This Antipasto Pasta Salad is a vibrant, flavor-packed dish inspired by classic Italian antipasto platters. Rotini pasta is tossed with tomatoes, olives, salami, bocconcini, artichokes, and fresh herbs, then coated in a zesty Italian dressing. It’s refreshing yet hearty, colorful, and ideal for potlucks, picnics, BBQs, meal prep, or quick weeknight dinners.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You’ll love this recipe because it delivers bold Italian flavors with almost no effort. The ingredients require minimal prep, and the dressing comes together in seconds—whether using bottled Italian dressing or the simple homemade version. It’s versatile, customizable, travels well, and tastes even better after chilling. This pasta salad is satisfying enough to serve as a main dish yet light and refreshing as a side.

Antipasto Pasta Salad

Antipasto Pasta Salad brings together the best elements of a traditional Italian antipasto board and transforms them into a refreshing, satisfying pasta dish. With colorful ingredients and bold flavors, it works beautifully for summer gatherings, weekday lunches, or as a make-ahead side for parties. The combination of tangy dressing, tender pasta, and savory meats and cheeses makes this salad irresistible.

Rotini pasta is the perfect base for this recipe because its spiral shape holds onto the dressing and captures bits of herbs and seasonings. When cooked al dente and rinsed under cold water, the pasta becomes the ideal chilled-salad texture—firm yet tender and ready to absorb the bold Italian flavors from the dressing and antipasto mix-ins.

The vegetables in this salad contribute both texture and freshness. Cherry tomatoes bring juicy sweetness, while red onion adds sharpness and crunch. Marinated artichoke hearts provide a tangy, briny element that deepens the flavor profile. Their reserved marinade can be used to enrich the dressing, adding extra complexity without extra effort.

Olives are essential in any antipasto-inspired dish, and they contribute richness, saltiness, and depth. Green, black, or a mix of both will work, allowing you to personalize the flavor balance. Their briny intensity contrasts beautifully with the creaminess of the bocconcini and the heartiness of the pasta.

Salami introduces savory, meaty bites that make this pasta salad extra satisfying. Sliced and halved, it distributes evenly through the dish so every forkful includes a little protein and flavor. You can use classic Italian salami, pepperoni, or a mixture of cured meats depending on your preferences.

Fresh herbs elevate the entire dish, adding brightness and aroma. Basil and parsley introduce a burst of green that balances the rich, tangy flavors from the other ingredients. Their fresh, fragrant qualities make the salad feel light and lively, even though it’s quite hearty.

The dressing is what ties everything together. Bottled Italian dressing is a quick, convenient choice, but the homemade version—made with red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, dried basil, salt, and pepper—is just as easy. It coats the pasta and antipasto components with a zesty, flavorful finish while keeping the salad light and refreshing.

One of the biggest advantages of this recipe is how well it works as a make-ahead dish. Chilling the salad allows the flavors to meld and deepen, making it even more delicious after a few hours in the refrigerator. This makes it ideal for busy days, packed lunches, or party prep when you need reliable dishes that hold up beautifully.

This pasta salad is also incredibly customizable. You can add pepperoncini, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, prosciutto, mozzarella pearls, or chickpeas to tailor the dish to your liking. Whether you want it lighter, meatier, spicier, or more vegetable-forward, this recipe provides the perfect foundation.

Overall, Antipasto Pasta Salad is a colorful, versatile, and crowd-pleasing dish that brings together bold Italian flavors in a simple, refreshing format. It’s easy to prepare, easy to transport, and delicious every time—perfect for gatherings, meal prep, or effortless weeknight meals.

Servings & Time

Servings: 6–8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

Pasta Salad

• 8 oz rotini pasta

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

• 6 oz jar marinated artichoke hearts, quartered and drained (reserve juices*)

• 1/3 cup sliced red onion

• 1/2 cup olives (green, black, or mixed)

• 4 oz sliced salami, halved

• 8 oz bocconcini

• 2 tbsp fresh basil, sliced

• 1 tbsp fresh parsley

Dressing (choose one)

Option 1 – Bottled Dressing

• 1 cup bottled Italian dressing

Option 2 – Homemade Dressing

• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

• 1/3 cup olive oil (or some reserved oil from artichoke hearts)

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 1/2 tsp dried basil

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cook the rotini pasta al dente according to package directions.

2. Rinse the cooked pasta under cold water and drain thoroughly.

3. Combine all dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth.

4. Place pasta, tomatoes, artichokes, red onion, olives, salami, bocconcini, basil, and parsley in a large bowl.

5. Pour the dressing over the salad.

6. Toss everything together until evenly coated.

7. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to develop.

8. Toss again before serving.

9. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.

10. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Tips

Ingredient Substitutions

• Swap rotini for bowtie, penne, or fusilli.

• Replace salami with pepperoni or prosciutto.

• Use mozzarella pearls instead of bocconcini.

Make-Ahead & Storage

• Best served after at least 1 hour of chilling.

• Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.

• Add more dressing before serving if pasta absorbs too much.

Serving Variations

• Add pepperoncini or roasted red peppers for extra flavor.

• Add chickpeas for a protein boost.

• Mix in sun-dried tomatoes for richness.

Avoid Common Mistakes

• Don’t overcook the pasta—it will become mushy in the salad.

• Don’t skip chilling—the flavor improves significantly.

• Don’t forget to drain ingredients well to avoid watery dressing.