Easy Italian Pasta Salad [+ Video]

This easy Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing dish perfect for summer picnics or potlucks. Packed with fresh vegetables, cheese, pepperoni and dressed with a zesty homemade Italian dressing, this salad is sure to be a hit. Plus, check out the recipe video for step-by-step instructions!

Have you made our Greek Pasta Salad? It’s really good and one of the most popular recipes on our site. Here’s the thing though, not everyone is a fan of feta cheese, so we felt like we had no choice but to bust out an amazingly easy pasta salad recipe complete with mozzarella cheese, fresh and flavorful homemade Italian dressing, and meat and colorful vegetables galore.

There’s something about pasta salad recipes and summertime that just make the world happy. I get almost giddy the closer we get to summer just thinking about dusting off the BBQ and pulling out the lawn chairs for outdoor cookouts with friends. Make some grilled chicken and grilled corn on the cob with this pasta salad with Italian dressing, and you have yourself the perfect summer dinner!

What’s in Italian Pasta Salad?

I’ll be honest with you — our kids totally pick out some of the ingredients in this homemade pasta salad. Two of our kids love straight up cold pepperoni. So Cade and I are left to eat whatever’s leftover from this pasta salad with pepperoni. The joys of parenthood!

To make this pasta salad recipe, you’ll need:

• Rotini Pasta: Any short, sturdy pasta works great like penne, farfalle, fusilli, macaroni, etc.
• Pepperoni
• Salami
• Black Olives
• Mozzarella Cheese: Fresh mozzarella balls are preferred.
• Parmesan Cheese: freshly grated
• Bell Pepper: I prefer a red, yellow or orange bell pepper.
• Tomatoes: Grape or cherry tomatoes work great.
• Red Onion
• Italian Salad Dressing: You can grab some at the grocery store or make it at home with the recipe we’ve included below.

The measurements needed for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Italian Pasta Salad

Don’t let all the mix-ins fool you, this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni is as easy as it gets! It’s just a matter of cooking the pasta, choppi

Easy Sizzling Italian Spaghetti Aglio e Olio [+Video]

This simple and delicious Italian dish is perfect for a quick weeknight meal. Learn how to make spaghetti aglio e olio with just a few ingredients and enjoy a flavorful sizzle in every bite.

This recipe was born because our sizzling Italian dipping oil for bread was going crazy on Instagram so I thought…I bet if I tossed this herbaceous oil with some pasta that it would be outrageous! And boy was I right! The whole family gobbled this up and now we are having it on the reg. I hope you love it as much as we do!

Oh and did I mention that it’s so quick and easy?! Dinner on the table in 20 minutes! I know all you busy parents will love that!

What is Aglio e Olio?

Directly translated from Italian, “spaghetti aglio e olio” means “spaghetti with garlic and oil.” It’s a classic Italian pasta dish where spaghetti is tossed with a hot garlic and oil sauce. I’ve also seen it called “midnight spaghetti” because it’s so quick and easy to make and can be thrown together for a late night snack. If this is how midnight snacks go in Italy, count me in!

Ingredients for Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this spaghetti recipe, so head to the fresh herbs section of your produce section and you are just a few more ingredients away from a simple pasta dinner:

• Olive Oil: helps cook the garlic and acts as the sauce for the pasta
• Garlic: be sure to use fresh garlic
• Fresh Herbs: Parsley, Oregano (or Marjoram), Rosemary and Basil
• Red Pepper Flakes: adds flavor and a little heat
• Kosher Salt: adds flavor
• Balsamic Vinegar: adds acidity and a little sweetness
• Fresh Spaghetti: buy it at the store or make your own
• Parmesan: Pasta is always better with parm!

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Two Ways to Make Spaghetti with Garlic and Olive Oil

There are two ways you can make the hot sizzling oil spaghetti and it all depends on how you want the garlic…the “aglio” in our aglio olio! Both versions only take 20 minutes to get on the table! I’ll walk you through each method. Before you start, make sure you get some water heating up and boil your pasta until al dente.

Toasted Garlic

1. Mix: Place all the herbs and spices in a shallow bowl and mix to combine.
2. Heat: Add the oil to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the garlic and let it toast.
   • PRO TIP: Pay close attention to the garlic because it will brown quickly and you do

BEST Homemade Spaghetti Sauce [+Video]

This homemade spaghetti sauce recipe is a family favorite and is sure to become yours too! Made with fresh ingredients and a secret ingredient that takes it to the next level. Watch the video to see how easy it is to make!

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

After years of trying to create the best homemade spaghetti sauce, we’ve finally found the perfect recipe. This spaghetti sauce from scratch is a recipe we’re happy to eat over and over again! 

After years of testing and retesting recipes for easy homemade spaghetti sauce, we finally have one that we want to shout from the rooftops. This spaghetti meat sauce recipe isn’t a quick recipe, but one that simmers and bubbles all day until it’s flavors are irresistible.

Although this spaghetti sauce requires 3+ hours to develop its rich, hearty flavor, it’s very easy to make. The prep work takes all of 10 minutes to complete, and then you can walk away from the stove to tend to other chores around the house. 

In this post, we walk you through how to make spaghetti sauce, and we also address a number of FAQs we’ve received about making homemade pasta sauce. 

Spaghetti Sauce Ingredients

If you’ve already scrolled down to the recipe card to see what’s in this homemade spaghetti sauce, don’t be worried about the longer ingredient list. Most of the ingredients are herbs you already have in your pantry! Here’s what you’ll need to make this spaghetti sauce recipe: 

• Fresh Tomatoes: I recommend Roma tomatoes for the best flavor.
• Garlic: Toss them in with the tomatoes with their skin on to roast. The skins will slide right off.
• Olive Oil: helps roast the tomatoes and garlic
• Salt and Black Pepper: adds flavor
• Onion: adds flavor
• Baby Bella Mushrooms: adds texture and flavor
• Red Bell Pepper: adds flavor
• Mild Italian Sausage: This can be omitted if you want a vegetarian sauce, but it does add great flavor and good protein to the sauce.
• Fresh Herbs: Parsley, Basil, Rosemary and Oregano – I’ve included the measurements for dried herbs in the recipe card too.
• Canned Tomatoes: I recommend Cento brand San Marzano tomatoes.
• Tomato