Easy & Zesty Italian Summer Pasta Salad

This Italian summer pasta salad is loaded with feta cheese, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, crumbled bacon, and is tossed with a zesty Italian dressing. It’s the perfect side dish for a summer gathering or picnic. It comes together so easy. It’s light, refreshing, and great for leftovers.

This Summer Italian pasta salad isn’t just a salad it’s a total mood. It belongs at picnics, porches and dinner tables that stay alive long after the sun has gone down. Fresh ingredients, a big bowl, and a love for cooking is all that’s needed. Whether you’re whipping this salad up for a family gathering or for a beach day, it will never disappoint.

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Perfect Italian Pasta Salad for The Summer

I’m so ready for all the summer gatherings this year! Picnics, family time, and pool days. Summertime is the perfect excuse to have a picnic and I’m totally here for it. Now that I’m a mom picnics have been something I love and will be something I’m always up for even when my boys are older. We’ve been loving our picnics now that it’s warmer out and this summer pasta salad is the perfect thing to pack for them! It’s so easy and refreshing.

This pasta salad is so quick to make, and it’s made with homemade Italian dressing. This was my first time ever making any kind of homemade salad dressing and I’m obsessed with how it turned out. I’m really into making things homemade lately and it makes me so happy when things turn out the first time I try it. Plus, you come out with leftover dressing that you can use for another recipe if you’d like. You can always use store bought Italian dressing if you aren’t up to making it homemade as well. This salad will still be supper yummy!

I thought this would be the perfect summer recipe to share with the 4th of July coming up quick. (How is it already almost July) I think this would make a super easy last-minute dish to bring to your 4th of July events this year!

Summer Pasta Salad Ingredients

• Rainbow Pasta: Really you can use whatever pasta of your choice. Including gluten free! I wanted to use rainbow pasta to add some more color to the salad.
• Crumbled Bacon: The bacon adds some crunch to the salad but you could always swap it out for pepperoni or salami.
• Cucumber and Tomatoes: Tomatoes haven’t been my favorite but recently they’ve really been growing on me, and I’ve come to LOVE them. You could always add in sliced onions or even chopped zucchini.
• Crumbled Feta: You could use fresh mozzarella as well.
• Homemade Italian Dressing: You will always hear me say that homemade is the best, but you could always get store bought Italian dressing from the grocery store if you aren’t up for making it homemade.

How to Make Summer Pasta Salad

1. Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water so the pasta stops cooking, and let cool.
2. Prep the Ingredients: While the pasta is cooking chop the cucumbers, crumble the feta cheese, cut the baby tomatoes in half, and cook and crumble the bacon. Set everything aside until you’re ready to assemble.
3. Make the Dressing: In a jar combine the olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and ground bay leaves, and give the mixture a good whisk.
4. Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl combine the pasta, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, and crumbled bacon. Pour 1/2 cup of the dressing over the salad and give it a good toss to combine everything evenly.
5. Chill the Salad: Cover the salad and let chill for at least 30 minutes to allow all the flavors to blend together.
6. Serve: Before you serve the salad give it another good toss and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Why You’ll Love This Summer Pasta Salad Recipe

• Simple & Easy: This salad comes together easy and has minimal prepping time.
• Great for Summer: Perfect to make for any summer gathering or for a last-minute side dish for dinner. It’s great for warm weather, picnics, and family BBQs.
• Customizable: Use your choice of pasta (Gluten free as well), add in whatever veggies, cheeses, or meats you have already in your fridge.
• Great for Meal Prep: As a mom I know that we love easy lunch ideas. This salad will stay good for 3-5 days making it great for left over lunches for the week.

I love how pasta salad literally will adapt to whatever is in season. Or whatever is in the back of your fridge. LOL. Grilled zucchini, red bell peppers, juicy tomatoes, refreshing cucumbers. It’s the type of dish that allows you to be creative. Don’t be afraid to experiment and toss in some roasted corn or grilled shrimp. It adds a delicious contrast that feels effortless.

If we’re being honest here, there is just something about a chilled dish in the summer that just makes everything feel right. It cools you down on the inside and gets better the longer it soaks in the fridge. Plus, it makes for an easy lunch the next day!

I will be making this summer pasta salad on repeat all summer long. It’s going to make great leftovers for our picnics. I can’t wait to change up the ingredients next time I make it! I hope you enjoy!

Questions for you!

1. Do you like to have picnics with your family?
2. What’s your favorite dish to bring to make for the 4ht of July?
3. What other salad recipes would you like to see on my blog?