Easy Italian Pasta Salad with 1 Secret Ingredient
This easy Italian pasta salad with 1 secret ingredient is fresh, zesty, and packed with flavor. Made with crisp vegetables, mozzarella, and a rich Italian dressing enhanced with Parmesan, it’s the perfect crowd-pleasing side dish.
Ingredients
- For the Pasta:
- 12 oz pasta rotini, fusilli, or penne
- Salt for boiling water
- Classic Add-Ins:
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup cucumber chopped
- ½ cup black olives sliced
- ½ cup red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup mozzarella cubes or balls
- Dressing:
- ¾ cup Italian dressing
- Secret Ingredient:
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional Add-Ins:
- Salami or pepperoni
- Bell peppers
- Fresh basil or parsley
- Chickpeas
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water.
- Prepare vegetables and add-ins by chopping and slicing as needed.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, onion, mozzarella, and optional ingredients.
- Pour in Italian dressing and add grated Parmesan cheese. Toss well to coat evenly.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
- Toss again before serving and add extra dressing or Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Salt pasta water well for better flavor.
- Do not overcook pasta to maintain texture.
- Parmesan helps thicken and enrich the dressing.
- Chill before serving for best flavor.
- Refresh with extra dressing before serving if needed.