Y’all come on in the kitchen with me! This post is all about my Fresh and Flavorful: The Ultimate Easy Pasta Salad Recipe and you’re gonna love it!

Now, this dish is perfect for when you need something quick, delicious, and ready to please a crowd. It’s got that bright pop of veggies, a little zing from a tangy dressing, and just the right amount of creamy goodness to bring it all together.

I love that this recipe is so easy to adapt to however you would like it with the veggies, black olives, cheese, or whatever you want to throw in there. Or if you’re just trying to use what you might have on hand.

The real star of this pasta salad, which has been a little secret of home cooks for generations, is the McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning. Y’all, I love this stuff! It is great in this recipe, sprinkled on veggies, and all sorts of dishes. It’s a must have for your spice cabinet.

Friend, whether it’s a backyard barbecue, a church potluck, or just a simple family dinner, this pasta salad is gonna steal the show. You will agree after you enjoy that first delicious bite!

Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

white bowl with pasta salad with veggies marinated in Italian dressing with salad supreme seasoning

My delicious pasta salad is the ultimate comfort food that’s light enough for summer but satisfying year-round. What’s not to love?

The Pasta Salad that Everyone Loves

Marinated pasta salad with vegetables, mini pepperoni, and Salad Supreme

What to serve with pasta salad?

The Ultimate Pasta Salad pairs perfectly with a variety of dishes, making it a go-to side for any meal.

For a summer cookout, serve it alongside grilled burgers, hot dogs, or barbecue chicken. If you’re looking for something lighter, pair it with grilled fish, salmon patties or shrimp skewers. It’s also great with sandwiches.

If you’re like me friend then you’ll also be content just enjoying a bowl of the pasta salad all by itself, because it is so good.

Try Julia’s Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe

Let’s Gather the Ingredients

Cutting board with the ingredients needed to prepare a Pasta Salad Recipe with Italian Dressing and Salad Supreme Seasoning

Here is what you will need to make this flavorful pasta salad:

Fusilli Pasta or Rotini Pasta
McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning – I’ll leave a link in the recipe card so you can check it out. The salad supreme is a mix of Romano cheese and seasonings. I love it in pasta salads and sprinkle it over steamed broccoli. You’ll find many uses for it. Get the big bottle! Seriously, great stuff!
Italian Dressing – I used store bought classic Italian dressing, but you could also use the zesty Italian dressing or make your own homemade Italian dressing.
Red Bell Pepper – or any color sweet bell pepper that you have on hand.
Green Onion
Carrot
Cucumber
Grape Tomatoes – or cherry tomatoes or any salad tomato.
Mini Pepperoni – optional, but we love them in this pasta salad.

Other options you might like: red onion, black olives, Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, banana peppers, or any fresh veggies you may enjoy in a pasta salad recipe. You could also include cheese.

Preparing it is So Easy

Y’all, it is as easy as cooking the pasta then just mixing it up with the prepared veggies, dressing, and seasoning.

Let’s start with the pasta. You will follow the box directions for cooking the pasta that you are using.

My go to method for cooking the pasta is to bring the water to a boil. TIP: Covering the pot with a lid helps it boil faster. Add some kosher salt to the boiling water then add the pasta and cook for about ten minutes, or until al dente.

Drain the tender pasta well in a colander then add it to a large mixing bowl. Give it a rinse with cold water if desired and drain well. Allow the pasta to cool down a little bit, for five minutes or so before adding anything else to it.

cooked pasta with dressing and seasoning

The next step is to add the salad supreme and pour the Italian dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together until well coated. You can adjust the amount of dressing based on your preference. I use a cup, or an 8 ounce bottle, in my pasta salad and find that works perfectly.

Allow the dressed pasta to cool another ten minutes before adding the veggies.

mixing bowl with cooked pasta and veggies for pasta salad mixing

Moving along, it is time to add the remaining ingredients, which is the prepared veggies and mini pepperonis. Look at all of those beautiful colors!

Give it a Stir

Using a spatula to stir together the pasta salad mixture in a large stainless mixing bowl

Use your spatula to stir to combine everything together. How easy is that?

