Bow Tie Pasta Salad Recipe (2024)

This Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad with crunchy fresh vegetables and tangy dressing packs big flavor! It's a make-ahead no mayonnaise salad and perfect for a summer bbq, potluck or your next family gathering. This easy to make salad is the best-loved recipe and a go-to family favorite!

If you love this salad, be sure and try thisTeriyaki Noodles Recipe - it's great warm or cold!

Why you'll love this recipe

This easy Italian pasta saladis one of the most popular, one of the best pasta salad recipes ever! It's an easy recipe my sis-in-law Alice shared a couple of years ago and a recipe we enjoy often. You will too!

It's that good!

I've been lucky enough to grab a few recipes, like her Tuna Pasta Salad (one of my favorites!) and this tangy pasta salad. Alice makes Bowtie Pasta Salad for just about every family get-together. Christmas, Easter, 4th of July or Sunday supper, it's always on the table.

It's a good pasta salad for potluck gatherings, a perfect side dish, or a light lunch. I always get seconds - I love this salad!Bonus?... It's easy to make too!

Salad Ingredients

For the exact measurements for this easy pasta salad recipe, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• I used regular bow tie pasta (also known as farfalle pasta). You can certainly substitute any small pasta you have on hand.
• green onions - we prefer the mild onion flavor of green onions, but if you do not have those available, use a red onion.
• Green or red bell pepper - you could also use yellow or orange peppers.
• grape tomatoes - cherry tomatoes or a large tomato seeded and chopped.
• cucumber - for bright crunch!
• Roasted red pepper - adds a nice smokey flavor.
• Marinated artichoke hearts - though you could omit these, they add a ton of flavor!
• Johnny's Salad Elegance seasoning salt or McCormick's Salad Supreme Seasoning - adds so much flavor to this pasta salad
• Italian Salad Dressing or lemon vinaigrette - use store-bought, it works just fine!

Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom!

1. Cook pasta according to package directions to al dente. Rinse and drain well. Place in a large salad bowl, all to come to room temperature and refrigerate.
2. Chop the tomatoes, thinly slice the green onions and bell peppers. Drain the roasted red pepper and chop, drain the artichoke hearts and dice.
3. Add the remaining ingredients to the cooked pasta and toss everything together well.
4. Sprinkle with the salad seasoning and add the salad dressing, mix to combine.
5. Cover the Italian bow tie pasta salad tightly and refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.

FAQ's

Tips

Always allow the pasta to cool completely before adding salad dressing. Hot pasta will absorb moisture and suck up all the salad dressing. It will be a soggy mess. Make the pasta ahead of time and refrigerate to allow it ensure it's chilled.

Don't overcook the pasta! Cook the pasta to al dente.

Rinse the pasta with cool water and allow it to completely drain before refrigerating.

I don't use a homemade Italian dressing, though you certainly could. I think store-bought works great in this recipe.

Variations

Additional add-ins include chopped fresh spinach, edamame, olives or radishes - if you like it and it's crunchy, don't be afraid to toss it into this pasta salad!

Storage

• Refrigerate - the salad keeps well up to four days. Place it in a well-sealed large bowl covered with plastic wrap or an airtight container. Add a splash of Italian salad dressing if the pasta is dry.

Serving suggestions

We make this for nearly every holiday from July 4th to Christmas; it's perfect for Memorial Day BBQs and great for Thanksgiving dinner because you can make it ahead.

Here are a few suggestions for pairing to make a great meal.

• It's perfect with grilled Chili Lime Chicken and Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs - just delicious!
• Great with this juicy grilled Turkey Burger recipe or Lemon Pepper Chicken.
• It's yummy with beef as well - one of my favorites is this Tri Tip Recipe, but this slow cooker recipe roast beef is terrific as well.

I'm such a big fan of summer salad recipes! Here are a few more delicious pasta salads to try.

• Southern Style Ham Pasta Salad -Salty ham and feta cheese are mixed with bright, crunchy vegetables and al dente pasta.
• Antipasto Pasta Salad –All the flavors of your favorite Antipasto Platter in a salad! Big flavors with just a little work.
• Be sure to try this recipe for a BLT Pasta Salad - crunchy, creamy and loaded with bacon!
• Artichoke Avocado Pasta Salad -Another great salad for a cookout or bbq, as it doesn’t contain any mayonnaise and it is so delicious and flavorful!
• Tuna Pasta Salad - tuna, pasta, salty parmesan cheese and olives with crunchy veggies brought together with a creamy dressing. This salad is a meal in itself!

This pasta salad recipes no mayo is perfect for summertime bbqs, cookouts, potlucks and family gatherings. Crunchy fresh vegetables, tangy dressing and delicious pasta combine to make this side great to enjoy year round!

Love this recipe it's just the perfect side dish! Please leave a comment with a five-star rating below, or pop me a note. I love hearing from you! If you make this, be sure to tag me on Instagram @bowl_me_overor #bowlmeover - thank you for supporting the blog, trying and sharing my recipes!

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