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!

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!

1. Boil the gluten-free rotini according to package directions, minus about 2 minutes to keep the noodles from getting mushy.
2. In the meantime, chop ALL the vegetables and toss them into a bowl.
3. Drain and rinse the pasta to stop the cooking process and quickly cool the noodles down, before adding them to the chopped veggies.
4. Measure out the Italian dressing ingredients, pour and sprinkle them into the bowl, and give everything a really good toss to coat and combine.
5. 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

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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
• Simple Summer Corn Macaroni Salad
• Classic American Macaroni Salad
• Buffalo Pasta Salad
• Easy Mexican Pasta Salad
• Modern Macaroni Salad

So tell me:

+ What is your favorite type of pasta salad?

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