This gluten free pasta salad is made as a healthy side dish for any summer cookout or barbecue. You’ll love this recipe because it incorporates a couple of thinly sliced Italian meats; salami and pepperoni, which makes it filling, but still fresh and light.
Ingredients
The base of this recipe is a gluten free pasta. You can use any shape of pasta you prefer, but rotini is typically preferred for pasta salad. Rice, corn, or quinoa pasta will work.
Italian meats and cheeses are also used: genoa salami, pepperoni, pasta pearls, and a Parmesan cheese wedge. Fresh vegetables and herbs include grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and cilantro. Canned black olives and banana peppers are also mixed in.
Making the Homemade Italian Dressing
Making the Italian dressing is super simple, just whisk together all ingredients from the recipe below.
How to Make the Best Gluten Free Italian Pasta Salad
Gluten free pasta salad is perfected by making sure your pasta is al dente and a light and refreshing Italian salad dressing is used. Using fresh vegetables as well as fresh meats and cheeses also helps.
Cooking Gluten-Free Pasta Tips
- Make sure to stir your pasta often during cooking; preferably every 30 seconds for the first couple of minutes and every couple of minutes moving forward.
- Salt the water like you would regular pasta.
- Don’t overcook the pasta.
- Use a large pot and extra water. Gluten free pasta absorbs more water and can tend to create a lot of foam on top while cooking, so will be more likely to boil over than your regular pasta.
- Eat your gluten free pasta on day 1 for the best texture, but day 2 it will taste ok. This is a cold pasta salad and gluten free pasta does not keep its al dente texture long; especially not when it isn’t reheated.
Other Additions and Variations
This gluten free pasta salad is a favorite for those who love fresh-tasting Italian salads. However, if you’d like to change it up a bit:
Additional nutrition – add additional herbs and vegetables of choice.
Dairy free – the cheese can be removed as a dairy free option, and the salad will still be delicious.
Fresher – Feel free to cut up and use fresh banana peppers instead of canned.
Proteins – Diced chicken breast, soppressata, prosciutto, and pancetta can also be cooked (as needed) and added or substituted.
More Gluten-Free Side Dish & Cookout Recipes
Host the perfect cookout – no one will notice it’s gluten free with this delicious pasta salad, Watermelon Feta Basil Salad, Easy Gluten Free Pigs in a Blanket, Gluten Free Macaroni Salad, Gluten Free Fruit Pizza Cookies, and more!
FAQ
Yes you can, but its only an acceptable texture when its under a day old.
There’s not much you can do (especially when serving cold) other than eat it on the first day, or it reheat for longer than usual to serve hot.
About one day in the refrigerator.
You can make this in advance, but it’s not great unless its eaten in the first day. It can be stored in the refrigerator prior to serving.
Or the ingredients can be prepped and stored together then mixed with the pasta right before serving. This will give you a day or two extra, so you can make fresh pasta the day of serving it.
I hope you enjoy this more filling gluten free Italian pasta salad. Here’s to the perfect cookout and regaining our sparkle together,
✧❈✯✦Jenn✦✯❈✧
Gluten Free Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
(Pasta Salad)
- 1 package gluten free rotini pasta
- 4-5 ounces genoa salami , sliced into strips
- 4-5 ounces pepperoni , sliced into strips
- ½ cup mozzarella pearls
- 1 cup (about 8 oz) halved grape tomatoes
- ½ cup cucumbers , sliced and quartered
- ½ cup banana peppers
- ½ cup (about a 3.8 oz can) black olives
- 2 tablespoons minced cilantro
- Parmesan cheese wedge, to taste, grated on top
(Italian Dressing)
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- Dash of black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta per package directions. Allow to cool.
- Mix in all remaining salad ingredients (except Parmesan cheese).
- Whisk together all Italian Dressing ingredients. Pour over top pasta salad prior to serving. Grate Parmesan cheese on top.
Delicious summer salad. The dressing was so fresh and easy to make and tasted way better than the store-bought packages.
Thank you! Homemade is the best 🙂
My wife made this for me and it was excellent.
Thank you (and to your wife for making this for you to try!).