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You are here: Home / Gluten-Free / Best Pasta Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing

Best Pasta Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing

Last updated on September 2, 2020. Originally published August 12, 2018 45 Comments

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This Best Pasta Salad Recipe is made with Homemade Dressing & Roasted Tomatoes! It is the perfect healthy & flavorful make-ahead BBQ side dish  full of fresh veggies, pepperoni and fresh mozzarella cheese! Gluten-free & Vegan options!

overhead view of the best pasta salad recipe in a large white serving bowl

What is a summer BBQ without an awesome pasta salad?! This Best Pasta Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing is always the hit of the party, and a must-add to any summer gathering menu! It’s a go-to for me whenever we’re pulling out the grill to feed a crowd!

This Pasta Salad Recipe is full of fresh summer veggies, features roasted baby tomatoes, and is tossed with a homemade dressing that is out of this world! The perfect compliment to anything you decide to toss on the barbecue.

overhead view of the best pasta salad recipe in a large white serving bowl

How to make Pasta Salad with Homemade Dressing

This homemade pasta salad recipe is SO easy to make, which is one of the reasons I love it. Even making your own dressing is so simple!

Step 1: Roast the tomatoes 

One thing that sets this pasta salad recipe apart from all the rest is the addition of roasted baby tomatoes. A little secret about yours truly…I do NOT like raw tomatoes! (Gasp)! It’s true! I’m a raw-mater hater!

However…I could eat roasted tomatoes all day long! The roasting really brings out the sweetness and imparts of depth of flavor that just can’t be beat…which is why they shine in this easy pasta salad recipe!

The roasting process is simple, drizzle on some olive oil, sprinkle a little salt and pepper, stir and bake. Just be sure to bake long enough that the tomatoes become shriveled and dry out as much as you’d like!

two overhead photos of a baking metal baking pan. The left shows tomatoes before roasting, the right shows the tomatoes after they have been roasted

Step 2: Make the homemade Italian dressing

What sauce to put in pasta salad?  This is a question that gets asked a lot about pasta salad recipes, and of course my answer is a Homemade Dressing! In a pinch I have tried bottled dressings and always regret it.

The Homemade White Balsamic Italian Dressing in this pasta salad recipe literally takes 3 minutes to toss together and shake up! TOTALLY worth it! No processed ingredients or additives here!

A note a on white balsamic vinegar. 

I adore white balsamic vinegar for both the taste and the color! It doesn’t turn the pasta salad an off-putting brown color like regular balsamic vinegar. However, if you don’t keep the white variety on hand, and don’t care if your pasta salad recipe turns out a little darker, then regular balsamic vinegar can totally be used with equally delicious results!

a collage of four photos showing a front view of the step-by-step process in making homemade Italian dressing to toss into this Best Pasta Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing

Step 3: Put it all together 

Once you have roasted the tomatoes and made the dressing, this easy pasta salad recipe with homemade dressing comes together in no time! Here are a few notes on the method to help you out!

  1. Chopping veggies. We prefer our vegetables to be chopped pretty small, so that we can get a little of everything in each bite! To make this even easier a food processor can be used to dice them up very quickly!
  2. Rinse the pasta. Rinsing the pasta will cold water after it ha been fully cooked will ensure it doesn’t become over-cooked, and will keep it from absorbing too much dressing!
  3. Adding the dressing. As you can see in the recipe video, the homemade dressing is added to the pasta salad after the hearty vegetables and cheese have been mixed in with the pasta. Be sure to evenly coat everything before adding the parmesan cheese and the fragile roasted tomatoes!
  4. Let it set. I recommend letting this recipe sit covered in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours before serving, or overnight.
  5. TASTE and adjust! Before serving pasta salad always taste it and adjust the seasonings as necessary! Depending on the pasta used, you may even need to add a touch more dressing. I usually adjust the salt and pepper right before serving!

overhead view of the best pasta salad recipe in a large white serving bowl with all the ingredients organized separately before being mixed together

FAQs Best Pasta Salad Recipe:

Here are a few more important notes about this healthy pasta salad recipe!

Can you make pasta salad the night before?

One of the (many) wonderful things about this Best Pasta Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing is that you can make it a day in advance! I actually prefer to prepare it ahead of time to give the flavors a chance to blend together. Just remember (as stated above) to taste, adjust seasonings, and garnish before serving!

How long can you keep pasta salad in the refrigerator?

