ULTIMATE Creamy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
This Ultimate Creamy Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing side dish perfect for BBQs and gatherings. Combining the flavors of an Italian sub with the convenience of a salad bowl, it features rotini pasta tossed with smoked turkey, pepperoni, Colby Jack cheese, black olives, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and optional banana peppers and iceberg lettuce. The creamy twist comes from a smooth emulsified dressing made by whisking Italian dressing into mayonnaise, creating a luscious coating that ties all the ingredients together. Chill to meld the bold flavors for a refreshing and satisfying salad.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiling (Pasta) and No-Cook (assembly and chilling)
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 box Rotini Pasta (cooked and cooled)
Dressing
- 1 cup Italian Dressing (Olive Garden brand recommended)
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
Meats
- 1 cup Smoked Turkey (cubed)
- 1 cup Pepperoni (mini or chopped)
Cheese
- 1 block Colby Jack Cheese (cubed)
Vegetables & Extras
- 1 can Sliced Black Olives
- 1/2 Red Onion (diced)
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes (halved)
- 1/2 cup Banana Peppers (optional, for a zing)
- Optional: Chopped Iceberg Lettuce
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions. Once done, rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down for the salad.
- Chop Ingredients: While the pasta cooks, prepare the smoked turkey, pepperoni, Colby Jack cheese, red onion, cherry tomatoes, banana peppers, and optional iceberg lettuce by cutting them into uniform, bite-sized pieces for even mixing and easy eating.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing and mayonnaise until the mixture is perfectly smooth and emulsified, creating a creamy and flavorful dressing.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta along with all the chopped meats, cheeses, vegetables, and olives.
- Toss Salad: Drizzle the creamy dressing over the combined ingredients. Toss everything thoroughly so that each piece is well coated with the luscious creamy dressing.
- Chill: Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to marry and the salad to chill, enhancing the taste and texture before serving.
Notes
- Use Olive Garden brand Italian dressing for the best flavor, but any good-quality Italian dressing will work.
- Rinsing the pasta with cold water stops the cooking and prevents clumping.
- Make a double batch as this salad tends to disappear quickly at parties.
- Banana peppers are optional but add a nice tangy zing if included.
- Chilling the salad for at least 1 hour helps the flavors meld perfectly.