An easy, delicious recipe for a classic creamy Italian pasta salad – the perfect dish for summer potlucks and backyard BBQs!
Hi friends! Pasta salad season is right around the corner, and I am certain y’all are planning your first backyard cookout! Whether you’re planning on hosting or looking for a great side dish to share, I have to perfect recipe for you – an easy, classic creamy Italian pasta salad!
I’ve shared plenty of pasta salad recipes on my blog before, but this is one of my go-to pasta salad recipes! It’s simple, flavorful, packed with fresh veggies, and mixed with a creamy dressing. Doesn’t that just sound refreshing?! If you’re an Italian pasta salad connoisseur, you’ve probably tried my other variations – an Italian spaghetti salad and my Italian pasta salad with salami. This classic Italian pasta salad is simpler with only a handful of fresh ingredients and TONS of flavor.
Why Creamy Pasta Salad is the Perfect Summer Side Dish
Now, I don’t know about y’all, but in my experience, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a summertime potluck or party that didn’t involve some sort of pasta salad. There’s a reason why pasta salad is the go-to dish for spring and summertime parties.
Most cold pasta salad recipes are crazy simple to put together. They feed a crowd, and when you do have leftovers, they always taste better the next day. Not only that, but there are SO MANY ways to make a cold pasta salad – the variety is endless!
I love a classic creamy Italian pasta salad because you can’t get much easier than some al dente pasta, zesty Italian dressing, and fresh vegetables. I make THIS pasta salad with Miracle Whip – which not only makes it creamy, but gives it a slightly sweet taste that balances perfectly with the Italian salad dressing. The finishing touch is bold and tangy feta cheese (because really, fam, what is a pasta salad recipe without cheese?!). In less than 30 minutes, this easy pasta salad recipe is ready for sharing. You really can’t do much better than that!
Ingredients for Easy Creamy Italian Pasta Salad
So, what all do you need to make the best pasta salad recipe? Not a lot! I go heavy on the vegetables, loading this creamy pasta salad up with some of my faves. Here’s a list of everything you need for this recipe. Check out the recipe card below for exact measurements and directions!
- Pasta: I use tri-colored rotini pasta in this recipe. If you have a different pasta you’d like to use, you can definitely do so! Some great options are cavatappi, regular rotini, or fusilli pasta.
- Italian Dressing: I use a bottle of store-bought Italian dressing for all the zesty Italian flavor needed. You can use your favorite brand.
- Miracle Whip: yes, yes… I, traditionally a Miracle Whip hater, use it in this recipe! It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. If you don’t like it, use your favorite mayo instead.
- Feta Cheese: crumbled feta is the perfect finishing touch in this easy pasta salad. The small crumbles mix perfectly into the salad, with each bite getting a little bit of that sharp feta taste.
- Cucumber: I think cucumbers are the perfect summer vegetable. Light, crispy, and refreshing.
- Cherry Tomatoes: the pop of a juicy cherry tomato is a must-have in pasta salad. You can also swap them out for grape tomatoes, which are a bit sweeter.
- Black Olives: another must-have in Italian pasta salad! I prefer regular ol’ olives, but if you’re trying to be fancy, go with an Italian variety like Castelvetrano olives.
- Broccoli: I know broccoli isn’t super traditional in pasta salad, but I like the crunch, color, and extra nutrients that come with it.
- Bell Peppers: my favorite are yellow, but green or red bell peppers are also fine!
- Onion: I use a yellow onion, but I often hear from y’all that red onion is another great option for Italian pasta salad, so use what you prefer!
How do I make this creamy Italian dressing with mayo instead of Miracle Whip?
I know that Miracle Whip isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay! If you don’t like it, swap it out with your favorite brand of mayonnaise, like Best Foods (Hellman’s) or Dukes. The reason I use Miracle Whip is because I like the added sweetness. To get that same taste, add about one tbsp of sugar to your dressing mixture, taste, and adjust as needed. If you prefer no sweetness in your creamy Italian dressing, leave out the sugar completely!
What other vegetables can I add to creamy Italian pasta salad?
Olives, tomatoes, and red peppers are staples for Italian pasta salad. However, you can add whatever you want! Some other popular additions are shallots (instead of regular onion), sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, or julienned carrots. Fresh basil is also a nice addition for some fresh herby flavor.
What cheese can I use in Italian pasta salad?
Feta cheese isn’t Italian, but the tangy flavor balances really well with the zesty Italian dressing and sweet mayo. Parmesan cheese or mozzarella cheese are classic choices too. You could even go with a shredded Italian blend.
