Description
This Gluten-free Italian Pasta Salad is a colorful, flavorful dish perfect for warm-weather meals or potlucks. Featuring Banza gluten-free pasta, fresh vegetables, classic Italian meats, olives, and a zesty homemade Italian dressing, this salad is both satisfying and allergy-friendly. It’s easy to prepare and holds up well in the fridge, making it great for make-ahead lunches or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces gluten-free pasta (we love Banza pasta, cooked and cooled)
Vegetables and Herbs
- 2 large roma tomatoes, finely diced (about 1 cup diced) or 6 oz cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium cucumber, finely chopped (about 1 1/2 – 2 cups)
- 1 medium green bell pepper, stem and seeds removed and finely chopped (about 1 cup)
- 0.5 ounces fresh basil, finely chopped (about 8–10 leaves)
- 2.25 ounces black sliced olives
- 1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped or thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup jarred sliced peperoncini, chopped
Meats
- 1/2 pound pepperoni, finely chopped
- 1/2 pound deli ham, finely chopped
Dressing
- 1/2 cup+ Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade—refer to recipe notes)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the gluten-free pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- Prepare Vegetables and Meats: While the pasta cooks, finely dice or chop the roma tomatoes, cucumber, green bell pepper, fresh basil leaves, black olives, red onion, and peperoncini. Finely chop the pepperoni and deli ham. Combine all these ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Make or Prepare Dressing: If using a homemade Italian dressing, prepare it now (ingredients may include olive oil, vinegar, herbs, and spices). Otherwise, have your store-bought Italian dressing ready.
- Combine Salad: Once the pasta is fully cooked and cooled, add it to the large bowl with chopped vegetables and meats. Pour in the Italian dressing and stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly. Taste and add more dressing if needed.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the pasta salad until cold before serving. This pasta salad stores well for up to one week in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep or entertaining.
Notes
- Use gluten-free pasta such as Banza to keep this recipe entirely gluten-free.
- For the meats, you can substitute with your favorite Italian-style deli meats or omit for a vegetarian version.
- The homemade Italian dressing can be customized with extra garlic, herbs, or lemon juice for added flavor.
- Chopping vegetables small helps the salad stay well-mixed and flavorful in every bite.
- This pasta salad is best served cold and can be made a day ahead to allow flavors to meld.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: gluten-free pasta salad, Italian pasta salad, gluten-free Italian salad, Banza pasta salad, easy gluten-free salad, Italian deli meat salad
