• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Veggies Don't Bite
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easter
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Resources
  • Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easter
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Resources
    • Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home ▸ Vegan Salads

    The Best Italian Vegetable Pasta Salad

    Last modified: October 5, 2022. Originally posted: June 4, 2020 By Sophia DeSantis

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pasta salad text overlay on top of a photo with a bowl of pasta salad
    Fork getting a bite of pasta salad from a black bowl
    Collage of veggie pasta salad being made with text overlay in the middle

    This Italian style vegetable pasta salad is the perfect addition to picnics, bbq's, or just a summer poolside meal. Super easy and versatile!

    Top view of a black bowl filled with vegetable pasta salad
    Click here to subscribe

    I love quick and easy recipes, especially those that you can bring to a poolside party or barbecue and don't require a lot of effort. Because let's be real, I'm dealing with crazy kiddos before we need to get anywhere and low effort is all I have!

    Pasta Salad Basics

    The key to a good pasta salad is taste. And this recipe here has some easy tricks to get in all the amazing flavors! All you need are your favorite veggies and some good quality pasta.

    Ingredients

    There are only three main ingredient groups to make this awesome pasta salad: pasta, veggies and dressing.

    Veggie options

    Anything really goes in pasta salad, so it all depends on what you like. Here is a list of ideas that I think work best:

    • Broccoli
    • Summer squash
    • Zucchini
    • Bell pepper, any color
    • Onion, red or yellow
    • Tomatoes
    • Mushrooms

    Pasta for salad

    The important thing with your pasta choice is that it has good texture when cold. This especially comes into play with gluten free pasta.

    While many different gluten-free pasta's don't have the best texture cold, there are plenty that do. So make sure to test out the brand you use. I tend do find that gluten-free pastas that use a mix as the base, versus all one ingredient, have better texture cold or the next day.

    How to Make Veggie Pasta Salad

    To get the best flavor, I highly suggest planning ahead and marinating the raw veggies overnight. This helps soften them in an almost pickle like fashion. They absorb the dressing ingredients to give the end result a perfect punch in flavor.

    1. Marinate the veggies in the dressing ingredients. Glass bowl with chopped vegetables marinating in vinegar
    2. Add everything into a bowl. Glass bowl with ingredients about to be mixed to make vegetable pasta salad
    3. Mix well! A glass bowl that has veggie pasta salad freshly mixed

    Tips and Tricks

    Here are some things to keep in mind while making this veggie pasta salad:

    1. Chop the vegetables small and bite sized. They will soften better with the dressing.
    2. Let the veggies sit in the dressing for at least a few hours for best flavor.
    3. Make sure your pasta has good texture when cold.
    4. You can switch up the vinegar and seasoning to change the flavor, just keep it to the same amounts.
    5. To make it really easy, use prechopped veggies. You can even use a bottled dressing.

    Common Questions

    How far in advance can you make pasta salad?

    Due to the texture of the pasta, I wouldn't make this more than 2 days in advance. While the flavor does marinate and get better the next day, much longer than that will break down the pasta.

    Do you rinse pasta for a cold pasta salad?

    Yes! Rinsing the pasta after you cook it, will help stop the cooking process so the pasta doesn't get too soft. It also removes some of the starch.

    How do you store pasta salad?

    This is best stored in an airtight container in the fridge to prevent the pasta from hardening.

    Recipes to serve with

    • Baked Falafel
    • Easy Veggie Lentil Burger
    • Easy Black Bean Burgers
    • BBQ Tempeh Sandwich
    • Grilled Romaine Salad
    • Vegan Coconut Bacon BLT
    Click here to subscribe
    Top view of a black bowl filled with vegetable pasta salad

    The Best Italian Vegetable Pasta Salad

    Sophia DeSantis
    This Italian style vegetable pasta salad is the perfect addition to picnics, bbq's, or just a summer poolside meal. Super easy and versatile!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course 30 Minutes or Less, Main Course
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 4
    Calories 342 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup chopped broccoli
    • ½ cup chopped red bell pepper
    • ½ cup chopped green bell pepper
    • ¾ cup chopped yellow squash
    • ¾ cup chopped zucchini
    • ½ cup chopped red onion
    • 12 ounces your favorite pasta , gluten-free if needed

    Dressing mix:

    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • ¾ -1 teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon lemon pepper
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • a drizzle of your favorite oil , I prefer olive oil (Use broth for oil-free)

    Instructions
     

    • The night before, add everything except the pasta into an airtight container to allow the flavors to marinate. This is optional but yields the best end result.
    • The next day, cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse in cold water when done.
    • Add the veggie mix and pasta into a large bowl and mix well.
    • Serve!

    Notes

    • You can add any veggies you prefer just make sure to keep the total amount the same.
    • To make this super quick, add the chopped veggies to the dressing mix and let sit while you cook the pasta.

    Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 342kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 10gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 453mgPotassium: 307mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 883IUVitamin C: 68mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 2mg

    Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

    Never miss a recipe!Sign up here and get a FREE quick and easy meal guide!
    Custom Post Signature 3
    « Balanced Plant-Based Eating
    Is it Health or Obsession? »
    2.3K shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Questions or comments? Let me know below! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Emily Kemp

      September 27, 2018 at 4:20 am

      I love a good pasta salad, this sounds delicious!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I’m Sophia and I love food. As a food photographer, plant-based recipe creator, and client-centered health coach, I focus on helping people feel empowered instead of overwhelmed when it comes to overall health and wellness. Let me help you eat more plants!

    More about me →

    Click here to subscribe

    Vegan Easter Recipes

    • Brown bowl on a dark surface with an orange colored hummus dip topped with spices and chopped parsley.
      Roasted Carrot Hummus Recipe
    • A frosted piece of carrot cake on a black plate with shredded coconut on it.
      Incredible Vegan Carrot Cake (Gluten-Free)
    • A blue surface with a grey towel and glass jars on it filled with carrot cake oats and spoons inside.
      Healthy Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
    • A tall glass jar in front of another jar both filled with peach colored smoothies topped with shredded carrots, chopped pecans and coconut.
      Healthy Carrot Cake Smoothie (Vegan)

    Trending Recipes

    • Pile of three pieces of spanakopita on a white plate
      World's Best Greek Vegan Spanakopita
    • Looking for the perfect way to start your day? This vegan oatmeal recipe is the ultimate creamy delicious choice and it comes together in mere minutes! #veganbreakfastrecipes #easymeals
      The Best Creamy Vegan Oatmeal Recipe
    • A collage of a burrito, sandwich, past bowl and taco bowl.
      Easy Vegan Meal Plan For a Week
    • A purple smoothie bowl in a cream bowl topped with fruit, granola and nuts on a dark grey blue towel.
      How to Make a Thick Vegan Smoothie Bowl
    Cookbook cover with a burrito, burger and fries on a white table with a black background

    Amazon | Barnes & Noble

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Logos of websites that listed places this site has been featured

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    Click here to subscribe

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Press

    Copyright © 2013-2023 Veggies Don't Bite

    2.3K shares