If you’re on the hunt for the best Italian pasta salad recipe, look no further. This one’s zesty, colorful, and totally crowd-pleasing. It’s our go-to recipe when we want something quick, tasty, and perfect for sharing—whether at a campground potluck or just lunch under the awning.
We whipped this one up during our stay at Fancy Gap KOA and it was an instant favorite. Packed with flavor, loaded with veggies, and super easy to make—what’s not to love?
🌞 Why We Love This Recipe
Super easy to throw together
No cooking beyond boiling pasta
Totally customizable with what you have in your RV pantry
A hit with both adults and kids
🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s everything you’ll need to make the best Italian pasta salad:
12 oz bow tie pasta, cooked and cooled
1 cup pepperoncini, sliced
1 cup black olives, sliced
1 cup pepperoni slices, halved
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
1/2 orange bell pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1 roma tomato, chopped
1 to 1 1/2 cups Italian dressing, to taste
Bonus tip: Feel free to add cubed cheese, cucumbers, or even chickpeas to this recipe for an extra twist!
👩🍳 Directions
- Boil your pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking.
- While the pasta cools, dice your peppers and tomato, chop the onion, and slice the olives and pepperoncini.
- In a large bowl, mix the pasta with your chopped ingredients and pepperoni slices. Toss gently to combine.
- Now add the zing! Pour in the Italian dressing and stir until everything is well coated. Add more to taste if needed. We went with about 1/3 of the bottle on the photo.
- Let it rest in the fridge for at least an hour. The flavors get even better with time!
🫙 Storage Tips
This italian pasta salad stores beautifully for up to 4 days in the fridge. Just give it a good toss before digging in again. If you want to prepare this recipe ahead of time just leave the tomato out and add it to the pasta salad an hour before serving. The same goes for other ingredients you might add such as cubed cheese, feta cheese or cucumber.
🚐 Perfect for RV Life
Recipes for meals like this make RV living so much easier. Less mess, minimal cooking, and you can enjoy it cold—no need to fire up the stove again. This italian pasta salad is great for picnics, hikes, or relaxing under your awning with a chilled drink.
Let us know if you give it a try! Tag us on Instagram or drop a comment—what’s your favorite pasta salad twist?
Happy trails and happy eating,
– The Happy_5thWheelers Crew
Check out our other recipes: 5 Quick and Easy Meals for RVers