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Gluten-Free Italian Pasta Salad

Gluten-free pasta salad with salami, mozzarella, and crisp vegetables tossed in Italian dressing. Chilled for at least 2 hours so every bite tastes evenly coated and satisfying.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 520

Ingredients
  

Gluten-free pasta (rotini or penne)
  • 1 lb Gluten-free pasta (rotini or penne)
Salami
  • 8 oz Salami
Mozzarella cheese
  • 8 oz Mozzarella cheese
Cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
Cucumber
  • 1 cup Cucumber
Black olives
  • 0.5 cup Black olives
Red onion
  • 0.5 cup Red onion
Gluten-free Italian dressing
  • 1 cup Gluten-free Italian dressing Use a gluten-free labeled dressing for celiac-friendly results.
Parmesan cheese
  • 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese
Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt
  • 0.25 tsp Salt Add to taste.
Black pepper
  • 0.25 tsp Black pepper Add to taste.

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then cook the gluten-free pasta according to package directions (it may take longer than regular pasta). Cook for the time range on the package until tender, then drain.
  2. Rinse the drained gluten-free pasta with cold water to stop the cooking and cool it quickly. Keep rinsing until the pasta is fully cooled and no longer warm.
Assemble the salad
  1. In a large bowl, combine the cooled gluten-free pasta, salami, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, black olives, and red onion. Toss just until everything is evenly distributed.
  2. Pour in the gluten-free Italian dressing, then add Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Toss until the pasta and vegetables are coated and glossy.
  3. Season with salt and black pepper. Toss again so seasoning is spread throughout.
Chill and finish
  1. Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 2 hours to let flavors meld. Chill for 2 hours total in the refrigerator.
  2. After chilling, toss the salad again and adjust dressing if needed. Rest it back in the refrigerator briefly if you want it extra cold before serving.

Notes

Pro tip: rinse the gluten-free pasta thoroughly with cold water to prevent sticking and to keep the salad from clumping after chilling. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days; freezing is not recommended because vegetables can soften. For an allergy-friendly swap, use gluten-free mozzarella and a gluten-free labeled Italian dressing (and check labels for cross-contact if needed).