Bow Tie Pasta Salad

This bow tie pasta salad is filled with bright and tangy notes. It combines fresh vegetables like cherry tomatoes, red onion, sweet red peppers and fresh parsley with flavorful add-ins like provolone cheese, salami and olives. Then, it’s finished with a red wine vinaigrette. You can prepare a batch in under 30 minutes, store it in your fridge and dig into it throughout the week as a delicious meal or side. It’s super customizable, too, so you can swap the dressing to switch up the flavor.

Bow Tie Pasta Salad Ingredients

• Pasta: We use bow tie pasta for this recipe because the grooves and ridges in the pasta soak up the delicious flavors from the add-ins and vinaigrette.
• Add-ins: We add cherry tomatoes, red onion, sweet red peppers, fresh parsley, provolone cheese, salami and olives to this pasta salad to add hearty flavors and varying textures.
• Red wine vinaigrette: To enhance the flavor of this pasta salad, we whisk together red wine vinegar, Parmesan cheese, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and oil to create a tangy vinaigrette.

Directions

Step 1: Assemble the pasta salad

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a large bowl. Next, stir in the tomatoes, onion, salami, provolone, red pepper, parsley and olives.

Step 2: Create the vinaigrette

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, Parmesan, mustard, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil and whisk until combined.

Then, drizzle the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, one to two hours.

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

Bow Tie Pasta Salad Variations

• Swap the cheese: Add mozzarella pearls, crumbles of feta or pieces of goat cheese instead of provolone.
• Switch the pasta: For this recipe, you can use penne, fusilli or rotini instead of bow tie pasta.
• Add herbs: You can add fresh herbs like basil or fennelo upgrade the aromatic flavor of this pasta salad.

How to Store Bow Tie Pasta Salad

You can store this bow tie pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for three to five days.

Can you make this pasta salad recipe ahead of time?

If you are meal prepping, you can prepare this bow tie pasta salad dish beforehand. Follow the recipe, store it in your fridge for three to five days and scoop it into a bowl to eat when you’re ready.

Can you freeze this salad dish?

We don’t recommend freezing this bow tie pasta salad because the textures and flavor will become compromised once it thaws.

How long does this bow tie pasta salad dish last?

This pasta salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to five days.

Bow Tie Pasta Salad Tips

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

How do you prevent pasta salad from getting soggy?

For a more enjoyable pasta experience, aim for an al dente texture when cooking and allow it to retain a slight firmness. Add dressing to your pasta salad sparingly and offer extra vinaigrette for individual serving preferences.

Can you use leftover pasta for this recipe?

You can certainly use leftover al dente pasta for this recipe but we don’t recommend using overcooked pasta.

What can I serve with pasta salad?

This tangy and hearty pasta salad is delicious on its own but it’ll also shine when served with delicious grilled proteins like chicken, steak or salmon.