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 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 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…
Ingredients Needed
- Pasta: My Grandpa loved this dish made with fettuccini though I usually use gluten free rotini pasta. I prefer Jovial Brown Rice Fusilli 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 use whatever type of tomato looks best in your area.
- Cucumber: A peeled, seeded, then diced cucumber adds crunch and freshness to this pasta salad recipe. You can use a regular cucumber, or English cucumber.
- Pepperoni: We love the savory flavor that pepperoni adds to this dish. I strongly believe Applegate Naturals has the best pepperoni!
- Sliced Olives: Olives add to the savory, satisfying flavor to each bite.
- McCormick Salad Supreme: Special secret ingredient alert! This seasoning blend sets my pasta salad apart from any other. At the time of this writing, 3/24, it’s gluten free, and I have 4 jars in my freezer, ha!
- 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. 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.
Once the pasta is tender, drain then rinse under cold water until the pasta is cool, then add 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 toss 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.
- Tip: if you can’t find this particular dressing, my Best Ever Italian Vinaigrette is a great swap. If you can’t find the seasoning, here is a fabulous copycat 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.
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
- Gluten Free Potato Salad
- Best Baked Beans EVER
- Sesame Noodle Salad
- Napa Sweet Corn Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Cucumber and Tomato Salad
- 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
Janet Bannister 07.04.2023
Hello, I am wondering if you could please include the
nutrient analysis for your recipes? That would be
very helpful. Thank you.
Faye 06.18.2023
This pasta dish looks delicious and super cool to make for the family on special pasta days.
Eddie 06.02.2023
Sorry Kristin, but this was waaayyy too “potent”. An entire bottle for only 12 ounces of pasta was overkill. I had to rinse the entire prepared bowl in a colendar over running water for 5 minutes to lessen the dressing’s potency and after that, I put the entire thing into a heaping pile of paper towels to try and lessen it even further and it was STILL too “zesty”. I love and make a lot of your recipes but this was the first one that was a no for us. If I make it again, I will definitely use only a half bottle of dressing and half the pepperoni and Salad Supreme. To me, that would be a perfect mix. But to each their own :-)
Kristin 06.02.2023
Hi Eddie! I’m sorry to hear this recipe wasn’t a hit! I advised in the recipe to start with just 1/3 of the bottle of dressing, and 1/4 cup of the seasoning blend. Could you tell me where you are seeing instructions to add the entire bottle of dressing?
Sara 06.06.2023
Hi Kristin! I see where Eddie got confused. I nearly made the same mistake. On the ingredients in your recipe you say a 4 oz bottle of Salad Supreme. It’s not until you read the steps of the recipe that it says 1/4 c of Salad Supreme. A similar thing happens with the dressing amount. I love your recipes and am so excited this one later today! I do think however the ingredients could be listed more clearly so we don’t make the mistake that Eddie made. What a shame to waste such delicious ingredients!
Kristin 06.06.2023
The amounts are listed in the directions but I will make it more clear. Thanks for pointing that out, Sara, I appreciate it!
Dustyr 05.25.2023
Made this tossed so far taste great. I need to add more Italian dressing, and wouldn’t you know out, also I have not added cucumber yet, my husband actually likes it so that’s a plus. Letting set overnight made for pot luck luncheon. Bet no one else made it.
Kristin 05.30.2023
I hope it was a hit, Dutyr!
Cathy Chesser 05.11.2023
I have made this pasta salad for years. I made it before becoming gluten sensitive. I would take it to SundaybLunch at my Mother in Law’s when she was entering the pastor and his family. I added feta sometimes and Brother Tim would request it. His little boy (who’s. now a college graduate) loved it also.. My husband who’s also a big fan said that the taste is just as good with all of the new Gluten free pastas they have today. The only thing is I would love it if I could find a tri-color Gluten free retina pasta for this salad it would make it so pretty. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Kristin 05.12.2023
I’m so glad this recipe is a hit with you and your family, Cathy! I agree – tri-color rotini would be so pretty and make this pasta salad truly indistinguishable from the “real thing” in my opinion!
