Pasta Salad

This Pasta Salad with mozzarella cheese is full of spiral pasta and fresh, colorful ingredients all tossed in a homemade Italian dressing. It takes just a few minutes to make, is always a hit, and tastes even better when made the night before.

Using mozzarella cheese for pasta salad is the one thing I never sway from. The texture is firm yet soft, the flavor is there but not overpowering, and you have so many options including mini mozzarella balls and sliced string cheese.   

Pasta Salad with Mozzarella Cheese

It just doesn’t feel like summer every year until I’ve made this easy-peasy classic Pasta Salad recipe.  It’s packed full of perfectly cooked spiral pasta, salami, mozzarella cheese, and fresh veggies like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and parsley.  Everything is doused in our homemade Italian dressing and left to chill in the fridge while the flavors mingle.

This is the perfect side dish to bring to any summer party, BBQ, or potluck because it’s quick, easy, can be made the night before.  If you want to add even more ingredients, pepperoncini and diced bell peppers are great choices.

Still craving cold pasta salad recipes?  Give this Caprese Pasta Salad, Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad, Tortellini Pasta Salad and Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad a try.

Key Ingredients

• Pasta – the typical pasta to use for pasta salad is spiral pasta or rotini.  You could also use penne, bowtie pasta, mostaccioli or even macaroni.
• Cherry Tomatoes – you can use any color or type of cherry tomatoes.  Typically I cut them in half so that they are easier to eat.
• Mozzarella Cheese – you have a few options when it comes to mozzarella cheese for pasta salad.  You can cut mozzarella cheese sticks into bite-sized pieces, or cut chunks from a brick of cheese, use fresh mozzarella balls or even use shredded cheese.
• Black Olives – you can use whole black olives and slice them yourself, or just purchase a can of pre-sliced olives.
• Cucumbers – I usually peel the skin off and then dice into bite-sized pieces.  You can feel free to leave the skin on if you prefer.
• Red Onion – cut into small diced pieces so you don’t eat a large chunk of raw onion.
• Salami – you want the pieces to be small chunks so either slice and quarter from a stick of salami, or you can slice deli salami into smaller pieces.
• Parsley – fresh parsley tastes great in pasta salad and adds nice color.

Homemade Italian Dressing

• Olive Oil – this recipe calls for extra virgin olive oil because it tastes so much better.  
• White Wine Vinegar – the best substitution for this would be red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
• Mayonnaise – regular full fat mayo tastes best, but you can definitely substitute low fat or fat free if you are looking to cut some calories.
• Parmesan Cheese – freshly grated Parmesan cheese tastes best.
• Sugar – just a little sugar goes a long way in cutting the acidity from the vinegar in this dressing.  
• Garlic – fresh garlic tastes best, but the jarred minced kind will work too.
• Dried Herbs – I like to use dried Italian herbs like oregano, parsley and basil.  You could also substitute your favorite Italian seasoning.
• Salt and Pepper
• Red Pepper Flakes

How to Make Pasta Salad

1. Cook the pasta to al dente.  Prepare the pasta according to package directions, cooking until al dente.  Drain and rinse the cooked pasta under cold water, then transfer cooled pasta to a large bowl.
2. Add the rest of the prepared salad mix-ins.  Add the cherry tomatoes, olives, mozzarella cheese, salami, cucumbers, black olives, and red onion to the bowl with the cooked pasta and toss.
3. Make the dressing.  To make the Italian dressing, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, mayonnaise, sugar, minced garlic, oregano, basil, parsley, grated parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
4. Toss the salad.  Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables and mix until everything is evenly coated.  Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
5. Chill.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.  Enjoy!

Tips and Variations

• If you want to save yourself a little time, use your favorite store-bought Italian dressing.
• Add more of your favorite veggies such as little bites of broccoli or cauliflower.
• To turn this into a main dish, add some grilled chicken, baked chicken or rotisserie chicken.
• Make it ahead of time! I almost never make pasta salad the day I serve it. The flavors have a chance to mingle in the fridge overnight and actually get even more delicious.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing Instructions

• Refrigerator: store leftover Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Make-Ahead: this can be made ahead from 2-24 hours before serving.  The Italian salad dressing can be made up to 5 days in advance.

More Of the Best Salad Recipes

• Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad
• Fall Harvest Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
• Berry Salad
• Winter Fruit Salad
• Chicken Salad
• Grilled Chicken BLT Salad
• Cucumber Avocado Salad
• Warm Potato Salad
• More Salad Recipes
• More Side Dish Recipes

More Potluck Sides

• Best Baked Beans
• Frog Eye Salad
• Caprese Salad
• Strawberry Pretzel Salad

This Italian Pasta Salad is filled with fresh, flavorful ingredients all tossed in a homemade Italian salad dressing. It’s perfect for bringing to your next summer get together because everyone loves it and it can even be made the night before.