Another great quality of this Best Pasta Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing is that you can make it once and enjoy it all week long! After a BBQ we keep this homemade pasta salad in the fridge and enjoy it for lunch or dinner for up to 5 days!

overhead view of the best pasta salad recipe in a large white serving bowl with a wooden spoon taking a scoop

Best Pasta Salad Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions 

Here are a few notes on the ingredients and possible substitutions in this easy pasta salad recipe!

  • Pasta: You can easily make this dish gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and pepperoni!
  • Vegetables: Feel free to swap the veggies in this recipe for your favorites.
  • White balsamic vinegar. Regular balsamic vinegar works perfectly in this recipe, just keep in mind it will impart a dark color to this homemade pasta salad recipe.
  • Olive oil. Both canola and avocado oil work well in this recipe. However I think olive oil is the best choice!
  • Dried seasoning. Feel free to substitute fresh herbs if you have them on hand!
  • Pearl Mozzarella. If you cannot find pearl mozzarella, simply chop fresh mozzarella cheese into small cubes!
  • Pepperoni. For a lighter version use turkey pepperoni!

How to make this pasta salad recipe vegan: 

If you leave out the pepperoni and fresh mozzarella you have yourself a vegan version…however those are two of my favorite ingredients in this salad…so I would only omit if absolutely necessary!

overhead view of the best pasta salad recipe in a large white serving bowl with a wooden spoon taking a scoop

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4.69 from 19 votes

The Best Pasta Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing

This Best Pasta Salad Recipe is made with Homemade Dressing & Roasted Tomatoes! It is the perfect healthy & flavorful make-ahead BBQ side dish  full of fresh veggies, pepperoni and fresh mozzarella cheese! Gluten-free & Vegan options!  
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Keyword best pasta salad recipe, homemade pasta salad, pasta salad recipe, pasta salad with homemade dressing
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 10 cups pasta salad (about 30 servings)
Calories 177kcal
Author Laura

Ingredients

Pasta salad:

  • 16 oz (4 cups) uncooked tri-color rotini pasta, or gluten-free rotini
  • 1 cup pepperoni diced
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese cubed
  • 1 small cucumber diced
  • 2 cups bell pepper diced (colors of your choice)
  • 2 (6 oz) cans sliced black olives
  • Β½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Dressing:

  • 1 cup olive oil
  • Β½ cup white balsamic vinegar*
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 tsp dried basil
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp ground mustard
  • Β½ tsp onion powder
  • Β½ tsp salt
  • ΒΌ tsp ground black pepper

Roasted tomatoes:

  • 2 pint baby tomatoes
  • 2 TBS olive oil
  • Β½ tsp salt
  • ΒΌ tsp ground black pepper
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Make the dressing:

  • In a small bowl or Pyrex measuring cup, mix together the dressing ingredients. Set aside.

Cook the pasta:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions.
  • When finished, drain in a colander and rinse with cold water. Set aside.

Roast your tomatoes:

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
  • Slice your baby tomatoes in half.
  • Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.
  • Spread onto a large baking sheet and bake for 60-90 minutes.
  • Once tomatoes are shriveled and roasted to your liking, remove from oven and let cool.

Putting it all together:

  • In a large bowl, mix the cooled pasta, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, cucumber, bell pepper, , olives, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Add the dressing and mix to combine.
  • Toss in the roosted tomatoes.
  • Let cool in the fridge for at least 4 hours (or overnight) before serving.

Video

Notes

  • *Regular balsamic vinegar works well too, be aware that it will give your salad a darker color!
  • This pasta salad recipe makes a LOT of salad. It can easily be halved to feed an smaller crowd!
  • Please use fresh mozzarella cheese for best results

Nutrition

Serving: 0.33cup | Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.3g | Protein: 3.5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5.5g | Cholesterol: 5.7mg | Sodium: 175mg | Potassium: 23.6mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 2.8g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Vitamin C: 21.3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 0.7mg

More Delicious Side Dish & Salad Recipes!

Looking for more salad recipes that are perfect to serve at a potluck or BBQ? Here are some of my favorites!

  • Caprese Quinoa Salad
  • Asian Quinoa Salad
  • Easy Homemade Mac & Cheese

*Note:* This recipe was originally Published on June 27th, 2016 but has been updated with new photos, a video and the recipe is doubled from the original!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

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Filed Under: BBQ, Gluten-Free, Recipe Videos, Recipes, Salads, Side Dish, Summer Recipes Tagged With: pasta salad, side dish

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lealo

    July 30, 2020 at 2:51 pm

    what is ground mustard? do you mean mustard powder?

