The BEST Pasta Salad is an old family recipe that's a hit at parties, potlucks, or as a zesty side dish with dinner. Full of flavor and punch!
“This is truly the BEST! We have made it again and again – easy to switch up ingredients, and always a crowd pleaser!”
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 that he always requested it to 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 eat half the serving bowl.
Ahh, the power of The BEST Pasta Salad!
Watch How to Make It
The BEST Pasta Salad Recipe
Pasta salad is a summer staple in the Midwest and it feels like everyone’s got their own special combination of ingredients that makes theirs the best. That said, I humbly believe there is no better pasta salad ingredient combo than mine.
There, I said it!
This easy pasta side 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…
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItIngredients Needed
- Pasta: My Grandpa loved this dish made with fettuccini though I usually use gluten free rotini pasta. Jovial Brown Rice Fusilli is my go to, vs a corn/rice blend pasta which gets hard in the fridge. If you don’t need to eat gluten free, use regular rotini.
- Tomatoes: I typically use Roma tomatoes but choose whatever looks best in your area.
- Cucumber: adds crunch and freshness to the pasta salad recipe. You can use a peeled and seeded regular cucumber, or an unpeeled English cucumber.
- Pepperoni: I strongly believe Applegate Naturals is the best pepperoni!
- Sliced Black Olives: add to the savory, satisfying flavor of each bite.
- McCormick Salad Supreme: Special secret ingredient alert! This seasoning blend sets my pasta salad apart from any other. I currently have 4 jars in my freezer, ha!
- Zesty Italian Dressing: is the other ingredient that really makes this pasta salad sing. Ken’s Zesty Italian, which is gluten free, is my go-to. If you don’t need to eat gluten free you can use Kraft’s version.
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. That said, I find brown rice pasta holds up much longer and better in the fridge vs a corn/rice blend pasta, and recommend Jovial brown rice pasta.
The pasta salad is best served within 2 hours after making, though using brown rice pasta can extend that serving time by a day or so.
Okay, are you ready to dive into this bowl of deliciousness?!
How to Make The Best Pasta Salad
Step 1: Cook the pasta.
Start by cooking rotini pasta in salted, boiling water until cooked through. Again, I like Jovial brand gluten free brown rice pasta, and don’t recommend using a corn/rice-blend gluten free pasta, especially if you’re making it a couple hours ahead of time.
Recipe Tip
Don’t undercook the pasta – specifically fusilli – as it can remain hard in the center once drained and rinsed under cold water.
Drain then rinse the pasta under cold water until cool, then add it to a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Add the toppings.
Next add chopped fresh cucumber and tomato, diced pepperoni, and sliced olives.
Step 3: Add the seasonings and dressing.
Sprinkle on McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning then drizzle with Ken’s Zesty Italian Dressing and stir to combine. 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.
Seasoning Blend Tip
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.
If you can’t find the seasoning, here is a fabulous copycat seasoning blend.
Dressing Tip
If you can’t find this particular dressing, my Best Ever Italian Vinaigrette is a great swap.
Serve the pasta salad immediately or cover then chill for 2 hours prior to serving.
I’m telling you: BEST. PASTA. SALAD. EVER! I hope you love each zippy and zesty bite – enjoy!
More Summery Side Dish Ideas
- Italian Quinoa Salad
- Fruit Salad Recipe for a Crowd
- Gluten Free Potato Salad
- Best Baked Beans EVER
- Green Beans with Bacon
- Sesame Noodle Salad
- Napa Sweet Corn Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Cucumber and Tomato Salad
- Marinated Vegetable Salad
Ingredients
- 12 oz gluten free rotini pasta, Jovial brown rice rotini recommended
- 3 Roma tomatoes, seeded then chopped
- 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, then chopped
- 4 oz pepperoni, chopped, Applegate Farms recommended
- 2.25 oz can sliced olives, drained
- 4 oz jar McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning, MAY NOT NEED ALL
- 16 oz Zesty Italian Dressing, Ken's recommended, 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.
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.
- Estimated nutritional information includes entire seasoning and dressing amounts.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Photos by Ashley McLaughlin
Nice pasta salad!
Pasta salad with pepperoni! Looks really great!
This is my go-to dish for any potluck, BBQ or picnic! Always a crowd pleaser and so easy to make! I’m in Minnesota, so maybe it’s a midwest thing?!
I also add in some cubed cheese to give it a little extra kick, and sometimes substitute the black olives for kalamatas, which is seriously the way to go!
This looks so full of flavour!
http://xoxobella.com/
I’m pinning this because it looks so delicous! I’m hoping to try it out this weekend! Thank you, and I found your post on BlogLovin, would love if you checked my blog out sometime. Have a great night!
Okay so I made this yesterday. I want to note, I HAVE MADE HUNDREDS of pasta salads. And you’re right! THIS IS THE VERY BEST! My husband is actually numb to all of my pasta salads, I make them THAT often. But he liked it last night, and took some to work today, and texted me that he wants me to make it again, and wants to bathe in the ‘red oil’ (dressing). I made the homemade italian dressing and the homemade salad supreme and I just absolutely love this pasta salad!
I am dying laughing – the “red oil” – totally!! So glad you found a winner you all like!
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!