Italian Pasta Salad

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our affiliate policy.

This zesty Italian Pasta Salad is full of rotini, the best bits of an antipasto platter, and a delicious balsamic dressing. Minced celery adds a surprising, welcome crunch.

Italian pasta salad on a blue platter.


 

Recipe ingredients

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes

  • Celery. Celery is crucial. It’s light, refreshing, crunchy, and not salty. It helps balance out all the other soft, salty ingredients like, mozzarella, salami, roasted red peppers, capers, and pepperoncini.
  • Roasted red peppers: The kind in a jar that last a long time in the fridge, or roast peppers yourself.
  • Mozzarella: Chopped into bite-sized pieces (or use mini mozzarella balls or pearls).
  • Pepperoncini peppers: I buy the sliced ones for this salad. If you want to help your friends or family avoid them, substitute whole pepperoncini and use them as a garnish.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. To make the balsamic dressing, in a large bowl whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper to taste (I like ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper).
A bowl of balsamic vinaigrette.
  1. In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil. Add pasta and cook until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain well, rinse with cold water, and drain again. To the bowl with the dressing, add the cooled pasta, celery, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, salami, pepperoncini, and capers. Toss to combine and sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired.
Separated Italian pasta salad ingredients in a clear bowl.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: This recipe makes 12 (1-cup) servings.
  • Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Make ahead: The balsamic vinaigrette can be made up to 3 days in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator. The pasta can be cooked, drained, rinsed, and cooled up to 1 day in advance. The vegetables can be prepped the day before and stored separately in the refrigerator.
  • More mix-ins: Get creative with diced bell peppers, olives, fresh basil, a handful of toasted walnuts or almonds, or fresh mushrooms. Just be wary of adding too many soft, salty ingredients. Salami, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, capers, and pepperoncini are all soft and salty. You want balance!
  • Make the vinaigrette your own: Try adding 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, a teaspoon of honey, a minced clove of garlic, or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
  • Delicious sides for your Italian Feast: Serve with a fresh Caesar Salad, a side of tangy homemade Marinated Mushrooms, savory Risotto, or a basket of warm Garlic Bread.
Italian pasta salad on a blue platter with a serving spoon and fork.

More Italian favorites

Join Us

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow along on FacebookPinterest, and Instagram for our latest recipes! Tag all your glorious creations #culinaryhill so we can eat vicariously through you.
Italian pasta salad on a blue platter.

Italian Pasta Salad

This zesty Italian Pasta Salad is full of rotini, the best bits of an antipasto platter, and a delicious balsamic dressing. Minced celery adds a surprising, welcome crunch.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Course Salad
Cuisine American, Italian
Calories 333
4.84 from 6 votes

Ingredients 

For the balsamic vinaigrette:

For the pasta salad:

  • 16 ounces rotini or other small pasta
  • 1 celery rib minced (½ cup, see note 1)
  • 1/2 cup roasted red peppers drained and minced (see note 2)
  • 6 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese chopped into 1/4-inch pieces (1 ¼ cups, see note 3)
  • 6 ounces sliced salami chopped into 1/4-inch pieces (1 ¼ cups)
  • 1/4 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers (see note 4)
  • 1/4 cup capers
  • fresh parsley minced, for garnish (optional)

Instructions 

To make the balsamic vinaigrette:

  • To make the dressing, in a large bowl whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper to taste (I like ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper).

To make the pasta salad:

  • In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil. Add pasta and cook until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain well, rinse with cold water, and drain again.
  • To the bowl with the dressing, add the cooled pasta, celery, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, salami, pepperoncini, and capers. Toss to combine and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

Notes

  1. Celery. Celery is crucial. It’s light, refreshing, crunchy, and not salty. It helps balance out all the other soft, salty ingredients like, mozzarella, salami, roasted red peppers, capers, and pepperoncini. 
  2. Roasted red peppers: The kind in a jar that last a long time in the fridge, or roast peppers yourself.
  3. Mozzarella: Chopped into bite-sized pieces (or use mini mozzarella balls or pearls).
  4. Pepperoncini peppers: I buy the sliced ones for this salad. If you want to help your friends or family avoid them, substitute whole pepperoncini and use them as a garnish.
  5. Yield: This recipe makes 12 (1-cup) servings.
  6. Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  7. Make ahead: The balsamic vinaigrette can be made up to 3 days in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator. The pasta can be cooked, drained, rinsed, and cooled up to 1 day in advance. The vegetables can be prepped the day before and stored separately in the refrigerator.
  8. More mix-ins: Get creative with diced bell peppers, olives, fresh basil, a handful of toasted walnuts or almonds, or fresh mushrooms. Just be wary of adding too many soft, salty ingredients. Salami, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, capers, and pepperoncini are all soft and salty. You want balance!
  9. Make the vinaigrette your own: Try adding 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, a teaspoon of honey, a minced clove of garlic, or a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 333kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 12gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 625mgPotassium: 182mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 155IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
Website | + posts

Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

Quick & Easy Meals in Under 30 Minutes!
15 simple recipes for busy weeknights.

You May Also Like

Questions and Comments

Thank you for your comments! Please allow 1-2 business days for a reply. Our business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am PST to 5:00 pm PST, excluding holidays. Comments are moderated to prevent spam and profanity.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Made this last night. WOW is it good! The dressing is unbelievable. What a great combo of everything.5 stars

  2. Vidalia sweet onions are superb either diced or, sauteed. Mozzarella cheese, shredded by Kraft, 2 cups addes into mix. Green pepper diced or, sauteed. Barilla pasta, the best by far!4 stars