    Reply
  2. Melissa

    June 16, 2020 at 4:49 am

    5 stars
    I too would like to know how to adjust the time for 20 uncooked tri-color rotini pasta?
    Thanks, I love your recipes.

    Reply
  3. Claire

    August 15, 2019 at 1:32 pm

    5 stars
    I’m not on Instagram but I have glorious pictures of this! I’m gluten free and low fodmap so this was perfect yet delicious and easy to make for the meal prep! My husband eats ‘normal’ pasta but decided he would also eat this as was the best pasta salad he had tried πŸ™‚ thank you!

    Reply
    • Laura

      August 17, 2019 at 7:46 am

      Don’t forget to upload them to the August recipe challenge page for a chance to win! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Renee D Russell

    August 2, 2019 at 5:22 pm

    5 stars
    I like using thawed frozen tortellini and small cubes sharp cheddar cheese!

    Reply
  5. cheryl williams

    June 9, 2019 at 2:05 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this with brown balsamic and it tasted great!!! Added fresh chopped zucchini and olives and it is beautiful! Thank you for the recipe !

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 10, 2019 at 4:23 pm

      Thank you Cheryl! This is our go-to summer recipe! Love the addition of zucchini!!! YUM!

      Reply
  6. Ryinne Jacquemin

    May 3, 2019 at 10:56 pm

    5 stars
    I’m super excited to serve this at my best friends bridal shower tomorrow. I LOVED making the entire recipe and I had to stop myself from eating it as I crafted it!! Thank you for this!!!

    Reply
  7. Faye

    April 16, 2019 at 2:26 pm

    5 stars
    I had this pasta salad Sunday when I went to visit my granddaughter her husband and my two great-grandchildren πŸ™‚ I can honestly say this was the best pasta salad I’ve ever had and I do love my pasta salad and it’s hard to find a really good one. My granddaughter gave me the link for the recipe. I live in a senior community and I’m going to make it very soon for a potluck dinner we’re having. And I must say it’s all about that dressing wow it is delicious.

    Reply
    • Laura

      April 20, 2019 at 7:23 am

      Thank you SO much Faye! YES the dressing is definitely so important!!

      Reply
  8. Martha

    January 27, 2019 at 11:13 am

    This looks great and I’d like to try it. I have a question about the tomatoes, though. Can they be roasted a day or two ahead of time? I assume just stored in a sealed baggie until needed? Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Laura

      January 27, 2019 at 4:41 pm

      Hey Martha! Theoretically they can be, but I’m afraid they might get too mushy. I think part of the flavor comes from them being immediately incorporated into the pasta salad!

      Reply
  9. Mary

    December 14, 2018 at 8:38 pm

    5 stars
    This was a big hit with my family. Love love love the dressing and love the white balsamic. The recipe called for β€œgrated” Parmesan cheese but I used β€œshredded” because it looked so pretty on the picture.

    Reply
  10. Sarah anderson

    August 13, 2018 at 2:28 am

    5 stars
    Wow awesome recipe.. and the way you present the dressing is much more impressive..

    Reply
    • Laura

      August 13, 2018 at 7:20 am

      Thank you Sarah!

      Reply
  11. Christie

    July 10, 2016 at 3:32 am

    5 stars
    Oh my word. This looks amazing. So tasty, colorful, and perfect for a picnic.

    Reply
    • Laura

      July 10, 2016 at 8:55 pm

      It is PERFECT picnic food!!! You can make it the night before and toss it in your basket for a great meal outdoors! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  12. Corrine

    July 1, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    Yum! Love the idea of roasting the tomatoes. I bet that ads all sorts of depth to the dish! Can’t wait to give it a try!

    Reply
    • Laura

      July 1, 2016 at 9:05 pm

      Thank you Corrine! The roasted tomatoes are my favorite part of the dish! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  13. Becky @ LovetobeintheKitchen

    July 1, 2016 at 2:48 am

    This looks heavenly! I’ve never had a pasta salad with roasted tomatoes before and now I can’t wait to try this! Pinned for later! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Laura

      July 1, 2016 at 5:09 pm

      Oh my word you must give it a whirl! Roasted tomatoes seriously enhance the flavor of all the other ingredients beautifully!

      Reply
  14. Miz Helen

    June 30, 2016 at 10:09 pm

    Your Pasta Salad will be delicious, I just love this combination of flavor. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and have a fabulous weekend and come back soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    • Laura

      July 1, 2016 at 5:08 pm

      Thank you so much! It definitely packs huge flavor!!

