This is the best pasta salad recipe with Italian dressing you will ever find. It is packed full of delicious bites (olives, salami, tomatoes and artichokes). Perfect for parties!
Original post: June 2017 | Updated: June 2020
This IS the best ever pasta salad and it is one of my go-to dishes that I bring to potlucks and parties literally any time of the year. This salad contains a few unique ingredients that make it stand above the rest (see below for the secrets!).
Bring as an appetizer to your next gathering or serve as a side dish for any meal. Either way, it’ll be a big hit and everyone will ask you for this great recipe.
How To Make Pasta Salad
In an extra large bowl, stir together all of the following ingredients:
- Zesty Italian dressing
- Rotelle pasta, cooked to al dente
- Yellow onion
- Celery
- Cojack cheese
- Summer sausage
- Artichoke hearts
- Black olives
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Salt and pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Parmesan cheese
Combine all ingredients minus the cooked pasta first. Add the pasta last to keep it from breaking apart when you stir it. Store covered in the refrigerator overnight!
Recipe Notes
- Use GF pasta for a gluten free salad!
- Replace cojack cheese with any other variety. Muenster, cheddar or provolone are great options.
- Sliced pepperoni can replace the sausage, if desired.
- Replace yellow with red onion for an added zing.
- Use salad dressing of your choice!
What To Put In Pasta Salad
The world is your oyster! If you are feeling adventurous and would like to branch out from this recipe, consider adding other veggies. Great options include fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, green beans or peppers.
Or replace the salami with chunks of cooked chicken or even steak.
Can You Freeze This Recipe
This pasta salad freezes well since it does not contain cream. Salads that contain mayo 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.
Place in a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before enjoying!
Other Delicious Pasta Salad Recipes
- This Caprese salad is a huge hit at parties! Serve this delicious dish as a side, salad or appetizer. The combination of tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese and basil is absolute perfection! Everyone loves this salad.
- Taco Ranch – Having a salad that shares the crunchy wonderful zingy flavors of a taco dinner is great for potlucks and summer BBQs!
- Spruce up your next pasta salad by making this tangy Asian Pasta Salad! Packed with an irresistible sweet and salty flavor and tons of colorful, crunchy vegetables.
- If you are a pickle lover, this Dill Pickle version is for YOU! It is creamy, flavorful and crunchy all in a single bite. This is a great, quick recipe to throw together for summer gatherings and potlucks.
- This zesty Italian Salad is a delicious cold salad that does not lack in flavor! Packed with pasta, crisp veggies, fresh mozzarella, black olives and salami.
- Easy Classic Macaroni Salad is creamy, crunchy, filling and totally delicious! You have hard boiled eggs, crunchy celery and dill pickles chopped up and mixed in.
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad – Fill your fork with an incredibly tasty salad that combines pasta with fresh, crisp vegetables and a light vinaigrette straight from the Mediterranean!
Pasta Salad Recipe With Italian Dressing
Ingredients
- 16 oz zesty Italian salad dressing
- 1 lb rotelle pasta cooked and drained/rinsed
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 8 celery stalks thinly sliced
- 16 oz cojack cheese cubed
- 16 oz summer sausage cubed
- 42 oz artichoke hearts quartered, drained
- 13 oz pitted black olives drained
- 16 oz julienned sun-dried tomatoes drained and chopped
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp ground pepper
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, cover and let sit overnight. Serve chilled.
Notes
- Use GF pasta for a gluten free salad!
- Replace the cojack with any variety such as muenster, cheddar or provolone cheese.
- Sliced pepperoni can replace the sausage, if desired.
- Replace yellow with red onion for an added zing.
- Use salad dressing of your choice!
Delicious hearty Italian pasta salad. I wouldn’t change a thing. Used Newman’s Own Zesty Italian.
So glad you tried it! I do like a zesty dressing as well – that’s a great tip for others to try. Thank you for sharing!
This looks really the best pasta salad. Thank you for the recipe. I’ll be going to made it soon.
Please stop back and let me know your feedback. I really enjoy it!
Would omitting the onion (My husband don’t like it) change the results much? Thanks!
That’s an easy tweak – you can for sure omit them! I love onions but they are a strong flavor if you don’t care for them. We have a family member who doesn’t like celery and one of our salads, I put a serving or two aside for them without celery and then throw it in the main bowl for the rest of the servings. Either way, you’ll enjoy this salad!