Pasta salad is a staple for summer picnics and parties. And no wonder, because it is so delicious and versatile!

There are dozens of different ways to make pasta salad, but if you want to keep things simple while still enjoying plenty of flavor, you can’t beat this classic pasta salad recipe.

5-Ingredient Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing makes a quick and easy side dish for almost any kind of meal. Alternatively, it could be served as a main dish since it is loaded with cheddar cheese and pepperoni.

What you’ll need to make 5-Ingredient Pasta Salad

Basic ingredients for classic pasta salad:

Tri-color rotini
Cheddar cheese
Pepperoni
Parmesan cheese
Italian dressing

Optional ingredients that may be added:

Black olives
Halved grape tomatoes
Sliced cucumber
Diced onion
Diced green pepper

Can you make pasta salad the night before?

Yes, you can! There are several simple methods for making pasta salad ahead of time.

Method #1

Assemble the entire pasta salad, but reserve about 1/4 of the Italian dressing (or have a little extra handy). Just before serving, pour the remaining dressing over the refrigerated ingredients and stir to get everything nicely coated.

Method #2

Prep all the ingredients and refrigerate them in sealed containers or zipper bags until you’re ready to make the pasta salad. Because everything is already cold from being in the refrigerator, you can quickly combine all the ingredients and serve the pasta salad immediately.

How long does pasta salad last?

Pasta salad with Italian dressing (or any pasta salad WITHOUT mayonnaise) can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.

If your pasta soaks up too much dressing while it sets in the frig, it may become a bit dry. If this happens, just add a little more Italian dressing to the pasta salad. Presto, delicious again!