Go Back

Gluten-Free Italian Pasta Salad

Gluten-free pasta salad with Italian dressing, salami, and mozzarella—tossed with crisp vegetables and chilled until the flavors meld. This celiac-friendly Italian salad uses gluten-free pasta and is built for a fresh, colorful side-dish texture.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Gluten-free pasta salad base
  • 1 lb gluten-free pasta (rotini or penne) Cook according to package directions; may take longer than regular pasta.
  • 8 oz salami, cubed
  • 8 oz mozzarella cheese, cubed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup cucumber, diced
  • 0.5 cup black olives, sliced
  • 0.5 cup red onion, diced
  • 1 cup gluten-free Italian dressing Use gluten-free to keep the salad celiac-friendly.
  • 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste Season after tossing, then recheck after chilling.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Cook the gluten-free pasta according to package directions (it may take longer than regular pasta), then drain and rinse with cold water.
  2. Spread the drained pasta on a sheet pan to cool slightly before assembling the salad.
Assemble and season
  1. Combine the pasta, salami, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, black olives, and red onion in a large bowl.
  2. Add the gluten-free Italian dressing, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning, then toss to coat evenly.
  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Chill and finish
  1. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving, so the pasta absorbs the dressing and the vegetables stay crisp.
  2. Toss again right before serving and adjust dressing if needed.

Notes

Pro tip: rinse the cooked gluten-free pasta under cold water to stop cooking and improve texture so it doesn’t turn gummy. Refrigerate in a covered container for up to 3 days; the pasta may absorb more dressing over time, so loosen with a splash of extra Italian dressing when tossing again. Freezing is not recommended for best texture. Dietary swap: use dairy-free mozzarella and a dairy-free Parmesan-style alternative to make it dairy-free while keeping it celiac-friendly.