Overnight Pasta Salad (the BEST Pasta Salad EVER)

Absolutely THE BEST pasta salad recipe made by mixing hot, cooked pasta with prepared Italian dressing AND dry Italian dressing seasoning mix to marinate overnight.

JUMP TO RECIPE

It may look the same, and the ingredients may be similar, but this IS NOT like the pasta salad you’re used to eating.

This is a gozillion times better than the traditional stuff because of the way it’s prepared.

Just trust me on this one, you need to try this recipe.

Two things will happen when you try pasta salad made this way:

You’ll never make it the old way again.

ERRYBODY will ask you for the recipe.

Are you thinking, Really Mandy, what could possssibly be so special about pasta salad??

Well, lemme tell ya!!

There are actually two things that make this pasta salad so good…

Reason #1 - Once you drain the hot, cooked pasta, you mix the dressing in immediately. The hot pasta soaks up the dressing and marinates in it overnight.

Reason #2 – We use both prepared Italian dressing AND a packet of dry Italian dressing mix which makes the pasta perfectly seasoned and packed with flavor.

I add the veggies I like in this recipe but feel free to add or omit per your preference. This recipe has:

• English cucumbers
• Grape tomatoes
• Red onions
• Black olives
• Sun-dried tomatoes

Some other add-ins to consider could be:

• Pepperoncini peppers
• Mozzarella pearls
• Bell peppers (any color)
• Green olives
• Pepperoni 
• Artichoke hearts
• Edamame
• Green onions

NOTES ON MAKING OVERNIGHT PASTA SALAD

• Use a ridged, tubular pasta if possible. My favorites are pipette (pictured here), cellentani, ridged elbows and mini penne.
• If you don't have time to prepare the pasta the day before, make at least 8 hours before serving.
• Use whichever fresh veggies you like best in pasta salad (these are just my favs). See above for suggestions of other add-ins.
• You don’t need to wait until the exact minute you’re about to serve this to add the fresh veggies – I just don’t recommend letting them sit in the dressing overnight or mixing them with warm pasta.
• Any quality “oil & vinegar” type Italian dressing works. I always use Kraft’s Zesty Italian or Olive Garden’s Signature Italian. If I had to pick one, I’d say I like it with the OG dressing best.
• I use Good Seasons dry Italian dressing mix.
• Don’t skip the sun-dried tomatoes! They are insanely flavorful AND they provide a chewy texture which is excellent with the soft pasta and crisp veggies.

Recipe for Overnight Pasta Salad (the BEST Pasta Salad EVER)

Overnight Pasta Salad (the BEST Pasta Salad EVER)

Yield: 14-16 Servings

Author: Mandy Rivers | South Your Mouth

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 10 MinInactive time: 24 HourTotal time: 24 H & 25 M

Absolutely THE BEST pasta salad recipe made by mixing hot, cooked pasta with prepared Italian dressing AND dry Italian dressing seasoning mix to marinate overnight.

Ingredients

• 1 lb pasta (see notes)
• 2 cups Italian dressing
• 1 packet dry Italian dressing mix
• 1 8-oz bottle sun-dried tomatoes
• 1 can pitted black olives, drained
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, diced
• 1 English cucumber, diced
• 1 red onion, diced

Instructions

1. Cook pasta in liberally salted water per manufacturer’s instructions for al dente preparation. Drain noodles well (do not rinse) then add to a large mixing bowl.
2. While noodles are still warm, stir in Italian dressing and dry Italian dressing mix.
3. Drain oil then chop sun-dried tomatoes. Stir tomatoes into pasta, cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. When ready to serve, add remaining ingredients then mix well. Cover and refrigerate to store.

Notes

• Use a ridged, tubular pasta if possible. My favorites are pipette (pictured here), cellentani, ridged elbows and mini penne.
• If you don't have time to prepare the pasta the day before, make at least 8 hours before serving.
• Use whichever fresh veggies you like best in pasta salad (these are just my favs). See article above for suggestions of other add-ins.
• You don’t need to wait until the exact minute you’re about to serve this to add the fresh veggies – I just don’t recommend letting them sit in the dressing overnight or mixing them with warm pasta.
• Any quality “oil & vinegar” type Italian dressing works. I always use Kraft’s Zesty Italian or Olive Garden’s Signature Italian. If I had to pick one, I’d say I like it with the OG dressing best.
• I use Good Seasons dry Italian dressing mix.
• Don’t skip the sun-dried tomatoes! They are insanely flavorful AND they provide a chewy texture which is excellent with the soft pasta and crisp veggies.

https://www.southyourmouth.com/2022/11/overnight-pasta-salad-best-pasta-salad.html

Images and text © South Your Mouth 2022

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