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to get well acquainted with one another. They will meld together into the perfect delicious pasta salad!

Pasta Salad Supreme

When you are ready to serve your Ultimate pasta salad with that wonderful salad supreme kick, give the pasta salad a quick toss then transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy.

You will not be disappointed in the flavors of this classic pasta dish. I know that you will also enjoy playing around with the recipe to try different variations, all of which I am sure will be wonderful.

Below is the printable recipe card.

Yield: 1 Pasta Salad Side Dish

The Ultimate Easy Pasta Salad Supreme Recipe

Name: The Ultimate Easy Pasta Salad Supreme Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Southern United States
Ingredients: 1 pound Fusilli Pasta or Rotini Pasta, cooked according to package directions; ¼ cup McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning (yes, a quarter cup); 1 cup Italian Dressing (I used an 8 ounce store bought bottle); 1 Red Bell Pepper, diced; ½ cup Celery, diced; ½ Green Onion, sliced thin (green and white parts); ½ cup Carrot, grated ( I prefer a small grate of the carrot in this recipe); 1½ cup Cucumber, sliced and quartered; ½ cup Grape or Cherry Salad Tomatoes, halved; ½ cup Mini Pepperoni, optional

Get ready for the ultimate pasta salad, packed with fresh veggies, zesty Italian dressing, and a big ole sprinkle of McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning! This dish is a Southern favorite, perfect for backyard cookouts, potlucks, or just a simple family dinner. It’s quick, easy, and full of flavor. Trust me, darlin’, once you make this, folks will be asking for seconds! Let’s whip up this fresh and fabulous pasta salad together, and make sure to have some fun while we do it! I love that this pasta salad makes a great side dish or an easy meal on its own. It is also easy to customize with ingredients you have on hand. So fresh and flavorful! Don't skimp on that salad supreme seasoning!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 pound Fusilli Pasta or Rotini Pasta, cooked according to package directions
¼ cup McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning (yes, a quarter cup)
1 cup Italian Dressing (I used an 8 ounce store bought bottle)
1 Red Bell Pepper, diced
½ cup Celery, diced
½ Green Onion, sliced thin (green and white parts)
½ cup Carrot, grated ( I prefer a small grate of the carrot in this recipe)
1½ cup Cucumber, sliced and quartered
½ cup Grape or Cherry Salad Tomatoes, halved
½ cup Mini Pepperoni, optional

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain well then rinse under cold water if desired and drain well in a colander.
Transfer the tender pasta to a large mixing bowl. I like to use my stainless bowl that I've chilled in the fridge to help cool the pasta faster. Allow the pasta to cool 5 minutes before adding anything to it.
Next, add the salad supreme seasoning and Italian dressing the use a spatula to stir to combine. Allow the dressed pasta to cool for an additional 10 minutes before adding the veggies. You can use this time to prep the veggies if you haven't done so in advance. I like to have everything ready to go.
Next, add the remaining ingredients (bell pepper, celery, green onion, carrot, cucumber, tomatoes, and mini pepperoni) then use a spatula to give the pasta salad a toss to combine it all together. Give the pasta salad a taste test and adjust seasonings, if desired.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve, at least 2-4 hours)
Before serving, give the pasta salad a quick toss, then transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy.

Notes

Please read the full post for optional ingredients and tips for preparing a delicious pasta salad.

The pasta salad will be good 3-5 days when properly stored in the refrigerator.

Salad Supreme Seasoning is very popular and is often sold out in my local stores, you can order it online HERE .It is great for many dishes.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 298Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 499mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 3gSugar: 8gProtein: 7g

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Fresh and Flavorful: The Ultimate Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

And there you have it, y’all! A delicious, colorful, and easy McCormick Salad Supreme Pasta Salad that’s sure to be a hit at any gathering.

Whether you’re serving it at a summer cookout or making it for a quick family meal, this pasta salad brings all the flavor with hardly any fuss.

So, whip it up, let those flavors mingle, and enjoy every last bite!

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Until next time, Love and Happy eating!

Meet Julia

Author of Julia's Simply Southern

About Julia

Hey Y'all! I'm Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia's Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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