Olive Garden Pasta Salad

This Olive Garden Pasta Salad is a vibrant and delicious combination of crisp vegetables, tender pasta, and zesty Italian dressing that makes it a standout dish for any occasion. Whether you’re serving it as a side dish for a backyard barbecue or making it the star of a light summer dinner, this pasta salad delivers both in flavor and visual appeal. The colors from the fresh cucumbers, bell peppers, and tomatoes pop against the corkscrew pasta, while the tangy dressing ties everything together beautifully.

What makes this salad so special is its versatility. It’s easy to customize with your favorite vegetables or switch up the dressing to suit your taste. The Italian-inspired flavors, especially with the addition of pepperoncini and Parmesan, give it that restaurant-style appeal that feels familiar and comforting. Best of all, it’s a make-ahead dream—perfect for prepping ahead of time and pulling out when guests arrive or when you’re craving a quick and satisfying lunch.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 12 oz rotini pasta

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

• 1 cup sliced black olives

• 1 cup sliced cucumbers

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers

• 1/2 cup shredded carrots

• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

• 1/2 cup chopped yellow bell pepper

• 1 1/2 cups Olive Garden Italian dressing (or homemade Italian dressing)

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• Fresh parsley for garnish

Directions:

1. Cook rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.

2. Transfer the cooked pasta to a large mixing bowl.

3. Add cherry tomatoes, red onion, black olives, cucumbers, Parmesan cheese, pepperoncini, carrots, and bell peppers.

4. Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.

5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving for best flavor.

7. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes
Kcal: 310 kcal | Servings: 6 servings

The Olive Garden Pasta Salad is more than just a side dish—it’s a vibrant, flavorful experience inspired by one of America’s most beloved Italian-American restaurant chains. Packed with colorful vegetables, corkscrew rotini pasta, and tossed in a zesty Italian dressing, this dish brings together the perfect balance of texture, taste, and visual appeal. It’s one of those recipes that feels like a treat every time you serve it, whether it’s at a family dinner, a potluck, or a summer cookout.

A Taste of Olive Garden at Home

For many, Olive Garden is a go-to restaurant for hearty, comforting Italian-inspired meals. This pasta salad captures the essence of their flavors—especially the tangy, herb-packed signature Italian dressing. The beauty of making it at home is that you can enjoy the same great taste with fresh ingredients and your personal tweaks. It’s also a more affordable and customizable way to enjoy a restaurant-style dish without leaving your kitchen.

What sets this salad apart is its incredible blend of textures: crisp cucumbers, crunchy bell peppers, juicy cherry tomatoes, and the mild briny kick from olives and pepperoncini. Every bite is refreshing, thanks to the chilled pasta and the bold dressing that seeps into the rotini’s spiral grooves. If you’re someone who enjoys variety and color in your meals, this dish will quickly become a staple in your repertoire.

Why This Pasta Salad Stands Out

This isn’t just another pasta salad—there are several reasons why it stands out as one of the best:

1. Burst of Flavor: The use of Olive Garden’s Italian dressing (or a well-made homemade version) gives the salad its tangy, herby punch. The dressing coats each piece of pasta and vegetable evenly, ensuring you get a burst of flavor with every bite.
2. Versatile Ingredients: The beauty of this salad is how adaptable it is. While the core vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers are delicious, you can swap in what you have on hand—artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, or even cubes of mozzarella can work beautifully.
3. Perfect for All Occasions: This salad can serve as a side or the main event. It’s ideal for picnics, barbecues, potlucks, or make-ahead lunches. It holds up well in the fridge, making it a great meal prep option.
4. Colorful & Eye-Catching: We eat with our eyes first, and this dish delivers on presentation. The mix of red, green, yellow, and black from the vegetables and olives makes the salad vibrant and appealing.
5. Great for All Diets: The recipe is naturally vegetarian and can easily be made gluten-free by substituting the pasta. It’s also egg-free and nut-free, which makes it suitable for many dietary needs.
6. Quick and Easy: With just a few minutes of chopping and a quick boil for the pasta, you’ll have a dish that looks impressive but requires minimal effort.

Nutritional and Health Benefits

Despite its rich flavors, this pasta salad is a light and wholesome dish. The bulk of the ingredients are vegetables—cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots—which are all packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. This helps support digestion, hydration, and overall cellular health.

Using a store-bought or homemade Italian dressing that includes olive oil adds healthy fats and helps your body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins from the vegetables. The rotini pasta provides satisfying carbohydrates for energy, and you can boost the protein content by adding chickpeas, grilled chicken, or even cubed cheese.

Another benefit is that it’s a cold dish, which makes it especially refreshing during warmer months. Unlike heavy casseroles or creamy pasta dishes, this salad leaves you feeling satisfied but not weighed down.

Make It Your Own

One of the best things about the Olive Garden Pasta Salad is how customizable it is. Here are a few easy ways to personalize it:

• Add Protein: Grilled chicken, tuna, salami slices, or chickpeas make it more filling and balanced.
• Switch the Pasta: While rotini is ideal for holding the dressing, you can use penne, farfalle, or even tortellini for added indulgence.
• Change the Dressing: Try a balsamic vinaigrette or a creamy Caesar dressing for a twist.
• Add Cheese: Crumbled feta, mini mozzarella balls, or shaved Parmesan add extra flavor and creaminess.
• Make it Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes or hot banana peppers for a bit of heat.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

This salad stores exceptionally well. In fact, it tastes better after a few hours as the dressing has more time to soak into the pasta and vegetables. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. If the pasta absorbs too much of the dressing, just add a splash more before serving.

If you’re preparing it for a gathering, you can make it the night before. Just wait until shortly before serving to add fresh herbs or any cheese so they stay vibrant and fresh.

Serving Suggestions

This pasta salad pairs well with grilled meats like chicken, steak, or seafood. It also works beautifully as a companion to sandwiches, wraps, or soups. During hot weather, it’s a cool and refreshing main course, especially if you add extra protein.

You can also serve it buffet-style during parties or picnics. Set out a large bowl of the pasta salad and offer toppings like extra Parmesan, croutons, or chopped nuts so guests can customize their servings.

Conclusion

The Olive Garden Pasta Salad brings the best of casual Italian dining into your home. It’s a dish that’s bright, bold, and bursting with flavor—yet simple and accessible enough to make on a weeknight. Whether you’re serving it to guests, feeding your family, or prepping lunches for the week, this pasta salad never fails to please.

Its colorful presentation, customizable ingredients, and crave-worthy dressing make it one of the best pasta salads you’ll ever make. So the next time you need a crowd-pleasing dish, turn to this zesty, veggie-packed recipe that proves pasta salad can be so much more than just a side—it can be the star of the table.

Let your creativity shine, and enjoy every forkful of this refreshingly delicious Olive Garden Pasta Salad!