Cold Pasta Salad

This cold pasta salad recipe is the perfect summer side dish and beyond simple to make. Perfect for barbecues and potlucks with our secret ingredient that makes the flavors pop!

The perfect pasta salad for your summer cookouts, just the way my mama always makes it but with a flavor bomb twist!

The Pasta Salad For Flavor Lovers

I first shared this recipe for my mama’s cold pasta salad recipe back in 2011 and when I initially shared the recipe I told a story from my childhood about drinking salad dressing. I won’t get into that story again, because 1) how embarrassing and 2) embarrassing.

But I mention that to tell you that, even as a child, I was big on flavor. I always want flavors to just explode in my mouth and we have recently discovered a secret ingredient for making this pasta salad do just that.

This is my mama’s classic pasta salad recipe but updated with a little twist – Salad Supreme.

Between the cold tri-color pasta, the black and green olives, the pepperoni, and the zesty Italian dressing, this salad already is summer barbecue perfection. But toss in the cubes of creamy cheddar and the heavy dose of Salad Supreme and this salad is hard to quit.

Go forth and pasta salad to your heart’s content. You deserve it.

We have some of the best pasta salad recipes! Check out more below…

• Greek Pasta Salad
• Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
• Tuna Pasta Salad
• Bacon Cheddar Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad
• Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
• BLT Pasta Salad
• Classic Macaroni Salad

Ingredient Notes:

Pasta – We like the tri-color pasta here, but it tastes just the same as any other pasta. Use any small shape you have, such as penne, rotini, or macaroni.

Onion – We like to use diced red onion in this salad. Don’t love the strong flavor? Soak your diced onion in ice water for 10 minutes and then drain.

Olives – Green olives and black olives, or whichever kind you prefer!

Cheddar Cheese – Cubed cheddar cheese is a great addition to this pasta salad! It adds flavor and texture.

Pepperoni – We cut pepperoni slices into quarters but you could also use the tiny pepperoni slices instead, or even use something else like cubed salami, as seen in our Italian pasta salad.

Italian Dressing – Use your favorite brand or make your own homemade Italian dressing! Be sure to use one that is tangy and big on flavor.

Seasoning – We like to add some Salad Supreme Seasoning to this pasta salad, which is a blend of spices and seasonings that goes great with a cold Italian pasta salad recipe. This is a great way to add big favor to your salad and it’s good on roasted veggies and green salads too!

Variations:

There all kinds of ways you can modify this easy pasta salad recipe to make it your own! Here are some good ways to change things up:

• Pasta: You can use any variety of shaped pasta when making this salad.
• Cheese: As with the pasta you can pretty much use any cheese. We like cubed cheese but shredded also works.
• Veggies: This is where you can really customize this recipe. Pretty much any veggie you like is okay to use. Tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, celery, broccoli, peas, and more are all possible options.
• Protein: We like the flavor of the pepperoni with the Italian dressing but other proteins can work here too. Ham, bacon, hard boiled eggs, chicken, and more are okay to use in this salad.

How to Make Pasta Salad:

Pasta: Boil your pasta according to package directions and then run it under cold water to cool it down.

Mix: Add everything to large mixing bowl and give it a big stir. Refrigerate for at least an hour so the flavors can meld and the pasta salad is good and cold. Taste and add additional seasoning before serving.

Storage Instructions:

You’ll want to keep this pasta salad stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should last for about 3 to 4 days and can be served cold right from the fridge.

More Pasta Recipes to Try:

• Homemade Hamburger Helper
• Baked Ziti with Meat
• Chicken Noodle Casserole
• Beef and Noodles
• Garlic Shrimp Pasta