Every Italian knows the OG Italian Pasta salad that is at every single summer family event. I honestly don't know if there was ever a BBQ I attended that didn't have an Italian macaroni salad. Look, I know plenty of people like the mayonnaise macaroni salad, but let's be honest. It's gross. It sits out in the heat for 5 minutes and I can't even look at it.
This is the perfect recipe to print out if you're looking for an easy way to bring something great to the BBQ. If everyone is grilling out and you're the guy that usually brings a bag of Doritos, try bringing the OG Italian pasta salad. People will praise you for how good it is, and you barely have to do any work. Everyone has their specialty. Make your specialty something that people will remember.
The best part about this is that it will stay in the fridge for 4 days so you can do a double batch and keep some for yourself. I love this recipe so much, and it's something our family has been making forever. The measurements are barely even important. Add extra of what you like and less of what you don't. Make this Italian pasta salad your own.
Ingredients for Italian Macaroni Salad
- 1 lb rotini
- ½ cup chopped roasted peppers
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella balls, halved
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- ¼ cup basil, julienne
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Substitutions
Rotini. I prefer rotini for pasta salad but you can substitute farfalle or macaroni.
Cherry Tomatoes. I prefer cherry tomatoes over grape tomatoes. I really think that they are night and day in taste. You can substitute if you enjoy the flavor of grape tomatoes though.
Olives. I like black olives in my pasta salad. You can substitute different olives or completely get rid of the olives if you're olive-averse.
Mozzarella. I've recently seen some people substitute chunks of provolone in their pasta salad, but I'm sticking with my mozzarella balls.
How to make the OG Italian Pasta Salad
Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoon salt. Boil the rotini as directed on the box. You want to cook it until it is completely finished because we are going to let it cool for a bit once it is done. Strain the pasta and let it cool to room temperature.
Combine the rotini, roasted red peppers, cherry tomatoes, basil, olives, salt, pepper, garlic, and mozzarella balls. It's important to allow the pasta salad to marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving. You want the pasta to soak up some of those flavors.
How to store Italian Macaroni Salad
This pasta can be stored in the fridge for up to a week (as long as it didn't sit outside in the sun all day). Italian pasta salad gets better with time as it marinates with the flavors, so I always recommend making it a day in advance to have the maximum amount of flavor!
If you loved this recipe or it reminded you of your family, leave a review and comment below! Follow us on Instagram @vindelgiudice or Tiktok @alwaysfromscratch. Check out our other recipes great for the summer!
Pasta Primavera with Broccoli and Asparagus
Eggplant Caprese Grilled Cheese
📖 Recipe
The OG Italian Pasta Salad
Equipment
- 1 4-6 qt pot
Ingredients
- 1 lb rotini
- ½ cup chopped roasted peppers
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella balls, halved
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- ¼ cup basil, julienne
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoon salt. Boil rotini as directed on the box.
- Let Rotini cool to room temperature. Combine rotini, roasted red peppers, cherry tomatoes, basil, olives, salt, pepper, garlic, and mozzarella balls. Allow the pasta salad to marinate in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.
Comments
No Comments