked if I wanted to start the potato salad....."Sure, where's the box?" was my response. You need to remember, my mother is not big on cooking.
I think I have made up for it now, don't you? Look at me all grown up and publishing a blog about cooking all the things! I'm sure my mother is still mortified. I was supposed to grow up to be a doctor or the president, not a stay at home mom living in Iowa! Funny how things turn out!
Italian Pasta Salad ingredients:
- spiral pasta of your choice: Cellentaini, rotini, etc.
- a medium zucchini thinly sliced and cut into half-moons
- cherry tomatoes - whole or sliced in half
- shredded carrots
- sliced black olives
- chopped Italian parsley and green onions
- mozzarella pearls, or fresh mozzarella cut into squares
- homemade or store-bought Italian dressing mixed with mayonnaise for creaminess
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
How to make Italian Pasta Salad:
Mix dressing and mayonnaise together in a small bowl. Set aside.
Place cooked, drained noodles into a large bowl.
Add the zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, green onions, basil, olives and mozzarella pearls.
Pour dressing mixture over noodles and vegetables. Toss to thoroughly combine.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
I served mine with Hawaiian Chicken Grillers topped with Whiskey Glaze. I know, it's a strange combination. It's also really good with Sugar-free Teriyaki Sauce and Hawaiian Potato Mac Salad!
Recipe modifications:
- add diced salami or pepperoni
- substitute broccoli or your choice of vegetables
- sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese
- use colored pasta
- substitute gluten-free pasta if needed
More delicious pasta salad recipes:
- Healthy Italian Pasta Salad
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad - with bow-tie pasta, feta cheese, and simple dressing
- Antipasto Salad - fresh vegetables, deli meats, and cheese
- Hawaiian Potato Mac Salad
- Sesame Noodles with Grilled Chicken - served cold with Asian flavors
If you love this recipe, please rate it five stars and help me share on facebook and to help other readers in our community!
Enjoy!!
Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 cup Italian dressing I used Newman's Own
- 0.5 cup mayonnaise
- 1 pound pasta cooked, drained - I used Barilla Cellentaini
- 1 medium zucchini sliced thin, cut into half circles
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- .25 cup sliced olives
- 3 green onions chopped
- .25 cup fresh basil leaves chopped
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese pearls
- sea salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix dressing and mayonnaise together in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Place cooked, drained noodles into a large bowl.
- Add zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, green onions, basil, mozzarella, and olives.
- Pour dressing mixture over noodles and vegetables. Stir to thoroughly combine.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- add diced salami or pepperoni
- substitute broccoli or your choice of vegetables
- sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese
- use colored pasta
- substitute gluten-free pasta if needed
- Homemade Italian Dressing
Carrie @ Frugal Foodie Mama says
Lisa, this looks so delicious... and easy too! 🙂
Katie Clark says
I love anything creamy as well. Unfortunately, since discovering my lactose intolerance, I have to improvise a lot, but luckily there's pretty much a worthy substitute for evertyhing 🙂 This salad looks fabulous.
Tanya Schroeder says
I have a weakness for creamy stuff too! I try to be good, but it's so irresistible!
Claire @ A Little Claireification says
Yummmy!! Looks amazing! And you are so funny posting about "the green light" - I knew exactly what you were talking about when I read the title! All I can say is this… be thankful that you only have 109 posts to go back and deal with. LOL I have quite a few to fix as well so just take them one at a time, sister!
Glad you are a SAHM in Iowa as opposed to being "The President", btw, so we get to experience all of your awesome creations in the kitchen!! So much more fun!
xoxo
Alyssa says
I do a similar recipe but I use Italian dressing instead.
Jenn @ TheRollinsHouse says
I love pasta salad! Can't wait to try yours 🙂
Michelle says
I remember suddenly salad! I am also a nut for creamy foods.
Heather Who Needs a Cape? says
Pasta salad is one of my favorite meals in the summer! Thanks for the new version 😉
Glad you linked up on Super Sunday - hope you can come back next week!
Lynn H @ Turnips 2 Tangerines says
Pasta Salad is the perfect summertime food~ I like to add some parmesan cheese to my dressing also:) Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines
Julie says
Definitely going to have to try, I love pasta salads in the summer!
Thanks!
Julie
Anyonita says
What a lovely and fresh salad! 🙂 I am making this for my next barbecue! Thank you so much for linking up with me this week at Tasty Tuesdays! I’ve pinned this & shared it with my followers! Please be sure to stop back by the party and check out some of the other links!
Diane Balch says
Total flashback I remember one of my aunts making a similar salad. Thanks so much for sharing it with us on foodie friday.
Kelly says
Those noodles look very inviting 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this at my Happy Monday Show & Share @ HappyWifey.net!
Judy says
Oh my, now, I am craving.
Judy
Adelina Priddis says
I could use the green SEO light, but I'm not on wp 🙁
Your pasta salad is screaming for me to eat it. Anything creamy is going to be good.
Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later! says
I love that this is creamy! Thanks for sharing at Sweet & Savory Saturdays #18!
~Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later!
Jennifer M. says
I have been making cold salads since this heat wave hit, it is all I have an appetite for! Your Italian Pasta Salad looks like it might be my dinner tonight! I am sharing this today!
Lois Christensen says
This looks delicious! I use the same dressing for my pasta salad...mayo with Ken's Ceasar Dressing. AND yes, the mayo makes the difference! Sharing with my Walking on Sunshine FB page later today. Thank you for linking up with Foodie Friends Friday!
Michelle says
This looks delicious. I love pasta salad. I chose it for my Foodie Friends Friday host favorite this week, so it will be featured on Daily Dish Magazine Monday. Thanks so much for sharing!
Marlys @Thisand That says
I love Pasta and this looks great. Thanks for sharing this with Foodie Friends Friday. Just wanted to let you know that I am using this recipe in a Labor Day post that I wrote for the Daily Dish Magazine.