Gluten Free Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
You have to try my Zesty Italian Pasta Salad! Full of protein, gluten free, and can be served as a side dish or main course meal!
One reason I love this healthy pasta salad recipe is that you can customize it any way you like and it can be a side dish or main course meal! It’s ready in less than 20 minutes so that’s always a win in my book!
And you will also notice I am switching things up by adding salami for my protein! But if you don’t like that cut of meat, feel free to use shredded chicken or another cold cut.
I know pasta salads really shine during the summer, but we actually love them year round! They are especially great as side dishes for parties and get-togethers!
Try my other favorite salads!
- Brussel Sprout Salad With Honeycrisp Apple Dressing
- Healthy Egg Salad With Dill
- Mediterranean Potato Salad With Tzatziki – No Mayo, No Mustard
- Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette & A Simple Asian Salad
- Healthy Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad With Cranberries And Pecans
Ingredients for Gluten Free Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
Gluten Free pasta – Banza is a great gluten free brand that tastes like the real thing
Salami – swap out for your favorite cut of meat if you don’t like salami. Chicken would be good too!
Black olives
Red onion
Cherry tomatoes
Roasted red peppers – grab these in the jar, usually on the aisle with condiments or canned goods
Mozzarella cheese balls
Salt and Pepper
Italian dressing – use your favorite
How To Make Gluten Free Pasta Salad (Zesty Italian Style)
Start by cooking your pasta according to the instructions on the box. While the pasta is cooking, prepare your veggies.
Once your pasta has finished cooking, you want it to be completely cooled before adding all of your other ingredients.
After the pasta has cooled down, add all of the other ingredients in the bowl. Pour the dressing over last and stir to coat.
Tips for Making
- Don’t overcook your pasta.
- Running cold water over the cooked pasta cools it faster and stops the cooking process.
- Store the pasta salad in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
- If you need to make a bigger batch and want to prepare ahead of time, go ahead and cook your pasta al dente and chop your veggies. Store separately in the fridge until you are ready to serve then toss in the dressing right before. Adding a little bit of oil onto the cold pasta will help to keep it from sticking together.
- Switch things up my trying my Greek Dressing instead of using Italian
I can’t wait for you to dive into this easy summer pasta salad recipe! And I really wanna know what you think about it! So head to Instagram after you make it and tag me! Then keep an eye on my stories, because I may share them!
More Healthy Pasta Recipes to Try:
- Pesto Pasta Chicken Bake
- The Best Goat Cheese Pasta
- How To Cook Palmini Pasta Noodles | Pro-tips + A Recipe!
- No-boil Veggie Pasta Bake | Gluten-free, High-protein
- Greek Yogurt Alfredo
Gluten Free Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 16 oz Gluten Free pasta I like penne, bowtie, or fussili
- 1 cup chopped salami
- 3.8 oz jar sliced black olives Black olives
- 1/2 small red onion diced
- 3/4 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
- 3/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers chopped
- 8 oz package mozzarella cheese balls drained
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Your favorite italian dressing
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
- While it’s cooking, make sure all of your ingredients are washed, chopped and ready.
- When the pasta is done, drain and rinse under cold water.
- Add the pasta to a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Pour the dressing over and toss well to coat to your liking.
Delish!