Donna 04.06.2023
It’s great but I dice in 2 diff kinds of block cheese (any kind you like) and sometimes I add diced ham. Delish!!
Kristin 04.10.2023
That sounds amazing, Donna! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
discoverregina 07.07.2022
Thank you for sharing with us delicious food. i love it
Kristin 07.08.2022
Thanks so much, I appreciate that! :)
Deb 06.29.2022
I make similar one, but add fresh mozzarella pearls which definitely are not dairy free. Canned artichokes are good too. Thanks for letting me know about Ken’s I didn’t know he was gf. Nice to add more products to the gf pantry. ????
Kristin 07.02.2022
Yes – I want to say most of Ken’s dressings are – we love their Ranch and Creamy Caesar too. I use their Creamy Caesar in this recipe: https://iowagirleats.com/chicken-caesar-salad-pasta/
Shirley 06.01.2022
Had a mountain of zucchini and rainbow tomatoes last summer, so chopped and to this recipe. Was a big hit!
Kristin 06.07.2022
Perfect!! I’m so glad you loved it, Shirley!
Tonya 05.31.2022
Love this pasta salad! I took it to our church Memorial Day picnic. I am newly gluten-free for health reasons and your web site is one of my main “go-tos” for gluten-free recipes. Thank you for helping us all!
Kristin 05.31.2022
I’m so glad the pasta salad was a hit, Tonya, and that you’re finding my recipes helpful. Absolutely my pleasure!!
Erika 英語 05.29.2022
I wish I knew about this recipe sooner! I tried this over the weekend and it was delicious! I’ll be adding this to my rotation. Thank you for the recipe!
Kristin 05.31.2022
Fabulous!! So glad it was a hit, Erika!
Heather 05.26.2022
I feel like I race to comment on pasta salad recipes ever time, LOL! Over the past few years(pandemic chef)I’ve enjoyed making a similar salad but with a mix of rainbow rotini and cheese tortellini and a little pesto and shredded parm whisked in the vinaigrette. Noodle salad without mayo is the nectar of the gods, it’ll keep in the fridge without getting weird for like 7 months(rough estimate).
Kristin 05.27.2022
That sounds diviiiiine – love cold pesto in a cold pasta salad!!
BJ 05.22.2022
Added Feta cheese (or mozarella cubes will work), green pepper and used mini pepperoni. Love the dressing!
Kristin 05.23.2022
So glad you loved it, BJ! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Emily 04.30.2022
This was so yummy! I used Tinkyada pasta and it did not get mushy after day 2. Will definitely make this again!
Kristin 05.03.2022
I’m so glad you loved it, Emily!! Thanks so much for your review and star rating!
Doris Rabe 12.06.2021
How far in advance can I make this salad?
Linda Swoveland 05.18.2021
I use mini cucumbers, they don’t need to be peeled or seeded. They are just about the only cucumber I use. Once in awhile I will get an English cucumber.This pasta salad is absolutely delicious!
Kristin 05.21.2021
I’m so glad you love it, Linda! I love those baby cucumbers too – they’re a costco staple purchase for us!
Rachel 08.29.2020
What was the original dressing recipe the one that had bell pepper in it? I love this version… but that dressings was my favorite!
Kristin 09.03.2020
Kraft Zesty Italian has red bell pepper in it, if that’s what you mean! :)
Sherri R. 08.01.2020
Never have seen this recipe anywhere else! Love so many of your recipes… Thank you! I got the recipe from a friend 30 years ago and have only made it this way since. I also add some cubed Monterey jack, a little diced red onion and chopped broccoli. So yummy!!
Ashley R 07.03.2020
Made this for the 4th of July :)
Kelly Bertram 06.27.2020
The BEST Pasta Salad recipe is actually the very best pasta salad. Whipped it up this morning following your recipe not only for the salad, but also dressing and seasoning recipes. It will be perfect for a casual patio dinner this evening on a hot humid day. Thank you for sharing it!