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This Italian Pasta Salad is an amazing replacement for a simple lunchtime Italian Sub. You will love this hearty lunch salad, and anyone seeing you eat this will be jealous!
Italian subs are my all-time favorite! I love everything about it from the pepperoni to the peppers. I tossed this together to take for a simple lunch for the pool. I ended up making it again and again.
I added a few of my favorite toppings from my favorite Italian sub but you could also add tomatoes, olives, or more of your favorite deli meat.
Don’t forget to comment and tell me how you made this recipe, I love hearing your ideas.
How to make Italian Pasta Salad:
This “pasta salad” is different than what you would normally expect in a traditional pasta salad. This is essentially an Italian Sub Sandwich turned into a Pasta Salad. Take your favorite meats from an Italian Sub and add some bowtie pasta, lettuce and other ingredients and toss in Italian Dressing. Chop and dice up your meats and cheese, and the only cooking needed is the cooking of the pasta.
Ingredient Notes:
- Farfalle pasta (bowtie)
- Romaine Lettuce
- Ham (deli, sliced)
- Salami (deli, sliced)
- Pepperoni (sliced)
- Red Onion (sliced)
- Banana Peppers (rings)
- White Cheddar Cheese (cubed)
- Italian Dressing
- Optional: (olives) we did not have olives for this recipe
Salad with Pasta
This pasta salad is a hearty and filling salad that will make everyone happy! An Italian sub minus the roll but as a salad has me drooling thinking about it!
Substitute the roll for your favorite pasta, and you have a tasty lunch people will be craving!
Directions:
Step one: Cook your Farfalle (also known as bow-tie pasta) according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Allow cooling.
Step Two: In a large mixing bowl toss together lettuce, ham, salami, pepperoni, red onion, banana peppers, and cubed white cheddar.
Step Three: Add cooked pasta and toss again. Pour in dressing and toss to coat. Serve and enjoy!
Can I use another pasta?
We love it best served with farfalle (bowtie) but of course, you can use any type of pasta you like. Penne or rotini would work great too!
Cooking Tip:
When serving you want your pasta to be cooled. Warm pasta could wilt your lettuce. I drain mine and leave it in the colander then run cold water over the pasta to cool quickly.
Can I make this Pasta Salad ahead of time?
Normally yes, you can make almost any pasta salad ahead of time. With this one, you still can get most of it done in advance.
Go ahead and cook your pasta. Mix the pasta, meat, and cheese up with the dressing. Store in the refrigerator.
When ready to serve prepare your lettuce and add to the salad. If you add the lettuce in advance they will get soggy and not hold up well.
More of my favorite Italian seasoned recipes:
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Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups farfalle
- 6 cups romaine lettuce, (diced)
- 2/3 cup deli sliced ham
- 2/3 cup deli sliced salami
- 2/3 cup pepperoni
- 1/2 cup red onion, (sliced)
- 1/4 cup banana peppers, (rings)
- 3/4 cup cubed white cheddar
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
Instructions
- Cook your Farfalle (also known as bow-tie pasta) according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Allow cooling.
- In a large mixing bowl toss together lettuce, ham, salami, pepperoni, red onion, banana peppers, and cubed white cheddar.
- Add cooled pasta and toss again. Pour in dressing and toss to coat. Serve and enjoy!