How to Make Creamy Italian Pasta Salad (+ Video Tutorial)
Now, y’all probably don’t need a video to show you how to make this easy recipe, but I made one for you anyway! As always, you can watch it below or head on over to I Heart Recipes on YouTube and watch it there. Be sure to subscribe!
Here’s how to make this super simple creamy Italian pasta salad recipe:
- Start by boiling the broccoli florets in water on the stovetop for about 8 minutes, until tender. Drain the broccoli, and transfer it into a bowl of ice water to cool and immediately stop the cooking process. Set it aside.
- While the broccoli cooks, get your pasta cooking according to package directions. Once it’s al dente, drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water. Set aside.
- Chop all your veggies (including the cooled broccoli) into equal bite size pieces.
- Next, make the creamy dressing by mixing the Miracle Whip and Italian dressing in large bowl. Whisk together until combined.
- Dump the cooked pasta into the bowl with the dressing and give it a good mix.
- Toss in the chopped veggies and crumbled feta cheese. Fold everything together.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve!
And there you have it, cousins! A simple creamy Italian pasta salad that’s ready for just about any occasion. This cold pasta salad is a huge hit every time I made it. You can’t go wrong with the classic flavors!
Creamy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe Tips
Cousin Rosie tips and tricks time! Here are some pro-tips to make sure your creamy Italian pasta salad turns out perfect, every time.
- Make this pasta salad 1 day ahead of time to let all the flavors marry together. Right before serving, add some extra dressing to moisten it up.
- Cold pasta salad should only be kept at room temperature for a few hours. Once it starts to get warm (especially outside), you’re in the food danger zone. A hack for keeping it cold is to serve it in a double bowl or platter over ice.
- Leftovers should always be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. This pasta salad will last for 3-4 days in the fridge.
- This creamy Italian pasta salad is vegetarian, but you can add meat (like salami or pepperoni) if you choose. To make it vegan, choose a vegan mayo and vegan Italian dressing.
- Just before serving, garnish the pasta salad with fresh parsley or basil for picture-perfect presentation.
- All the seasoning you need is in the Italian dressing, but be sure to taste the dressing to ensure it’s seasoned to your liking! If it’s lacking flavor, add salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning to taste.
- This cold pasta salad is perfect on its own as a light meal, or as a side dish! Pair it with a sandwich for a light and refreshing lunch. It’s also perfect packed up on the go!
More Simple Pasta Salads from I Heart Recipes
If you loved this classic creamy Italian pasta salad recipe, leave a comment below! If you’re looking for your next summer side dish, don’t miss out on these tasty pasta salad recipes next:
- Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
- Pizza Pasta Salad
- Easy Cold Summer Pasta Salad Recipe
- Dill Pickle & Ranch Pasta Salad
- Easy Cold Rice Salad Recipe
- Easy Shrimp Salad Recipe
- Southern Macaroni Salad
Don’t forget to tag and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube, and check out I Heart Soul Food, Super Soul Food with Cousin Rosie and A Cousin Rosie Holiday with many recipes you can’t find anywhere else.
Creamy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz tri-colored rotini pasta
- 1 large cucumber peeled & chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced in halves
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 2 cups broccoli cut into small florets
- 1 large yellow bell pepper chopped
- 1 medium sized yellow onion diced
- 1 1/2 cup Miracle Whip
- 1 1/3 cup Italian dressing
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in lightly salted water until it is nice and al dente. Drain the pasta, then rinse it under cool water, and set it to the side.16 oz tri-colored rotini pasta
- Bring some water to a boil, then add in the broccoli. Boil the broccoli until slightly tender, then drain and cool in an ice water bath.2 cups broccoli
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the Miracle Whip & Italian Dressing. Mix until the dressing is nice and smooth.1 1/2 cup Miracle Whip, 1 1/3 cup Italian dressing
- Add in the pasta, and fold together until well combined.
- Next, add in all of the vegetables and feta cheese. Fold in all of the ingredients until everything is well combined.1 large cucumber, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup sliced black olives, 1 large yellow bell pepper, 1 medium sized yellow onion, 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Cover and refrigerate the pasta for about 1 hour, or until it’s nice and cold.
- Serve and enjoy!
It would be nice to have the nutritional information posted with the recipes so we would know whether it is something we would be able to eat on certain diets.
Sorry, I provide free content, and videos. I will not be adding nutritional facts as well. Thanks for stopping by.
This pasta salad looks YUM!!!!…..love all the colors….I will certainly be making this!
