Italian Pasta Salad for 20
Perfect for feeding a crowd, this vibrant Italian Pasta Salad for 20 is a fresh and flavorful dish that’s as easy to make as it is to love! Bursting with colorful veggies like cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and sweet bell peppers, it's balanced by tender penne pasta, creamy mini mozzarella balls, and briny black olives. Tossed in a zesty Italian dressing and topped with freshly chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, this salad delivers a crowd-pleasing punch of Mediterranean flavors. With just 30 minutes of prep time and a make-ahead option, it’s ideal for potlucks, picnics, and family gatherings. Bring this chilled, satisfying dish to your next event and watch it disappear! Keywords: Italian pasta salad, pasta salad for a crowd, easy party side dish, Mediterranean-inspired salad.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Penne pasta
- 4 cups Cherry tomatoes
- 3 large Cucumber
- 3 large Bell peppers (assorted colors)
- 2 medium Red onion
- 2 cups Black olives (sliced)
- 3 cups Mozzarella balls (mini)
- 1 cup Fresh parsley
- 2.5 cups Italian dressing
- 1 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions (around 10 minutes) until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta. Set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, bell peppers, and red onion into small bite-sized pieces.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, red onion, sliced black olives, and mozzarella balls.
Finely chop the fresh parsley, and add it to the bowl.
Pour the Italian dressing over the pasta and veggies. Gently toss everything together until well coated.
Sprinkle the salad with grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Toss again to distribute the seasoning evenly.
Transfer the salad to a large serving dish, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld together.
Before serving, give the pasta salad one final toss, and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
340 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 17.7 g | 23% | |
| Saturated Fat | 6.3 g | 32% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 23 mg | 8% | |
| Sodium | 764 mg | 33% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 32.6 g | 12% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.3 g | 12% | |
| Total Sugars | 6.9 g | ||
| Protein | 13.3 g | 27% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 213 mg | 16% | |
| Iron | 1.9 mg | 11% | |
| Potassium | 322 mg | 7% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
