Penne Pasta Salad

Pull out this recipe the next time you need a dish to pass! Packed with ripe tomatoes, bell peppers and olives, then finished with store-bought Italian dressing, this cold penne pasta salad comes together in a flash. Even better: You won’t end up with a bunch of dirty dishes.

Be sure to double the recipe if you need pasta salad to feed a crowd or if you want leftovers for the week.

Ingredients for Penne Pasta Salad

• Penne pasta: It’s not a penne pasta salad without penne! But in a pinch, different pasta shapes will work, like farfalle, ziti or orecchiette.
• Cherry tomatoes: Quarter cherry tomatoes for the perfect burst of flavor.
• Green pepper: Chopped green pepper adds a bit of color and crunch. You can use red, orange or yellow peppers here too.
• Green onion: I love a thinly sliced green onion in my pasta salads, and I use both the green and the white for a little kick.
• Olives: This cold penne pasta salad recipe calls for a can of sliced ripe olives, either green or black.
• Italian salad dressing: Use store-bought Italian salad dressing for a quick meal or whip up a homemade Italian dressing.
• Seasonings: For extra flavor, whisk pepper, dill, garlic salt and lemon-pepper seasoning with the Italian dressing.

Directions

Step 1: Boil the pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then cook the pasta according to the package directions. When it’s done, drain and rinse the pasta in cold water until it stops steaming.

Step 2: Assemble the pasta salad

Combine the tomatoes, green pepper, onions and olives. Stir in the cooked pasta.

In a separate bowl, combine the Italian dressing, ground pepper, dill, garlic salt and lemon-pepper seasoning. Pour over the salad and toss to coat.

Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours so the flavors can marinate, then mix well before serving.

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Penne Pasta Salad Variations

• Dress with pesto: Pesto and penne go together like peanut butter and jelly. Instead of Italian salad dressing, use store-bought or homemade pesto.
• Experiment with a creamy dressing: Top the cold penne pasta salad with a dressing like the one in this creamy pasta salad.
• Add some meat: Round out the salad with summer sausage, salami or chicken.

How to Store Penne Pasta Salad

Store leftover penne pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. We don’t recommend freezing this dish.

Penne Pasta Salad Tips

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What mistakes should you avoid when making pasta salad?

Make sure to rinse the pasta with cold water when it’s done cooking. This helps stop the pasta from overcooking. It also rinses off extra starches so the noodles don’t soak up too much of the dressing and end up gummy or dried out. And don’t skip the two-hour wait in the refrigerator! The pasta salad will be so tasty once it’s had a chance to rest.

Should you let pasta cool before making pasta salad?

Yes! Rinse pasta in cold water when you’re using it for cold pasta salads to stop the cooking, since you want the noodles al dente, and to quickly cool the noodles.

What can you serve with penne pasta salad?

This pasta salad is great on its own or as a side dish. Pair it with one of our burger recipes, some barbecue chicken or a big picnic spread.