Definitely give it a try 🙂
Just made this today and even before it has married all the flavors, it’s going to be wonderful. Love your recipes.
Thanks for trying my recipe! XOXO
I try each and every one of them.
Made your creamy Italian pasta salad, it was yummy! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for giving it a try!
I was just wondering , about how many servings is this pasta recipe? Thank you!
About 8-10 servings 🙂
Great little recipe. Top marks. Thanks for sharing this.
Simon
Thanks for coming by!
Made this the other day and it was delicious and easy. Thanks Rosie!
Thanks for giving it a try Stephanie!
HI ROSIE LOVE THIS RECIPE I MAKE IT EVERY OTHER SUNDAY..I’AM A USHER AND WE ARE HAVING OUR USHER’S FASHION SHOW ON MARCH 18TH WE ALWAYS EAT BRUNCH AFTERWARDS I’M BRINGING THIS AWESOME SALAD CAN NOT WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO TRY IT….THE BEST SALAD YET….THANKS <3
I Kathy! Enjoy the salad, and I hope that you enjoy your event! XOXO
I made this last weekend for a spring get together and my guests thought it was the best ever! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Tobes! Thanks so much for trying my recipe!
YESSSS! Thank you I took this to work and it was a hit and I love that it was simple to make. Thanks for all yummy recipes.
Hi Tara! Thanks so much for giving my recipe a try!
Is it possible to make this salad without feta cheese and can I use parmesan cheese instead. Please let me know, I want to try your recipe it looks very yummy. Thanks
Absolutely! 🙂
This recipe is great for a crowd. It’s absolutely delicious. I was so pleased with how it turned out when I made it for a family gathering. I’ll definitely be making it again. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Thanks so much for trying!
Rosie….this is a winner for sure! Even relatives who claimed not to like pasta salad tried it and loved it! This one will be in heavy rotation for sure!
Rosie wanting to make this tomorrow for the fourth. Not the biggest Miracle Whip fan. My question,if I choose to use Mayo instead should I add a tablespoon or less of sugar? I know Miracle Whip has a sweet taste. Would love to know so I could do this tomorrow. Thanks it sounds just what I was looking for.
Thanks Rosie for your quick reply. I caught you on email. Wasn’t sure if my message had went through here. So you told me to start with 1TBSP. of sugar if I was using mayo. instead of miracle whip. Add more, a little at a time if needed to my taste. So that’s is what I’ll do. Thought I’d post your answer so if anyone else needed it by tomorrow too. Just in case you didn’t get to it by then. Thanks again.
Thanks Linda! Happy 4th!
Rosie; I’ve made the pasta twice already. The Fourth of July. And now for a couples Bible Study at church. Really a good pasta salad.
Thanks for trying my recipe! Xoxo
Love this salad, so fresh with the veggies and filling. We even added chicken breast, one meal. And as always people add your personal touch, she gives you the foundation, your personal touch is unlimited. I’m a fan love you and what you do. THANK YOU.
Thanks DeDee!
ROSIE, I will be making your Salad, but could I use Red Onions in place of the White? I Love Color!! Lol..
Absolutely hunny! ❤
Happened across this recently. Couldn’t wait to make it it was a HUGE success!! I was so thrilled. This was the best pasta salad I’ve ever had! Thank you so much for sharing it!!
Thanks for trying Sandy!
Hey Rosie, I can’t wait to try this recipe. I have do have one question. Can I use Monterey Jack Cheese insteady of Feta
You sure can!
Image this pasta salad minus the miracle whip. I will definitely try this other twist to the salad. It is however fast, easy to make in a heartbeat.
I am going to use red onion in this salad! I think it would add great flavor and color!
Cousin Rosie you are the best, I just love your videos and recipes. I have made the pasta salad a few times and it’s always a hit. I see someone said they use red onions so do I. I appreciate you
This looks perfect for my weekend BBQ. Can I make it the day before or will it spoil? Thanks.
Hi Kathy! You can make it the day before f you’d like 🙂
This is the best pasta salad I’ve ever had! My family loved it! I added genoa salami and it was a delicious quick easy meal on a hot day. Every time I make a Rosie Recipe people comment on how good it is. I will be making this again. Thank you Ms Rosie for you recipes.
Honey, you added that genoa salami, and made it sing? You better keep cooking and strutting like the kitchen diva you are! Keep on cooking, cousin!
As soon as I saw this recipe I knew l was going to love it because I love pasta salad and I even add meat to it pepperoni and ham and next chicken