Italian Combo Pasta Salad is the perfect summer side dish made with all the delicious flavors of your favorite sandwich combined with bowtie pasta in a creamy mayonnaise based dressing.

From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito

This Italian combo pasta salad is a delicious, easy to make side dish that everyone is sure to love. Summer is right around the corner and so are all those awesome summer BBQ’s and get togethers. Good thing I've got just the dish for you to bring to the party. We love pasta salad around here and I’m always looking for new and exciting ways to serve it. This recipe hit the spot.

Make this as a side dish for sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers and just about anything you can toss on the grill. It goes with it all. Bring this to your next cook out and watch it become the star of the show!

Ingredients

Here is everything you'll need to make this delicious pasta salad. You can find the full ingredients list along with measurements and instructions on the recipe card below.

Bow Tie Pasta- The hearty base of the salad that keeps it filing and satisfying
Salami-Adds the perfect amount of salty, meaty falvor just like the classic sandwich.
Pepperoni- Brings just the right amount of subtle heat.
Ham- Adds saltiness and brings the classic Italian combo falvors.
Red Onion- Just a little adds the right amount of crunch.
Mozzarella Pearls- Adds creaminess and cuts through the salty deli meats.
Sliced Banana Peppers- The perfect amount of acidity and mild heat.
Olive Oil- Smooths the dressing together perfectly.
Parmesan Cheese- Adds a rich, salty sharpness.
Mayonnaise- The creamy base of the dressing.
Red Wine Vinegar- Adds just the right amount of acidity to cut through the creamy dressing.
Salt and Pepper- Enhances the flavors of all the other ingredients
Italian Seasoning- Adds lots of classic Italian herbs and seasonings.
Red Pepper Flakes- Brings a well rounded heat.
Garlic Powder- Adds a mild garlicy falvor to the whole pasta salad.
Onion Powder- Brings an earthy flavor thought the dish.

How To Make It

Heres how to make this amazing side salad. You can find the full ingredients list along with insrtuctions on the recipe card below.

First, in a large bowl, add the cooked pasta, chopped salami, ham, pepperoni, mozzarella pearls, red onion and banana peppers. Drizzle the top with olive oil and toss everything together. Grate the fresh Parmesan cheese on top, season it with black pepper and Italian seasoning and stir it into the pasta.

PRO TIP: Try to chop all the ingredients into small, uniform pieces. This way you get a little of everything in each bite.

Now, in a separate bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper. Pour the dressing over the past and stir it into the pasta until it’s evenly coated. Add fresh parsley for garnish (optional) and enjoy.

PRO TIP: If you're not serving this salad immediately, you may want to make a little more dressing to stir in later if the pasta absorbs some and it gets too dry.

What Can I Serve This With?

Pasta salads are great because they can be served with so many things. It would be the perfect compliment to any BBQ favorite like hot dogs, hamburgers or chicken. Its also a wonderful side dish to a lunch sandwich.

Can I Add Anything Extra To This?

Yes, you absolutely can. Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and olives would all be great to add for extra texture and flavor.

Storage

Place the pasta salad in a food safe air tight container and it will last in the fridge for up to three days. The pasta may absorb some of the dressing, so feel free to stir in a little extra to keep it from tasting dry.