Gluten-Free Italian Pasta Salad – our favorite pasta salad! Loaded with crunchy veggies, cheese, pepperoni and tossed together with a zesty homemade dressing. Always a crowd-pleaser!
Summertime is all about the sides and salads if you ask me.
I’m crazy about naturally gluten-free BBQ sides like The Best Homemade Potato Salad or this Summer Corn Tomato and Feta Salad.
A summer potluck spread wouldn’t be complete without a delicious bowl of pasta salad. I could eat pasta salad everyday of my life and this Gluten-Free Italian Pasta Salad is my favorite!
It has crispy veggies and flavor-packed additions like olives, pepperoni and parmesan. The salad is tossed in a zesty homemade Italian dressing.
Making the dressing is really easy – you just shake all the ingredients up together in container. I like using a mason jar fitted with a plastic lid. Homemade dressing also means you know exactly what’s in it and that it’s gluten-free.
The “secret ingredient” in this pasta salad is a spice mixture that you toss in at the end. It gives the pasta salad an extra layer of flavor and a gourmet look!
My favorite gluten-free noodle to use for pasta salad is Jovial Foods Brown Rice Penne. I’ve tried a bunch of different pastas over the years and Jovial never disappoints. (Not sponsored – just my favorite!)
It holds up great in cold pasta salad which isn’t the case with other many other gluten-free noodles. Nobody will know it’s gluten-free!
We are doing our neighborhood swim team this summer and practice during the week falls during dinner time. So I’m always in search of easy, portable dinners. Pasta salad is perfect for on-the-go meals at the pool, beach or wherever else life takes you in the summer.
Sometimes I’ll add a can of chickpeas or leftover grilled chicken for added protein. Pasta salad is also one of my favorite things to make ahead and pack for trips. It is satisfying for a meal on its own or delicious as a side at a potluck.
Some of my other favorite Gluten-Free Summer Sides:
The Best Homemade Potato Salad
Summer Corn Tomato and Feta Salad
Marinated Cucumber and Tomato Salad
What should you make for DINNER TONIGHT?
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Gluten-Free Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the pasta salad:
- 12 oz gluten-free penne, cooked (I like this brand)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup English cucumber, peeled/seeded/diced
- 2.25 oz can sliced black olives
- 3/4 cup pepperoni, or salami
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
For the Italian Vinaigrette:
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot or red onion
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon marjoram
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
For the Special Spice Mixture:
- 1/2 teaspoons sesame seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon poppy seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix together the ingredients for the special spice mixture in a small bowl. Mix together the ingredients for the salad dressing in a jar with a lid or whisk together in a bowl.
- Add the ingredients for the pasta salad to a large bowl. Toss with the dressing and the spice mixture. Enjoy!
- Pasta salad will keep for up to 1 day in the fridge.
Literally EVERYONE loved this side. From kids to adults, this will be at all our family gatherings.
Why will it keep for just one day in fridge?
It’s best a few hours after it’s mixed together – but one day should be fine!
Most people complain about gluten free pasta turning mushy after being refrigerated. I have the opposite problem. Mine always turns hard no matter what brand I use. Do you perchance have a solution to keep this from happening? I’d love to try your recipe but tired of failure, Thanks, Linda
I love the brand Jovial Foods! It’s the best gluten-free pasta for this salad and holds up great in the fridge. I hope this helps!
Do overcook the pasta or undercook or al dente?