Our Favorite Pasta Salad

This is the our family’s favorite Pasta Salad because it has it all! It has a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tart flavors in each and every bite. The pasta salad itself is incredible, but what really makes it stand out from other pasta salad recipes is the mouthwatering homemade dressing. OH, and there is bacon!

Family Favorite Pasta Salad

This isn’t your simple little pasta salad! Truly, this is one of the most flavorful pasta salads I’ve ever had. It’s so good, in fact, that it can be a meal on it’s own – not just a side dish! However, it’s also a great side dish to serve at picnics, barbecues, and everything in between. If you’re looking for a pasta salad that will really garner some attention, this is the recipe for you.

So, what makes this pasta salad so downright delicious? Well, the addition of banana peppers is really perfect because of the tart little flavor they provide. Oh, and hello, there is plenty of crispy bacon! Bacon really makes everything more delicious.

Now, let’s talk about the real star of the show. The dressing for this pasta salad is another take on my classic Italian Dressing. The twist that I make on it is balsamic vinegar and added sweetness from brown sugar. But don’t worry, the dressing as a whole isn’t sweet – not with ingredients like crushed red pepper and lemon juice in there as well! This dressing is bold, complex, and seriously addictive.

What Is In The Pasta Salad

For the pasta salad itself, you’ll need –

• Rotini Pasta – Any pasta that is small and has shape will work for this recipe, as it will grip the dressing best. Farfalle and cellentani pasta also work for this reason.
• Cherry Tomatoes – Sliced grape tomatoes will also do the trick.
• Red Bell Pepper – Red bell pepper is my favorite to toss into this salad, mainly for it’s bold pop of color! However, you can use whatever bell pepper you prefer.
• Red Onion – Similarly to the red bell pepper, I love the pop of color that red onions give this dish. However, I also love using red onions here because of the potent and a little sweet onion flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese – Shaved parmesan cheese gives the entire pasta salad an enhanced savory flavor. Feel free to add extra!
• Banana Peppers – These tangy peppers are possibly my favorite addition to this pasta salad! Don’t forget to drain their liquid before tossing them in.
• Bacon – I use regular pork bacon, but turkey or plant based bacon also works if your diet is more restrictive.

Pasta Salad Dressing:

• Olive Oil – I like to use rich extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor. Taste yours first to make sure it’s not bitter and overpowering.
• Balsamic Vinegar – This is perhaps the most noticeable flavor of the dressing and it mixes with the olive oil to create the base of it.
• Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice will give the freshest, most tangy flavor.
• Italian Seasoning – This blend usually includes dried herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, and/or sage. Check to see if your blends includes salt to know how much salt to add to the dressing.
• Garlic Powder – If you prefer extra garlicky flavors in your food, you can toss another tsp of garlic into the mix.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – More or less of this can be added depending on your tastes. Just be careful, as a little crushed red pepper goes a long way.
• Brown Sugar – Brown sugar perfectly balances all of the savory, tart ingredients in this dressing!
• Sea Salt – You only need a little bit to enhance the other flavors.
• Black Pepper – Use freshly ground black pepper for best results.

How to Make Pasta Salad

Cook pasta according to the box instruction, drain and let it cool to room temperature. Place all of the prepared ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

For the dressing, you can use a dressing shaker or whisk it in a mixing bowl. Pour it on top of the pasta salad ingredients and gently mix with a wooden spoon or a spatula.

Combine all of the ingredients thoroughly until the dressing is covering everything in the bowl. Serve or store, and enjoy!

Need to Make Your Own Italian Seasoning?

If you don’t have Italian seasoning on hand, don’t worry, because you can easily substitute it by mixing individual herbs together. Even if you don’t have all of them, it’s okay.

Most Italian seasonings on the market have the same general mix dried herbs like of basil, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, and sage. I also like to add dried parsley and thyme. So, grab as many of these herbs as you have in your pantry and mix them about 1/2 tsp each (depending on how much seasoning you need). Although, I find rosemary a bit overwhelming so I add less rosemary than others.

Should I serve pasta salad warm or cold?

You can serve pasta salad at room temperature or cold, it’s a personal preference.

Cold – If you will be serving it cold, combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and only mix in about half the dressing, cover the bowl, and let it chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Mix pasta salad with the other half of the dressing right before serving. 

Warm – if you want to serve the salad at room temperature, simply make it right before you need it and serve right away. (I like to serve it at room temperature because the bacon stays crispy longer.)

Can I make it ahead of time?

Yes, definitely, but I wouldn’t prepare it more than a day ahead because the vegetables will wilt. To make pasta salad ahead of time, prepare everything according to the recipe but only mix in half of the dressing. Make sure to cover the pasta salad and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve. Refrigerate the remaining dressing as well. Mix in other half of the pasta salad dressing right before serving.

Storing Tips

To store leftovers, transfer it into a food storage container with a lid and keep it refrigerated. Pasta salad will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. You may need to add a little more dressing after it’s been in the fridge for a while because pasta tends to soak up all the dressing liquids. 

More pasta salad recipes we love!

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad – made with seasoned pan-seared or grilled chicken, homemade Caesar dressing, some romaine lettuce, green bell pepper, and of course, crunchy croutons.

Antipasto Pasta Salad – loaded with salami, mozzarella, black olives, artichokes, pepperoncini peppers, and cherry tomatoes.

Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad – made with four cheese tortellini, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, banana peppers, black olives, Feta cheese and an easy Greek dressing.

Macaroni Salad – this is our favorite Macaroni Salad full of red onions, celery, bell peppers, herbs, and of course, delicious creamy dressing.

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