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    Home » Recipe » Main Dish » Easy Italian Pasta Salad

    Easy Italian Pasta Salad

    Published May 16, 2018 · Updated Apr 6, 2021 by Ginnie · 6 Comments

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    You are going to fall in love with this delicious Italian Pasta Salad! 

    This unique recipe is packed with bold flavors and tons of veggies, and it's super easy to make ... perfect for all your summer entertaining!

    A bowl of Italian Pasta Salad on a wood table.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    My schedule is already getting crazy ... and summer isn't even here yet! Between travel and get togethers with friends and family, every minute seems to be packed.

    Which is why I love easy dishes that can be made in advance, like this Italian Pasta Salad! This delicious recipe is simple to make, yet the bold flavors are out of this world delicious.

    It's also loaded with veggies and other good stuff, like giardiniera. Really, each bite is a treat!

    Ready to try it for yourself? Then keep reading for all the details.

    Two bowls of the finished recipe on a wood table.

    About the Recipe

    This cold pasta salad with Italian dressing is full of yummy ingredients, yet it takes very little preparation.

    Want to know the secret? The star of this tasty Italian Pasta Salad is antipasto.

    You've probably had antipasto before. It's often served as a first course or appetizer before Italian meals ... think olives, pepperoncini, giardiniera (marinated veggies), artichoke hearts, cheeses, etc. Yum, right?

    And the best thing about antipasto is that you can purchase much of it premade. Which means this vegetarian Antipasto Pasta Salad is ready fast, and it's simple to prepare!

    Recipe ingredients arranged on wood board.

    Ingredients

    This easy recipe is packed with flavorful, healthy ingredients that you can find in any grocery store:

    • Pasta (I used cavatappi, but any spiral or even tube shaped pasta will work.)
    • Fresh Veggies: Kale, Red Onion, and Grape Tomatoes
    • Marinated Artichokes 
    • Fresh Mozzarella
    • Roasted Red Peppers
    • Giardiniera (marinated vegetables)
    • Olives (I like Kalamata, but any variety would work.)
    • Fresh Basil
    • Homemade Italian Dressing

    I used my favorite antipasto ingredients for this Italian Pasta Salad, but you can easily change things up to suit your taste.

    For example, you could use sundried tomatoes instead of fresh, regular canned artichokes instead of marinated, or any variety of olives. Don't like olives or raw onions? Skip them. Can't find fresh mozzarella? Use regular mozzarella instead. Want to simplify the recipe? Cut down on the number of ingredients. It's up to you!

    Recipe ingredients in a large bowl before mixing.

    How to Make Italian Pasta Salad

    This yummy pasta salad is simple to make, but it has a few steps, and I'm breaking each one down for you below.

    Making the Dressing

    To get started, you need to make the homemade Italian dressing. That way the flavors can blend while you work on the remaining ingredients.

    This vinaigrette is so easy to make. Just whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh garlic, dried basil and oregano, salt, pepper, and a touch of sugar. Feel free to adjust the ingredients (adding more/less oil or vinegar, etc.) depending on how you prefer the dressing to taste.

    It's a super easy vinaigrette. But if you want to save a little time, then you can use a bottled dressing. This Zesty Italian is one of my favorites!

    A wood spoon mixing together the recipe ingredients in a large bowl.

    Preparing the Pasta and Kale

    Next, you'll cook the pasta. Any sort of spiral or tube shape will work ... I used cavatappi. Want to make this recipe gluten-free? Simply use gluten-free pasta!

    Once your pasta is cooked, rinse it under cold water until it's chilled. This will keep it from overcooking and sticking together. Make sure to drain it really well before adding it to your salad.

    This recipe serves a crowd, so get out your biggest bowl. You'll add the chopped kale to the bowl, along with a little of your Italian vinaigrette.

    Get in there with your hands and massage the dressing into the kale. When you're done, the kale should be reduced in volume by about half. Yes, it's kind of a weird technique, but it really does make the kale tender!

    A bowl of Giardiniera Pasta Salad on a wood table.

    Assembling the Pasta Salad

    Add the cooled pasta to the kale, along with all those veggies and giardiniera, basil, and fresh mozzarella (skip the cheese to make this recipe vegan). Then drizzle the homemade vinaigrette over the top and mix everything together.

    Unless your bowl is totally ginormous, this part might get a little messy. It's totally worth it though, because it's soooo delicious!

    This easy Italian Pasta Salad serves a crowd, making it perfect for summer entertaining. If you're only serving yourself or a small family, you could also make a batch on Sunday to eat during the week ... it keeps really well in the fridge.

