Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

Name: Italian Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: FOR THE ITALIAN PASTA SALAD; 1-1/2 pound Elbow Macaroni (or Any Short Dry Pasta You Have); 1 whole Red Onion, Peeled And Roughly Chopped; 5 whole Large Fresh Tomatoes, Roughly Chopped; 1/2 cups Toasted Pine Nuts; 1/4 cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese; 12 whole Basil Leaves, Cut Into Chiffonade; FOR THE DRESSING:; 1/2 cups Dijon Mustard; 1/2 cups Honey; 1 whole Lemon, Juiced; 1/2 teaspoons Minced Garlic; 1 pinch Kosher Salt; 1 pinch Dried Basil Leaves; 1 pinch Dried Parsley Leaves

Servings: persons

FOR THE ITALIAN PASTA SALAD
1-1/2 pound Elbow Macaroni (or Any Short Dry Pasta You Have)
1 whole Red Onion, Peeled And Roughly Chopped
5 whole Large Fresh Tomatoes, Roughly Chopped
1/2 cups Toasted Pine Nuts
1/4 cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
12 whole Basil Leaves, Cut Into Chiffonade
FOR THE DRESSING:
1/2 cups Dijon Mustard
1/2 cups Honey
1 whole Lemon, Juiced
1/2 teaspoons Minced Garlic
1 pinch Kosher Salt
1 pinch Dried Basil Leaves
1 pinch Dried Parsley Leaves

1
1. Get a large pot of salted water on the stove and bring it to a boil. When it's ready cook the pasta until just tender, about 8 minutes. Drain it and rinse it right away in cold water.
2
2. While that all happens, gather your prepped salad ingredients to have them ready. In a bowl, combine the mustard, honey, lemon juice, garlic, salt, dried basil and dried parsley for the dressing. Thoroughly stir it together.
3
3. In a very large bowl, combine the cooked and drained pasta, chopped onion, chopped tomato, toasted pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, basil chiffonade and the dressing. Give it a big old toss together to make sure everything is evenly coated in dressing.
4
4. Transfer the Italian pasta salad into sealable containers. Let it chill and meld together for at least 2 hours, or up to a day before. Then you're ready to serve it!

461

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Swap the honey for maple syrup or agave for a slightly different but equally rich sweetness.
Leave out the nuts to make it nut-free, or swap in seeds for a similar crunch.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 15 ingredients. The key ingredients include: FOR THE ITALIAN PASTA SALAD, 1-1/2 pound Elbow Macaroni (or Any Short Dry Pasta You Have), 1 whole Red Onion, Peeled And Roughly Chopped, 5 whole Large Fresh Tomatoes, Roughly Chopped, and more.

Yes, Italian Pasta Salad falls under the Pasta & Noodles category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Keep refrigerated in an airtight container and enjoy within 1–2 days for the best freshness. Best served cold — no reheating needed.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

Italian Pasta Salad

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions