A Classic Italian Pasta Salad that's gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! The cold pasta salad you love, with tri-colored pasta, fresh veggies, and a healthy homemade Italian dressing! A super easy and quick meat-free vegetarian and dairy-free recipe that's a perfect side dish to feed any crowd!
Literally, can we just take a moment to recognize the pure and utter deliciousness of Italian pasta salads? I've never met a soul who doesn't like a scoop of those cold tri-colored rotini noodles, bright, fresh, crunchy veggies, and that herby vinegary Italian dressing. I understand why some people don't like a classic American macaroni salad, but the mayoless pasta salad? You just can't say no! All pasta salads SCREAM summer and one that's so full of bright colors, it takes the top spot! And with this recipe, everyone can enjoy! It's gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free, so bring it on!
Ingredients for a Vegan Italian Pasta Salad
As with this summer veggie pasta salad, all cold pasta salads I've ever had growing up have been meat-free, but I guess some families make them with meats such as pepperoni and even include dairy like mozzarella. Not here! This one is all about the gluten-free pasta, veggies, and homemade Italian dressing!
- Gluten-Free Tri-Color Rotini (you can use plain gluten-free rotini too)
- English Cucumber
- Bell Peppers (1 red, 1 orange, 1 yellow)
- Red Onion
- Grape Tomatoes
- Black Olives
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Dried Oregano, Basil, and Parsley
- Salt & Black Pepper
This recipe serves a CROWD. Since it is no meat or dairy, it will last longer than other cold pasta salads. You can store it in the fridge for a week, making it a perfect side dish or even entree to meal prep! This way, if you don't have a crowd to feed all in one go, you can enjoy this gluten-free pasta salad as you need!
How to Make the Pasta Salad from Scratch
This is SUCH an easy recipe and so quick to make! It's just chopping up fresh veggies, boiling some gluten-free pasta, and tossing everything together in one BIG bowl!
- Boil the gluten-free rotini according to package directions, minus about 2 minutes to keep the noodles from getting mushy.
- In the meantime, chop ALL the vegetables and toss them into a bowl.
- Drain and rinse the pasta to stop the cooking process and quickly cool the noodles down, before adding them to the chopped veggies.
- Measure out the Italian dressing ingredients, pour and sprinkle them into the bowl, and give everything a really good toss to coat and combine.
- Let the pasta salad marinate and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. Preferably let the cold pasta salad sit in the fridge overnight and serve it the next day for optimal deliciousness.
Making the Homemade Italian Dressing
There's no need to dirty an extra bowl for this. Just measure out the olive oil, vinegar, and herbs and add them right into the pasta salad bowl. You can season to taste here with the herbs and spices you have on hand. Besides the parsley, oregano, and basil, some other flavors you can include:
- Dried Rosemary
- Dried Marjoram
- Dried Thyme
- Ground Sage
- Minced Garlic
- A squirt of Lemon Juice
The Best Way to Store and Serve Gluten-Free Italian Pasta Salad
- Store the finished pasta salad in a covered bowl or container in the fridge for up to one week.
- Let the pasta salad sit and chill for a minimum of 30 minutes in the fridge before serving. Ideally, let it sit overnight to really marinate!
- Toss the pasta salad before serving to distribute all the dressing and flavors again. Serve it cold or bring it room temperature for optimal flavor.
- Don't leave leftovers out of the fridge any more than an hour or 2 to prevent spoilage.
A Healthy Summer Side Dish for any BBQ or Cookout
This easy pasta salad is a staple during the summer months, but if you ask me, it should be a staple year-round! Pasta, veggies, tons of flavor with no-fuss? It's perfect not only as a dinner side dish, but makes a killer lunch that doesn't need to be reheated! Meal prepping win! Adult and kid-friendly, you can please everyone since it's...
- Gluten-Free
- Vegan and Vegetarian
- Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Corn-Free, Coconut-Free)
- Sugar-Free
- Make-Ahead & Meal Prep-Friendly
Classic Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Cold Italian Pasta Salad (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Allergy-Free)
A Classic Italian Pasta Salad that's gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! The cold pasta salad you love, with tri-colored pasta, fresh veggies, and a healthy homemade Italian dressing! A super easy and quick meat-free vegetarian and dairy-free recipe that's a perfect side dish to feed any crowd!
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 10 Minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 Servings 1x
- Category: Side
- Method: Boil
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 12 oz Gluten-Free Tri-Color Rotini*
- 2 Cups Chopped English Cucumber (1 large cucumber)
- 2 Cups Chopped Red Bell Pepper (1 medium pepper)
- 2 Cups Chopped Orange Bell Pepper (1 medium pepper)
- 2 Cups Chopped Yellow Bell Pepper (1 medium pepper)
- 2 Cups Halved Grape Tomatoes (1 pint)
- 1 Cup Chopped Red Onion (about ½ medium onion)
- 1 Cup Sliced Black Olives (1 3.8 oz can)
Italian Dressing:
- ½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ½ Cup Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 TB Dried Parsley
- 1 TB Dried Oregano
- 2 Tsp Dried Basil
- ½ Tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
- Boil the gluten-free rotini according to package directions, minus about 2 minutes to keep the noodles from getting mushy.