    However you serve it, this is one dish you'll enjoy all summer long!

    Closeup of the finished salad in a large bowl.

    Related Recipes

    Looking for more summer recipes? Try one of these next:

    • Greek Pasta Salad
    • Cold Asian Noodle Salad
    • Watermelon Basil Quinoa Salad
    • Kale Pasta Salad with Creamy Lemon-Basil Dressing
    • Greek Tortellini Salad
    • Chinese Chopped Salad
    • Tropical Rice Salad
    • Southwest Pasta Salad
    A bowl of Italian Pasta Salad on a wood table next to a napkin and fork.
    Print Recipe SaveSaved!
    5 from 2 votes

    Easy Italian Pasta Salad

    This easy Italian Pasta Salad is ready in minutes and perfect for entertaining!
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Main Course, Salad
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 8 or more people
    Calories: 536kcal
    Author: Ginnie

    Ingredients

    For Vinaigrette:

    • ½ cup + 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper

    For Salad:

    • 1 pound pasta (such as cavatappi)
    • 4 cups chopped kale (about ½ a large bunch)
    • 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
    • 1 (12-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained
    • 1 (8-ounce) ball fresh mozzarella, cut into cubes
    • 1 cup chopped roasted red pepper
    • 1 cup chopped giardiniera
    • ⅓ cup halved olives
    • ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced and rinsed under cold water
    • ½ cup sliced basil

    Instructions

    Prepare Vinaigrette:

    • Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, basil, oregano, sugar, and pepper until well combined.
    • Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if desired, then set aside.

    Prepare Salad:

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until tender.
    • Drain pasta, then rinse with cold water until chilled. Set aside to drain further.
    • Place kale in a large bowl; add about ¼ cup of vinaigrette. Massage dressing into kale with hands, until kale is tender and volume is reduced by about ½.
    • Add pasta and all remaining ingredients to kale.
    • Whisk remaining vinaigrette, then pour over salad. Mix well. Taste salad and adjust seasoning with a salt, if desired.
    • Serve pasta salad immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat. Enjoy!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 536kcal
    Did you make this recipe?I love seeing what you're cooking! Leave a comment below, or tag @HelloLittleHome or #hellolittlehome on Instagram!

    Three bowls of the finished salad on a wood table.

    What is your favorite summer recipe?

    Easy Italian Pasta SaladEasy Italian Pasta Salad
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    About Ginnie

    Ginnie is the writer, photographer, and chief content creator behind Hello Little Home. She loves trying new things (whether that’s creating delicious vegetarian recipes, exploring a new city, trying a fun DIY project, or sharing a pretty makeup look), and she hopes to inspire you to do the same! Read more about Ginnie here.

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    6 Comments
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    Lara
    3 years ago

    5 stars
    This sounds delicious! I hope to be making it soon. Thank you also for the vegan option. I have vegan friends so this would be a great option to take to gatherings.
    If I had it all my way, I would like to see a price estimate on the salad. One time, I made a "taco salad" my mom used to make, and it cost me over $20!

    0
    Reply
    Author
    Ginnie
    3 years ago
    Reply to  Lara

    I hope you enjoy it, Lara! Thanks for the suggestion. That would definitely be helpful ... I know what you mean about recipes that end up being more expensive than you thought. I don't have the exact cost for this, but it's probably a little more expensive with stuff like fresh mozzarella, artichokes, etc. Although you could definitely shop around to save a bit.

    0
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    Maria
    4 years ago

    I was looking for a good salad and this is it. Looks so good love the kale in it.

    0
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    Author
    Ginnie
    4 years ago
    Reply to  Maria

    Thanks, Maria! I had to sneak some kale in there 😉

    0
    Reply
    Paula
    4 years ago

    I watched your video yesterday and learned about massaging Kale. This morning I was watching Hallmark Home and Family and a chef prepared a pasta with Kale. Guess what he did before he added it to the pasta? He massaged it just like you did! This recipe looks so good and is perfect for summer

    0
    Reply
    Author
    Ginnie
    4 years ago
    Reply to  Paula

    That is too funny! I think that really is the trick to making a delicious kale salad 🙂

    0
    Reply

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    Hi, I'm Ginnie! Welcome to Hello Little Home, which is all about inspiring everyday creativity! I'm excited to share my favorite things with you ... vegetarian recipes, travel inspiration, DIY projects, decor ideas, beauty and fashion tips, and more! Read more about me here!

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