Warm Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

4.67 from 9 votes

Warm Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

This Warm Italian Pasta Salad is loaded with fresh veggies, Parmesan cheese, and tender noodles tossed in a balsamic dressing for a satisfying comfort food you’ll love. Ready in minutes and budget-friendly, it’s perfect for potlucks, holiday parties, meal prep, and more!

Prep Time25

Cook Time12

Total Time37

Course: dinner, lunch, Side

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: easy lunch idea, easy side dish, Italian pasta salad, meal prep recipe, pasta salad, pasta salad recipe, vegetarian

Servings:

Ingredients

4 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
16 ounces cherry tomatoes halved
Juice of 1 lemon
1 medium shallot or red onion sliced
2 garlic cloves grated
1 teaspoon salt to taste
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup Kalamata olives
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese omit for dairy-free recipe
4 chopped pepperoncini or to taste
1/2 cup chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
1/2 cup fresh basil
1 pound dry farfalle pasta - 1/2 cup reserved pasta water

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Slice tomatoes down the center. In a large bowl, add the tomatoes, thinly sliced shallots, minced garlic, olive oil, balsamic, juice of lemon, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes or until the tomatoes have released their juice.
Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomato mixture, warm cooked pasta, olives, parsley, basil, pepperoncini, Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water. Toss to combine, ensuring the noodles are well coated with the oil and tomato juices. Add remaining pasta water, as needed. Serve warm, and enjoy!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Notes

For a cold version of this salad, prep the tomatoes and pasta and store them separately in the refrigerator. Store the pasta water in another container. When ready to eat, combine the tomatoes and pasta (and pasta water as needed), along with the remaining ingredients, in a large bowl and serve!

Nutrition