Bow Tie Pasta Salad

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Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe is made with a homemade zesty Italian dressing and loaded with salami, mozzarella cheese, cucumbers, olives, red onion, and makes the perfect side dish, lunch and pasta dish for summer cookouts! It’s quick, easy to whip up, and can be made days ahead!

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Bow Tie Pasta Salad

Say hello to this easy, fresh, and customizable Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe! It’s quick to whip up and can be made days ahead. It’s served cold so it’s perfect for summer, BBQs, lunches (easy to meal prep), or dinner. Feel free to add your favorite flavors and add-ins. It’s totally customizable!

Loaded with creamy mozzarella cheese, shredded salami, fresh cucumbers, red onion and coated in the easiest homemade Italian vinaigrette dressing. It makes the perfect side dish for just about any BBQ or you can eat it as a meal.

I always have bow tie pasta in my pantry because my little girls love it refer to it as the “butterfly and hair bow” pasta. We make this all year round! If you love cooking with bow tie pasta, try my Lasagna Soup and Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake!

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key ingredients

• Bow tie pasta aka farfalle pasta: The star ingredient! The salad dressing coats the pasta shape well and evenly. You could also use rotini, fusilli, penne or any similar shape pasta noodles.
• Salami: You can use your favorite brand of salami or pepperoni. Add more if you want extra protein.
• Mozzarella balls: The mini mozzarella balls that are marinated with herbs and oil works so well for this recipe because we use the oil for the dressing that already is loaded with flavor. If you can’t find the marinated mozzarella balls you can cut fresh mozzarella into cubes or use fresh mozzarella pearls.
• Kalamata olives: Adds a bit of saltiness and brininess. Be sure to drain the olives. Leave them whole or slice them. Black olives could also be used instead.
• Parmesan cheese: The salty bursts of parmesan cheese shreds adds tons of flavor. You can also use grated parmesan cheese instead. I always recommend shredding or grating the the cheese your self to optimize the fresh flavors.
• Red onion: Be sure to dice them thin so they don’t overpower the pasta salad. You could also use a mild yellow onion.
• Cucumber: I used about 1 English cucumber but you could also use 3 mini cucumbers. This adds a lot of crunch!

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how to make bow tie pasta salad recipe

Cook and cool pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season with salt. Once the water starts to boil, add pasta and cook according to its package directions. Once pasta is cooked, drain and let cool in a large bowl.

Make salad dressing: In the meantime add all of the dressing ingredients to a bowl. Whisk together until well combined.

Combine all ingredients and stir together: Once the pasta has cooled, add the remaining pasta salad ingredients. Stir and then add the salad dressing. Toss from the bottom to get all of the dressing incorporated into the pasta salad. Top with more toppings (optional). Let sit in the refrigerator until ready to serve. It’s best when enjoyed cold but you can serve this right away as well. Enjoy!

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pro tips

• Always salt your water: Generously salt pasta water with about 1/2 – 1 tablespoon of salt in a large pot of boiling water. I usually add 1 tablespoon of salt for every pound of pasta I boil. This will add more flavor to the pasta.
• Make the night before: You can prep this pasta salad the night before if you want to save time! Just leave out the diced onions and cucumbers and add them in when ready to serve so they don’t get soggy.
• Let your pasta salad rest: Once you’ve made the pasta salad, let it sit in the fridge to get cold and for the flavors to sit in- for about an hour. This will help make the salad extra flavorful and perfectly chilled.
• Double the recipe: Since this pasta salad lasts well in the refrigerator, I always recommend doubling the recipe because it will go quickly and you could enjoy it for a snack, side dish or lunch.
• Add olive oil: After you rinse the cooked pasta in cold water, I always recommend adding a tablespoon of olive oil so the pasta doesn’t stick together.

what to serve with bow tie pasta salad

Serve this as a delicious side dish with Pizza Stuffed Bell Peppers, Sheet-pan Chicken and Veggies, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Italian Meatloaf, or Spicy Honey Shrimp. Summer time is a perfect time to make this because it’s cold, light, and the best part is it takes minutes to make.

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variations

• Gluten-free: Make this a gluten-free pasta dish by using gluten-free pasta.
• Add extra protein: Make this a main course by adding your favorite protein or top the pasta salad with grilled chicken breasts, salmon, or shrimp. I love doing this and making it one of my main courses!
• Add-ins: Corn, green onions, artichoke hearts, avocado, cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, fresh basil, white beans, pine nuts, canned green beans, spinach, and your favorite fresh herbs make great additions.
• Add spice: Mix in red pepper flakes, your favorite hot sauce, or extra black pepper.

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leftovers & storage

To-store: Leftover pasta salad is even better the next day because the flavors sit together making this even better tasting. Place leftovers in an airtight container or cover the dish with plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5-6 days.

To-freeze: Make the recipe as directed then place in an airtight container or heavy duty ziplock bag. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, refrigerator overnight or leave out on the counter for a few hours until softened.

*If the pasta salad seems dry after sitting in the fridge or after defrosting, drizzle a little olive oil and stir until combined.

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