      Reply
  15. Bonnie

    June 30, 2016 at 5:17 pm

    I love summer salads. Looks yummy! I’m visiting today from #shinebloghop. Pinned to my recipe board.

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 30, 2016 at 8:42 pm

      Thank you Bonnie! I could (and do) eat a salad every day! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  16. Maria

    June 30, 2016 at 6:01 pm

    Yum! This pasta salad looks so yummy. Honestly, you got me at roasted baby tomatoes! I’m a fan of roasted tomato anything, so this was absolutely perfect. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe with us at #shinebloghop this week. Pinning this so I can make it later.

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 30, 2016 at 8:42 pm

      Aren’t roasted tomatoes the best?!?! Thank you so much Maria!

      Reply
  17. Farrah

    June 30, 2016 at 4:36 am

    5 stars
    Yummy! That looks delicious! I happen to have some white balsamic vinegar that I’ve been meaning to use! :D! Can’t wait to try this out!

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 30, 2016 at 1:38 pm

      I love white balsamic vinegar! It tastes amazing without imparting any brownish color!

      Reply
  18. Taylor-Made Homestead

    June 29, 2016 at 2:12 pm

    This looks delicious, and would be a great dish to bring to a covered-dish gathering as well. We have several of them coming up soon. Thanks for sharing! (Stopping by from the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop)

    ~Taylor-Made Homestead~
    Texas

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 29, 2016 at 10:01 pm

      Thank you! It’s such a great make-ahead dish to feed a crowd…in your home or elsewhere! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  19. Kristy from Southern In Law

    June 28, 2016 at 11:56 pm

    Oooh, this looks SO good! I can’t get enough of mozzarella or salami at the moment so this looks perfect! <3

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 29, 2016 at 12:35 pm

      Thanks Kristy! They really are a made for each other! πŸ™‚ <3

      Reply
  20. Nicole Johnson

    June 28, 2016 at 3:35 pm

    This salad looks SO great. I’m such a sucker for a flavorful pasta salad. YUM!

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 28, 2016 at 4:20 pm

      Who isn’t?!?! Right?! πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  21. Beverley @ Born to Sweat

    June 28, 2016 at 3:04 pm

    ooo the roasted tomatoes!! What a great touch! usually i just add them in regular, but i’ve been finding that tomatoes these days aren’t as juicy as they once were. i’m definitely going to try roasting them next time for a change. also love the idea of the cubed mozza cheese. saving this!

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 28, 2016 at 4:20 pm

      I don’t love raw tomatoes…like at all! So roasting is a must for me! πŸ˜‰ You really can’t go wrong with fresh mozz!!

      Reply
  22. Karly

    June 28, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    Is it picnic time yet!? This looks absolutely incredible!!! Love love love all of the colors and flavors- especially those roasted tomatoes!!

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 28, 2016 at 4:19 pm

      Thank you so much Karly! Anytime is a good time for a picnic! πŸ™‚ Roasted tomatoes really are delicious!! Have a great day!

      Reply
  23. Emily

    June 28, 2016 at 1:06 pm

    I love the rich, deep color of the roasted tomatoes, and I really love a roasted flavor too. Pasta salad is one of my very favorite foods to eat in the summer, so this would be AMAZING to get to make. Maybe I’ll make it because a birthday is coming up on Sunday! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 28, 2016 at 4:18 pm

      I love the way roasting brings out the flavor of tomatoes! πŸ™‚ It’s definitely perfect birthday party fare! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  24. rachel @ athleticavocado

    June 27, 2016 at 5:28 pm

    5 stars
    this pasta salad takes the traditional version to a whole new level! love that you made your own dressing and toasted tomatoes to go with it, pinned πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 28, 2016 at 12:50 pm

      Thank you Rachel! The roasted tomatoes really give it a huge flavor boost! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  25. AZ@...And a Dash of Cinnamon

    June 27, 2016 at 2:35 pm

    Love the homemade dressing! I want to start trying to make my own too!

    Reply
    • Laura

      June 28, 2016 at 12:49 pm

      Homemade dressing is SO much better than store bought! And you know exactly what you’re putting into it! πŸ™‚ Thanks for stoping by! πŸ™‚

      Reply

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About Laura

 

Hello I’m Laura! I am a former chemistry teacher turned wife and mom of five beautiful babies with one on the way in 2021! I’m a green smoothie addict, lover of the outdoors, and a peanut butter & nap enthusiast! Click here to read more >>

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