Italian Pasta Salad with Salami
Italian Pasta Salad with Salami is a chilled rotini pasta salad with chopped salami, mozzarella, olives, crisp veggies and zesty homemade dressing. Red wine vinegar, lemon juice and Dijon make the dressing tangy, and the salami gives the salad a savory deli-style bite. It’s a colorful salad that tastes fresh and vibrant.
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This Italian pasta salad recipe has rotini tossed with a homemade dressing, salami, mozzarella, olives and chopped vegetables. It’s easy to make and just needs a short chill in the fridge for the flavors to meld and the pasta to soak up the dressing flavors.
If you’re a fan of pasta salads with lots of color and texture, Caprese Pasta Salad is another good one to try, or you might prefer my Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad with its creamy dressing and a smoky bacon flavor. This Orzo Pasta Salad is a lighter option, while Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad is one of the most delicious things to make using broccoli.
Why You’ll Love It
- Hearty side dish: Salami, mozzarella and rotini make this pasta salad filling and satisfying.
- Great textures: Rotini catches the dressing, cucumber and bell pepper add crunch, and mozzarella adds a softer texture to the salad.
- Make-ahead friendly: The salad needs at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator before serving, so it’s a good recipe to prep in advance and forget until it’s lunch or dinner time.
- Plenty of color: Cherry tomatoes, black olives, green bell pepper, red onion and parsley make the salad colorful and appealing without needing any extra garnish.
Pasta Salad with Salami Ingredients
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients, measurements, and detailed instructions.
- Salami: Chopped salami adds a salty cured-meat flavor.
- Cherry tomatoes: Halved tomatoes add juicy bites.
- Cucumber: Diced cucumber adds crunch.
- Bell pepper: For color and a crisp texture.
- Red onion: Thinly sliced red onion adds a sharper bite.
- Black olives: Sliced olives add briny flavor.
- Mozzarella cheese: Cubes or pearls add a mild creamy bite.
- Parmesan cheese: For a salty cheese flavor.
- Fresh parsley: Chopped parsley adds a fresh flavor.
- Olive oil: Forms the base of the dressing.
- Red wine vinegar: Adds tang to the dressing.
- Lemon juice: Brightens the dressing.
- Italian seasoning: Adds dried herb flavor.
- Garlic powder: Adds garlic flavor without raw garlic pieces.
- Granulated sugar: Softens the sharpness of the vinegar.
- Dijon mustard: Helps the dressing taste sharper and more rounded.
- Salt and black pepper: To season the pasta salad and dressing.
Substitutions and Variations
- Another pasta shape: Use bow ties, penne or shells if you don’t have rotini.
- Cheese swap: Try provolone cubes in place of mozzarella.
- Different meat: Use pepperoni or chopped ham if you want a different cured meat.
- Veggie mix: Add banana peppers, roasted red peppers or chopped artichokes for more Italian deli flavor.
- Vegetarian version: Skip the salami and add more mozzarella, olives or chickpeas.
Italian Pasta Salad with Salami
Equipment
- Small Bowl or Jar
- Whisk Optional
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 ½ cups salami chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup cucumber diced
- 1 cup bell pepper chopped
- ½ cup red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup black olives sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese cubes or pearls
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
For the Dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, salami, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, olives, mozzarella, Parmesan and parsley.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, sugar and Dijon mustard until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
- Toss again before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
- Cook pasta al dente: Soft pasta can break apart when tossed with the dressing and vegetables.
- Use a large bowl: A wide bowl gives you enough room to toss everything without crushing the tomatoes or mozzarella.
- Slice onion thinly: Thin red onion mixes through the pasta salad better and won’t dominate single forkfuls.
Nutrition Information
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Kim’s Top Tips
- Rinse the pasta: Rinsing cools the pasta and removes extra starch, so the dressing coats the rotini better.
- Cut pieces small: Chop the salami, cucumber, and bell pepper into bite-size pieces so they mix evenly with the pasta and can easily be speared with a fork.
- Chill before serving: Give the salad at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator for the flavors to meld and the dressing to flavor the pasta.
- Toss again: Stir the salad before serving because dressing can sink to the bottom of the bowl.
How to Store
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing this pasta salad. The vegetables lose their crunch and the dressing won’t come back together well after thawing.
Serving safety: Keep the pasta salad chilled until serving. Don’t leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this pasta salad with Grilled Chicken Tenders or Baked Tri Tip. It would also be good alongside Apple Feta Stuffed Pork Tenderloin or with Beef Milanesa. Making a snack spread? Try it with Beef Wellington Bites and Pizza Muffins.
Best Pasta Salad with Salami FAQs
Rotini has ridges and twists that catch the dressing, cheese and small vegetable pieces.
Yes, add the dressing ingredients to a jar with a tight lid and shake until combined.
You could, but the homemade dressing is so fresh and tangy – it’s definitely worth trying!