- In the meantime, chop the bell peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and toss them into a large bowl with the sliced black olives.
- Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process before adding them to the chopped veggies.
- Measure and add the olive oil, vinegar, and seasonings to the pasta salad bowl.
- Gently mix and toss everything together in the bowl to combine.
- Let the pasta salad marinate and chill in the fridge, for at least 30 minutes (preferably overnight), before serving.
- Enjoy cool, at room temperature.
Notes
*If you can't get the tri-colored rotini, you can use a plain gluten-free rotini.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Varies
Keywords: pasta, pasta salad, cold pasta salad, classic pasta salad, gluten-free pasta salad, vegan pasta salad, easy pasta salad, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, allergy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, nut-free, peanut-free, coconut-free, corn-free, sesame-free, sugar-free, kid-friendly, make-ahead
Literally, I could eat this cold Italian pasta salad EVERY day! It's a staple and a classic for a reason! So, who else is going to be cooking up a batch of this gluten-free pasta salad every week this summer?
More Gluten-Free Pasta Salad Recipes:
- Summer Veggie Pasta Salad
- Asian Pasta Salad
- Simple Summer Corn Macaroni Salad
- Classic American Macaroni Salad
- Buffalo Pasta Salad
- Easy Mexican Pasta Salad
- Orzo Pasta Salad
So tell me:
+ What is your favorite type of pasta salad?
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Harry
Wow, this is the best! Just like I remember growing up with at cookouts!
★★★★★
Rebecca Pytell
That's what I like to hear!
Megan B.
Fantastic! My toddler and I are enjoying it now. Will make again! Xoxo, Megan and Mari
Jodi Graham
What a refreshing looking salad - my mouth is watering now for cool pasta salads in this warm summer weather!! ♥
Rebecca Pytell
Great, enjoy.
Kim
Added 1/2 balsamic vinegar with red wine vinegar, added 1/2 t salt.
So tasty!
★★★★★
Rebecca Pytell
Glad to hear it!
Alyse Stults
I made a similar recipe and my gluten free rice pasta noodles got hard. Do you know what I did wrong?
★★★★★
Rebecca Pytell
I guess you chose the wrong brand and didn't cook them properly. If you don't have celiac disease, feel free to use any old tri-color pasta, of course.
Sarah
I am a pasta salad lover as well and this one looks great! Love that it's vegetarian friendly. I'm excited to try this dressing recipie too, sounds yummy!
Chantal
Great salad! But why doesn’t the recipe call for salt? In my opinion, it needs some.
★★★★★
Rebecca Pytell
Go ahead! If that's your vibe, nothing is stopping you but yourself!
Helen
Loved this! Tastes just like a traditional Italian pasta salad should taste like!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So glad to hear you liked it!
Theresa
I love Italian pasta salads! They are always a staple for our at-home bbqs!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are always a must during the summer!
Angela
Yummy, I love having pasta salad in the summer with my veggie burgers. I'll have to make this for my next BBQ or for the 4th of July. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I can't wait to try it.
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? It's always the perfect cookout side dish!
Roseann Hampton
Looks like a great meal for a hot evening!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sure, you could make it a meal!
Gidge
I going to have to try this recipe!! I love cold pasta salad, perfect for hot summer days.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Mmhm, it's a total summer essential!
Kate
I love a cold pasta salad. They are delicious and versatile. Yours is so vibrant and colourful too
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
bethan taylor-swaine
This looks really delicious! I'm always on the hunt for new salads to try, especially as I've had to cut a lot of foods out of my diet recently. Will be adding this to the roster!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's perfect for a quick lunch you can meal prep!
Kat
Saved this to my Pinterest. Definitely going to make for my next BBQ or picnic. sounds delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It will be a hit! Hope you enjoy!
Andrea
Forwarding this to myself - I’m a big pasta salad lover!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Always so good! Hope you whip some up soon!
blanca
It's like you were in my mind and stomach today. I was craving just this thing. It sounds so tasty and pretty much anyone can eat it (perfect party food). Gonna go make myself a batch right now 🙂
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It makes so much! Great for a crowd or just to have in the fridge to grab for lunch all week!
Brooke R
This looks fantastic!! I can’t wait to try it this weekend!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Let me know if you make it, what you think!
Kate
This look absolutely delicious - I can’t wait to try!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
A summer essential (year-round, haha!)