Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

5 from 7 votes

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

This zesty Italian pasta salad is one of my favorite pasta dishes for hot summer days! All you need is fresh vegetables, delicious pasta, and a zesty Italian dressing. Plus, the pasta salad is super easy to prepare, which makes it perfect for a quick lunch or dinner!

Prep Time20

Total Time20

Course: Main Course, Salad

Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired

Keyword: fresh pasta salad, Italian pasta salad, potluck

Servings: servings

Calories: 399kcal

Ingredients

Pasta Salad

8 oz. pasta of choice
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
1 red bell pepper diced
1 carrot shredded
½ red onion finely diced
½ cup black olives sliced
⅓ cup parmesan cheese grated
3 handfuls arugula

Zesty Italian Dressing

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red or white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon maple syrup
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1-2 garlic cloves
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Then drain and rinse with cold water.
Chop the salad ingredients and add them to a large bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.
Add the pasta to the salad ingredients and pour the dressing over the salad. Toss and season with more salt and pepper if needed.

Notes

Vegan: Skip the parmesan cheese to make this pasta salad vegan.
Gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta to make this pasta salad gluten-free.
Variations: You can switch up the flavor of this pasta salad by adding fresh herbs (parsley, basil), paprika powder (to the dressing), or choosing different vegetables.

Nutrition