Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad

This Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad is loaded with fresh vegetables, farfalle pasta, and a homemade Italian dressing. It's the perfect addition to potlucks, cookouts, parties, or just a busy weeknight dinner. 

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love It
• 📝 Ingredients
• 🥄 Instructions
• 🥣 Equipment
• 👍 Amira's Tips
• 🧺 Storage
• ⌛ Make Ahead
• 🍽️ Serve With
• 👩‍🍳 Variations
• 💬 FAQs
• 📣 Related Recipes
• Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad

❤️ Why You'll Love It

• It's a simple yet tasty side dish that pairs well with all your favorite entrees.
• Plus, you can prep this side dish ahead of time so you can spend less time in the kitchen at dinner.
• You also only need simple ingredients so you don't have to spend a lot of money at the grocery store.

I love cold pasta salads. They are hearty, and filling, but also super flavorful. This is one of my favorite pasta salad recipes.

📝 Ingredients

Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

📋 Ingredient Notes / Variations

• Cherry tomatoes - Grape tomatoes will also work well in this delicious pasta salad. 
• Shallot - A shallot is similar to an onion, so look for them in the produce department in your grocery store. 
• Bell pepper - You can use any color of bell pepper, I like to use a red bell pepper or a yellow one for color. 
• Marinated artichoke hearts -  These add a delicious tangy flavor to the salad. You can also use plain artichoke hearts and marinate them yourself with olive oil, herbs, and vinegar.
• Kalamata olives - I used pitted and halved olives for this pasta salad. Black olives would also work. 
• Pepperoncini - These peppers are slightly spicy and add a nice kick to the salad. If you don't like spice, you can omit them or substitute them with pickled banana peppers.
• Fresh mozzarella cheese - I like to dice the cheese into cubes. However, you can also use mozzarella balls as well.  
• Summer sausage or salami - This adds a nice salty flavor to the salad. You can also use other types of deli meat such as pepperoni or prosciutto. 
• Fresh basil and fresh parsley - Don't skip these ingredients! They add a fresh and herbaceous flavor to the salad.
• Olive oil - You can also use canola oil or vegetable oil, however, olive oil gives this pasta salad the best flavor. 
• White wine vinegar - You can also use red wine vinegar, white vinegar, or even lemon juice to add the acid to your salad. 
• Garlic cloves - I like to use fresh garlic if you don't have fresh garlic on hand you can use minced garlic or garlic powder instead. 
• Italian seasoning - This herb mixture gives the Italian dressing that coats the pasta its flavor. 
• Honey - This adds a touch of sweetness to your dressing. If you don't have honey, pure maple syrup or agave can be used. 
• Salt and black pepper - These basic staples can add so much flavor to your pasta salad. 

🥄 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. 
2. In a small jar mix together dressing ingredients.
3. In a big bowl add pasta, tomatoes, shallot, artichokes, olives, pepperoncini pepper, salami, mozzarella parsley, and basil.
4. Pour dressing ingredients over and toss to coat. Cover and let it set in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving.

🥣 Equipment

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• Large pot
• small bowl or small jar
• large bowl

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👍 Amira's Tips

• I've found that small shell or spiral pasta works well for this zesty Italian pasta salad recipe. It gives the dressing something to stick to. 
• Make sure that you check your package directions so you can know the timing for the pasta al dente. You don't want to overcook the pasta for this recipe. 
• I like to use cold pasta to make this perfect side dish, to chill the pasta quickly you can dip it in cold water to stop the cooking process and then drain it. 

🧺 Storage

Refrigerate - Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. If you don't have a lid to fit your bowl, you can cover it with plastic wrap to keep it fresh. 

Freeze - While it is possible to freeze the leftovers of this salad for up to three months, I don't recommend it. The pasta and fresh vegetables will change texture when frozen and thawed. 

⌛ Make Ahead

One of the best things about cold pasta salads like this is that they are great for meal prep. Because they taste better after they have time to marinate feel free to make this great recipe up to 24 hours in advance. Just give the salad a good toss before serving.  

🍽️ Serve With

This delicious Italian bowtie pasta salad recipe is perfect for a light lunch or summer picnics. I like to serve it with other picnic favorites such as these Mexican Chicken Pinwheels and this Black Bean and Chickpea Salad.   

👩‍🍳 Variations

• Feel free to swap out the shallot for a red onion or sliced green onions depending on what you have on hand. 
• A sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan cheese would also add a nice salty and flavorful punch to your salad. 
• You can add more flavor to the tangy dressing by adding your favorite fresh herbs. There are so many great options for this salad. 
• You can also load this easy bowtie pasta salad with fresh vegetables, such as English cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, or any other vegetables that your family enjoys. 

💬 FAQs

📣 Related Recipes

• This Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is another delicious and easy pasta salad that is perfect for summer picnics or potlucks. 
• Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad is a great way to use up leftover chicken and add some protein to your pasta salad. 
• Italian Potato Salad is a tangy twist on this picnic favorite, full of tender potatoes, green beans, olives, and a garlic vinaigrette making this a family favorite side dish. 
• Creamy Fruit Salad is a simple yet sweet dish, that's so refreshing on a warm summer day. That means that's perfect for holidays, potlucks, family gatherings, and picnics. 

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