The recipe for The BEST Pasta Salad has always gone by another name in my family: “Grandpa’s Pasta Salad“. That’s because this recipe was one of his very favorites and he always requested that it be served at special occasions. That said, I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that this pasta salad recipe is also my husband’s favorite recipe.
Not ONE of his favorite recipes…his VERY favorite recipe…of all time. He literally groans when he seems me making it because he knows he’s about to be half a serving bowl of pasta salad heavier. ;)
Ahh, the power of The BEST Pasta Salad!
Here’s How to Make It!
The BEST Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is a summer staple in the Midwest and it feels like everyone’s got their own special combination of ingredients that makes their pasta salad the best. That said, I humbly believe there is no better pasta salad ingredient combo than mine. There, I said it! This dish is chewy, crispy, crunchy, savory, zesty, and zippy, and we make it at least once a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The secret’s in the seasoning blend…
Ingredients Needed
- Pasta: My Grandpa loved this dish made with fettuccini (try it sometime – super fun!) though I usually use gluten free rotini pasta. I prefer Jovial Brown Rice Rotini vs a corn/rice blend rotini pasta. If you don’t need to eat gluten free, use regular rotini pasta.
- Tomatoes: Typically I use Roma tomatoes in this dish, but feel free to use whatever looks best in your area at the time.
- Cucumber: A peeled, seeded, then diced cucumber adds crunch and freshness to this pasta salad recipe. You can use a regular or English cucumber.
- Pepperoni: We LOVE the savory, salty flavor pepperoni adds to each bite of this pasta salad. I strongly believe Applegate Naturals makes the best pepperoni!
- Sliced Olives: Olives add to the savory, satisfying flavor to this dish.
- McCormick Salad Supreme: Special secret ingredient alert!! This seasoning blend is one of the best on the planet and really sets this pasta salad apart from any other. At the time of this writing, 5/22, it’s gluten free. I add an ungodly amount of it to this dish.
- Zesty Italian Dressing: Zesty Italian Dressing is the other ingredient that really makes this pasta salad sing. I prefer Ken’s Zesty Italian, which is gluten free. If you don’t need to eat gluten free you can use Kraft’s version. I’ll also link to my homemade Italian dressing below.
How Do You Keep Gluten Free Pasta from Getting Hard?
The short answer is…you can’t. Sorry! Cooked gluten free pasta typically does NOT keep well in the refrigerator for more than 2-3 hours before it hardens and becomes crumbly. I find cooked brown rice pasta holds up a little longer and better than a corn/rice blend pasta, but this recipe is definitely best when made then served immediately, OR you can refrigerate it for up to 2 hours before serving. You might need to add a touch more dressing before serving if you refrigerate it first.
Okay, okay!! Are you ready to dive into this bowl of deliciousness?!
How to Make The Best Pasta Salad
Start by cooking pasta in salted, boiling water until cooked through. Again, I like Jovial brand gluten free brown rice pasta. That said, if you’re local, Hy-Vee’s Good Graces gluten free pasta is a great choice too. It’s chewy and spring like “real” pasta!
Once the pasta is tender, drain then rinse under cold water until the pasta is cool, then add to a large mixing bowl.
Next add chopped fresh cucumber and tomato, diced pepperoni, and sliced olives.
Finally sprinkle on McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning then drizzle with Ken’s Zesty Italian Dressing. I usually use up to 1/2 cup of the seasoning (YES, 1/2 cup!) and around 1/2 of the bottle of salad dressing. Use as little or as much of both as you like!
Now, if you can’t find this particular dressing, make my Best Ever Italian Vinaigrette and use that instead. If you can’t find the seasoning, here is a fabulous copycat seasoning blend.
NOTE: Sometimes the Salad Supreme Seasoning is located by the salad dressings at the grocery store, near the croutons, etc. vs in the spice aisle, so look in both places if you’re having trouble locating it.
Simply stir to coat and combine then serve immediately or chill for up to 2 hours. I’m telling you — BEST. PASTA. SALAD. EVER!! I hope you love each zippy and zesty bite – enjoy!
More Summery Side Dish Ideas
- Gluten Free Potato Salad
- Sesame Noodle Salad
- Napa Sweet Corn Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Chicken Caesar Salad Pasta
- Cucumber and Tomato Salad with BEST-EVER Italian Vinaigrette
- Marinated Vegetable Salad
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The BEST Pasta Salad
Description
The BEST Pasta Salad is a family recipe that's a hit at parties, potlucks, or as a zest side dish with dinner. Full of flavor and punch!
