Best 4 Italian Confetti Pasta Salad Recipes

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Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with our Italian Confetti Pasta Salad, a vibrant and flavorful dish that will tantalize your taste buds. This refreshing salad combines the classic flavors of Italy with a unique twist, making it a perfect choice for summer gatherings, potlucks, or a light and satisfying meal. Discover a symphony of textures and colors as you bite into tender pasta, crisp vegetables, savory meats, and a tangy dressing that brings it all together. With variations including a classic Italian dressing, a creamy Caesar dressing, and a zesty lemon-herb dressing, this versatile salad offers something for every palate. Get ready to impress your friends and family with this show-stopping dish that's not only delicious but also visually stunning. So, grab your apron and let's embark on a culinary adventure to create this Italian masterpiece.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

ITALIAN PASTA SALAD RECIPE



Italian Pasta Salad Recipe image

This is one satisfying and flavor-packed cold pasta salad with crunchy veggies, fresh herbs, rustic old-world salami, tangy olives, and mozzarella. A zesty Italian dressing brings it all together.

Provided by Suzy Karadsheh

Categories     Salad

Number Of Ingredients 18

¾ lb pasta, ((I recommend fusilli or rotini pasta) )
Kosher salt
1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved)
1 bell pepper (any color, cored and chopped)
1 shallot (chopped)
1 cup marinated artichoke hearts (6 ounces)
1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives
6 pepperoncini, (chopped)
6 to 8 ounces salami, (sliced into bite size pieces )
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, (torn (or mozzarella cheese balls))
½ cup packed chopped fresh parsley
½ cup packed chopped fresh basil leaves
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, (minced)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and black pepper

Steps:

  • Cook the pasta in boiling water according to package instructions until the pasta is cooked to al dante (don't forget to salt your water). Drain
  • In a large bowl, mix the pasta with the tomatoes, chopped veggies, artichoke hearts, olives, pepperoncini, salami, mozzarella, and fresh herbs.
  • In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix the dressing ingredients together.
  • Pour the dressing over the pasta and toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 292.3 kcal, Carbohydrate 31.1 g, Protein 13.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Cholesterol 26.9 mg, Sodium 748.4 mg, Fiber 2.7 g, ServingSize 1 serving

SIMPLE PASTA SALAD



Simple Pasta Salad image

An easy, yet very yummy pasta salad. Almost any type of pasta may be used. Best if left to sit overnight.

Provided by Katzen

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (16 ounce) package uncooked rotini pasta
1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian salad dressing
2 cucumbers, chopped
6 tomatoes, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place pasta in the pot, cook for 8 to 12 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
  • In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the Italian dressing, cucumbers, tomatoes, and green onions. In a small bowl, mix the Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning, and gently mix into the salad. Cover, and refrigerate until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 288.6 calories, Carbohydrate 34.6 g, Cholesterol 8.3 mg, Fat 13.9 g, Fiber 4.2 g, Protein 10 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, Sodium 763.8 mg, Sugar 6.5 g

CONFETTI MACARONI SALAD



Confetti Macaroni Salad image

The bits of bright red and green in this easy macaroni salad remind me of fun confetti. The inspiration for the dish came from a recipe I found in a church cookbook when I was a young writer responsible for a newspaper's food section. -Renee Page, Rochelle, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 20m

Yield 16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 package (16 ounces) uncooked elbow macaroni
1-1/2 cups mayonnaise
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
1 jar (4 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
3/4 teaspoon poppy seeds

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water and drain well., In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Add macaroni and remaining ingredients; toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, 2 hours or until cold.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 243 calories, Fat 16g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 2mg cholesterol, Sodium 342mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

VEGAN PASTA CONFETTI SALAD



Vegan Pasta Confetti Salad image

Pasta salad with lentils, red peppers, green olives, and green onions. It is dressed with an olive oil-red wine vinaigrette dressing. This is a good recipe to use for a main dish when you are serving vegetarian guests. It is actually okay for vegans too!

Provided by Carol Harrison

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 35m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups whole wheat rotini pasta
2 cups water
⅔ cup lentils, picked over and rinsed
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dry mustard
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
½ cup sliced green olives with pimientos
6 green onions, sliced

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rotini in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain. Rinse with cool water and drain well.
  • In the meantime, bring 2 cups water and lentils to a boil in a medium pot. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until tender yet firm to the bite, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove lentils from the water using a slotted spoon.
  • Whisk olive oil, vinegar, oregano, salt, mustard, and pepper together for the dressing while pasta and lentils are cooking.
  • Mix the cooled pasta and lentils with red bell pepper, olives, and green onions. Whisk dressing again and pour over the salad. Mix gently with a large spoon.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 395.1 calories, Carbohydrate 43.5 g, Fat 20.9 g, Fiber 10.6 g, Protein 11.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.6 g, Sodium 363.6 mg, Sugar 1.6 g

Tips:

  • To save time, use store-bought rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken for this recipe.
  • If you don't have any fresh herbs on hand, you can use 1 teaspoon of dried oregano and 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil instead.
  • For a heartier salad, add 1 cup of cooked quinoa or rice.
  • If you're serving this salad for a crowd, double or triple the recipe.
  • Leftover pasta salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Conclusion:

This Italian Confetti Pasta Salad is a delicious and refreshing dish that is perfect for summer gatherings. It's easy to make, and it's always a crowd-pleaser. With its colorful ingredients and flavorful dressing, this salad is sure to brighten up any meal. You can adjust the ingredients to fit your own preferences, and you can even make it ahead of time for a quick and easy meal or snack. So next time you're looking for a light and flavorful salad, give this Italian Confetti Pasta Salad a try. You won't be disappointed!

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