Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes

This Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes is packed full of delicious bites, including olives, salami, sun dried tomatoes and artichokes. Perfect for game day parties and summer potlucks, and everyone will ask you for the recipe!

Original post: June 2017 | Updated: April 2023 and August 2025

Why You’ll Love This Pasta Salad

• This is such an easy recipe as well as the best pasta salad in the world (TRULY). You’ll bring this to every party under the sun from now till the end of time.
• It is one of my favorite recipes of all-time. It is a go-to dish that I bring to potlucks and parties literally any time of the year.
• This flavorful pasta salad contains a few unique ingredients that make it stand above the rest (spoiler: zesty Italian dressing).
• It is the perfect dish for your next gathering or served as a side dish for any meal.
• This Zesty Pasta Salad is PACKED with all sorts of deliciousness like salami, sundried tomatoes, artichokes and more. 
• Not only is it the perfect side for summer cookouts, parties or potlucks, but I daresay it’s a full meal in itself perfect for summer months!

Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad Recipe Ingredients

This great recipe uses simple ingredients to combine for amazing flavor and one great salad.

Zesty Italian salad dressing – The zesty dressing is great, but a delicious alternative is to skip the dressing and add the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar instead.

Rotelle or rotini pasta – Any type of short pasta will work in this recipe. Bow tie pasta, rotini, large macaroni or shells all work great. Use GF pasta for a gluten free salad.

Yellow onion – Replace yellow with red onion for an added zing.

Celery – Omit the celery desired and replace with other crunch fresh vegetables such as fresh cucumbers, red bell pepper or green bell pepper.

Cojack cheese – Replace cojack cheese with any other variety. Muenster, fresh mozzarella pearls, cheddar, provolone or feta cheese are great options.

Summer sausage – Sliced pepperoni or hard salami can replace the sausage, if desired.

Artichoke hearts – Purchase canned, quartered artichoke hearts packed in water. Chop if desired.

Black olives – Green olives or kalamata olives can easily be swapped out for black.

Sun-dried tomatoes – Julienned sun dried tomatoes packed in oil taste best. Chop into bite size pieces before adding to the salad. 

Red pepper flakes – Turn the heat up even more by adding cayenne pepper, chopped banana peppers, extra black pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce.

Parmesan cheese – Using grated parmesan cheese is an easy way to infuse flavor into the dish.

How To Make Pasta Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

This pasta salad is so, so easy to make. Just prepare, combine, and chill.
Step 1 – Prepare all ingredients

Step 2 – Combine ingredients in a large bowl, mix to combine, cover, and let sit overnight.

Step 3 – Serve chilled.

Recipe Notes & Tips

• After cooking, make sure to run the hot pasta under cold water and drain it really well.
• Allowing the ingredients to marinate in the fridge overnight is ideal. When you pull the cold pasta salad out of the fridge the next day, the flavors will be perfect. Drizzle olive oil over the top and sprinkle with salt and pepper just before serving.
• If you are feeling adventurous and would like to branch out from this recipe, consider adding other veggies. Great options include fresh tomatoes (fresh cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes both work wonderfully), fresh broccoli florets, baby spinach, cucumbers, carrots, green beans or bell peppers.
• Make sure you get pitted olives!
• You can skip the dressing and add the oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes instead, maybe with a little red wine vinegar.
• Consider adding fresh herbs to the mix! Fresh basil, chives or parsley all taste great.

What to Serve with Pasta Salad

• Grilled chicken
• Burgers or Sloppy Joes
• Ribs
• Garlic bread
• Fresh fruit salad
• Sandwiches
• Baked Beans
• Coleslaw

How Long Does Pasta Salad Last/How to Store

Place leftover pasta salad in a heavy duty, sealable storage bag or airtight container and place in the back of the fridge where it’s coldest. Most pasta salad recipes will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days when stored properly.

Can You Freeze Pasta Salad?

Pasta salads that contain a creamy dressing or mayonnaise are not ideal for freezing. Cream-based ingredients such as mayo will not separate entirely after being removed from the freezer and may have an undesirable texture due to the sauce “breaking” when it thaws.

Since this pasta salad does not contain any cream or mayo, it freezes very well!

Place the pasta salad in a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months for best results. Allow the frozen pasta salad to thaw in the fridge overnight. Give it a good stir before enjoying.

More Pasta Salad Recipes

• Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad – Whether served as a side, salad or appetizer, the combination of tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil is always a huge hit!
• Tangy Asian Pasta Salad – Packed with an irresistible sweet and salty flavor and tons of colorful, crunchy vegetables.
• Dill Pickle Pasta Salad – Creamy, flavorful and crunchy all in a single bite. A great option for summer gatherings and potlucks.
• Italian Pasta Salad – A classic cold salad that does not lack in flavor! Packed with pasta, crisp veggies, fresh mozzarella, black olives and salami.
• Easy Classic Macaroni Salad – This simple deli-style macaroni salad is creamy, crunchy, filling and totally delicious!

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