Ingredients
- 12oz gluten free rotini pasta
- 3 Roma tomatoes, seeded then chopped
- 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded then chopped
- 4oz pepperoni, chopped (Applegate Farms recommended)
- 2.25oz can sliced olives, drained
- 4oz jar McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning (MAY NOT NEED ALL)
- 16oz bottle Ken's Zesty Italian Dressing (MAY NOT NEED ALL)
Directions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil then add rotini and cook until tender. Drain then rinse under cold water until pasta is cold. Drain very well then add to a large mixing bowl.
- To the cooled pasta add tomatoes, cucumber, pepperoni, black olives, 1/3 of the bottle of Italian Dressing, and 1/4 cup Salad Supreme Seasoning then mix to combine. Taste then add more dressing and/or Salad Supreme Seasoning if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours.
- Leave a comment and star rating if you loved the recipe! Thank you for considering!
Notes
- Because this pasta salad is made with gluten free pasta, it's best eaten right away or chilled for up to 2 hours prior to serving. You may need to toss with additional dressing before serving if chilling first.
- Look for McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning by the salad dressings at the grocery store, or in the spice aisle.
- Click here for the homemade Italian Vinaigrette recipe >
- Click here for Copycat Salad Supreme Seasoning recipe >
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Video
Photos by Ashley McLaughlin
Is this brand of pasta available in Iowa? Or do I have to order it online?
Hi Halley! I haven’t found it in Iowa (the company sent me some to try awhile ago,) but Barilla gluten-free pasta has the same taste and texture. I just didn’t have any of their rotini in the house when I made this!
This looks spectacular! I am a pasta salad fanatic (but only if it includes pepperoni and/or salami) and I love all of those seasonings and spices. YUM!
A small bottle of Zesty Italian dressing?
We’d use a whole small bottle on it but need more after it was refrigerated so get the big bottle so you can add more just before serving. Thanks for pointing that out – I’ll adjust the recipe!
LOL, my family has been making this pasta salad for ages. It’s not a proper cookout without it. I just assumed someone in my family made it up. Glad to know others enjoy it as much as we do!
I was thinking of making this a day ahead…do you think it would keep well?
Yep, should be fine if you make sure the pasta is rinsed under cold water really well, and you save the last bit of dressing for tossing with the salad the day you want to eat it!
Looks so good! I love pasta salad! Especially for the summer :)
OMG Kristin, you crack me up with the flashbacks. I’m definitely going to try this pasta salad. It looks so delicious!
It really is the BEST! I was asked to bring pasta salad to a 4th of July party and I found this on your blog. It was so easy and I got a lot of compliments :)
I am totally on board with this salad. A variation of it always shows up at church potlucks, right? Yum.
This is the exact same recipe my aunt has brought to our 4th of july picnics every year when I was a kid! My mom and I both make it now, its phenomenal :)
If you have a chance to try gluten free corn pasta, its amazing and very close tasting to regular pasta. Cooks up much nicer than most rice pastas. Also, most Renee’s Salad dressings are all gluten free. They are a fabulous brand. I don’t even make homemade gf dressings any more!
Totally agree! This Delallo pasta is corn pasta!
I had a hankering for pasta salad and bought all the ingredients to make it this weekend- except for the Salad Supreme seasoning! Thanks for the hot tip. I’m sure it will make it extra flavorful
I was JUST thinking about a pepperoni pasta salad. This looks amazing.
Sarah
Midwest Darling
YUM. All of it looks so delicious & perfect for a summer BBQ! Can’t wait to make this – thanks for the recipe!
Helllllllo picnic perfect pasta salad! Loving this cool pasta salad as I have an Italian pasta monster in my house (aka my husband) but sometimes HOT pasta in the summer is just too.much. (especially during this heat wave we’ve been having in DC!) LOVING all of the gluten-free copycat seasoning recipes, too! You’re heaven-sent :)
I love the addition of olives to pasta salad. Definitely not something I would have thought of, but it looks delicious.
I am going to a group “psychic reading” and luncheon this weekend and was looking for the perfect thing to bring – this is it!!! thanks for bringing this recipe back for summer!
See, now this happens to me wayyyy tooooo often! I woke up, came directly to your blog to get the list of what I need to make the Asian Noodle Bowls I have been dreaming about since you posted that recipe, and now I am suddenly making Asian Noodle Bowls AND this pasta salad for dinner! UGH! I realize they do not go together, but I guarantee it doesn’t matter because I will be in heaven! :)
I love anything with pasta in it so this looks divine!
PEPPERONI. in PASTA SALAD? um, i can for sure get on board…