This Antipasto Pasta Salad takes all of the traditional flavors of Italian antipasto and turns them right into a hearty lunch or simple aspect dish. As an alternative of arranging cured meats, cheeses, and marinated veggies on a platter as an appetizer, I toss all the pieces along with tender pasta and a zesty Italian dressing. It’s recent sufficient for summer time cookouts however can also be a sensible approach to make use of up leftover cheese and cured meats after a celebration! The combination of salty olives, artichokes, and creamy mozzarella makes it colourful, scrumptious, and satisfying, and you may simply swap in no matter you’ve received readily available.

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Simple Antipasto Pasta Salad Recipe
This recipe is the most effective mixture of an antipasto salad and a pasta salad, and it takes me proper again to my childhood. One vivid reminiscence I’ve is of my Nana and Papa taking my household out to dinner at “Spumoni’s”, a family-owned Italian restaurant in New England. My Nana at all times ordered the antipasto with additional anchovies. After all, this made her granddaughters cringe on the time, however I keep in mind attempting to be courageous sufficient to strive the anchovies. It by no means occurred (and I’m nonetheless not a fan, to be sincere!), so I caught to ordering mountains of pasta as an alternative. This antipasto pasta salad incorporates all of the issues I really like about this reminiscence and leaves off the issues I didn’t. 😉
Nana and Papa treating us to dinner was definitely cheaper, however this recipe feeds a crowd for simply $1.42 per serving. I’m okay with that price ticket for a visit down reminiscence lane and a bunch of full bellies at my household cookout!
- Some shops promote the ends and off-cuts of deli meats, like ham or different chilly cuts, at a reduction. Because you’ll be chopping them up for this antipasto pasta salad anyway, they’re the right budget-friendly swap!
- Hold an eye fixed out for supervisor’s specials or markdowns on deli meats, cheeses, and jarred items. They’re usually nearing their sell-by date however nonetheless completely good to make use of on this recipe in the event you’re planning to take pleasure in it inside a day or two.
Antipasto Pasta Salad


- 1 lb. penne pasta ($0.98)
- ½ ham steak (a bit over ¼ lb., $1.88)
- 7 slices pepperoni ($1.32)
- 6 oz. mozzarella ball ($2.74)
- 1 tomato (vine ripened, $0.64)
- 1 clove garlic ($0.04)
- ¼ cup pitted black olives ($0.98)
- ½ crimson onion ($0.36)
- ½ a 13.75 oz. can quartered Artichoke hearts ($1.29)
- 16 fl oz. Giardiniera combine (together with all juice from the jar, $2.87)
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese (grated, $1.35)
- 1 cup Italian Dressing ($0.79)
- ¼ cup pepperoncini peppers (complete (non-obligatory) $0.48)
- salt (to style, $0.02)
- black pepper (to style (freshly cracked), $0.03)
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Collect your elements.
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Prepare dinner penne pasta till al dente, about 12 minutes. Rinse with chilly water and put aside.
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Put together recent elements: dice ham steak, chop pepperoni, cube mozzarella, deseed and cube the tomato, mince garlic, chop olives, and cube crimson onion.
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Mix cooked pasta, artichoke hearts, jar of Giardiniera combine (together with all of the juice!), and all elements from step 3 in a big mixing bowl. Toss to mix.
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Add grated Parmesan cheese and Italian dressing.
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Toss to mix and add desired quantity of complete pepperoncini peppers.* Season with salt and pepper to style, if desired (I did not find yourself including any because the brine from the pickled veggies was salty sufficient!) Get pleasure from.
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*I added 6 pepperoncini peppers to maintain issues rather less spicy, however sufficient in order that they nonetheless contribute to the traditional taste of an antipasto salad! Depart them on high as a garnish so your family and friends who aren’t into spicy meals can keep away from them and nonetheless take pleasure in this hearty pasta salad!
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 421kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 15gFats: 23gSodium: 1559mgFiber: 2g
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the right way to make Antipasto Pasta Salad step-by-step images


Collect all your elements.


Boil the pasta: Prepare dinner 1 lb. penne pasta following the package deal instructions till al dente (about 12 minutes). As soon as cooked, rinse the pasta with chilly water and set it apart.


Prep the salad elements: Dice ½ a ham steak, chop 7 slices pepperoni, cube the 6 oz. mozzarella ball, take away the seeds and cube 1 tomato, mince 1 garlic clove, chop ¼ cup pitted black olives, and cube ½ a crimson onion.


Assemble the pasta salad: Add the cooked pasta, artichoke hearts (half of a 13.75 oz. can), 16 fl oz. jar of Giardiniera combine (together with all of the juice!), and all elements from the earlier step to a big bowl. Toss to mix.


Now add ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1 cup of Italian dressing.


Toss once more to coat your Italian antipasto pasta salad within the dressing and cheese. Add ¼ cup pepperoncini peppers on high. You can even season with salt and pepper to style, however I skipped this because the brine from the pickled veggies was salty sufficient! Serve and luxuriate in.


What Else Can I Add?
I included as many traditional antipasto elements as I may on this recipe, so that you get the standard taste in each chunk. That mentioned, it’s simple to swap in what you have already got. Change up the meats and cheeses, or toss in different veggies out of your fridge…all of it works! Listed here are some issues you possibly can add:
- Torn recent basil leaves
- Minced parsley
- Diced salami
- Recent bell peppers (deseeded and chopped)
- Any salad inexperienced you want (an Italian salad combine, iceberg lettuce, spinach, and many others.)
- Pickled jalapeños
- Roasted crimson peppers
- Purple pepper flakes
- Anchovies
- Leftover grilled hen
- Capers
Storage Directions
This antipasto salad with pasta will preserve within the fridge for as much as 3–4 days, relying on how recent your elements are. Remember the fact that the dressing will soak into the pasta and make it softer over time. Should you’re making it forward of time for an occasion, you possibly can wait so as to add the dressing and Giardiniera combine (with the juice) till simply earlier than serving. Give all the pieces one other toss earlier than having fun with once more.


