Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

Satisfy your summer cravings with this quick and easy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad recipe! This vibrant and refreshing dish combines al dente pasta, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, crisp vegetables, and a zesty dressing, creating a symphony of tastes and textures. Perfect for picnics, barbecues, or a quick lunch, this classic pasta salad is a surefire way to get a flavorful dish on the table.

about this sun dried tomato pasta salad

When summer weather hits, I am grilling, and that usually is followed by an intense craving for pasta salad.

Now, there are a lot of pasta salads out there. For me, the element that makes any pasta salad recipe go from good to great is the dressing.

The dressing for this pasta salad has so much depth of flavor, primarily because instead of using extra virgin olive oil, I use the oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes. You get all the of flavor of those tomatoes, garlic, and herbs from the oil.

When it’s combined with fresh herbs, balsamic vinegar, a touch of mustard, and garlic, you get a dressing that is unbelievably memorable!

This is definitely a summer healthy pasta salad, perfect for setting out at your next backyard bbq. However, it also happens to be my favorite lunch to meal prep on a Sunday for the rest of the week.

You see, the longer the dish sits in the refrigerator, the tastier it gets. It’s impossible to resist and it makes for a hearty and fresh lunch that you will look forward to eating each day.

If you want to bulk it up even more, you could even add in some shredded rotisserie chicken or steak bites for added protein.

what is pasta salad?

Pasta salad is a cold dish that starts with a base of pasta cooked al dente, then combined with chopped pieces of food. This could be a combination of vegetables, cheese, meat, and more. The entire dish is mixed with a dressing and served chilled.

The reason that it is called pasta salad is because of the dressing. It can be served as a side dish or as a main course.

ingredients

pasta. I like to use a short pasta like penne (that you see pictured here) but you could also use rigatoni, bow tie, or another short pasta that is similar in size.

tomatoes. Cherry or grape tomatoes will work here!

sun-dried tomatoes. Be sure to pick up the sun dried tomatoes packed in oil as opposed to dry-packed. If you want to use dry-packed, see the FAQs below to learn how to reconstitute them before using them in this recipe.

onion. Red onion is preferred for this recipe.

cheese. You will need freshly grated parmesan cheese (just make sure it is fresh) and small mozzarella balls (sometimes called ciliegine). If you can’t find the small balls, you can use a whole mozzarella ball and cut it up into 1-inch chunks. Note that you can purchase small mozzarella balls that are marinated in herbs if you prefer!

herbs. Fresh basil, parsley, and oregano are all needed for the salad and the dressing. You can never go wrong with a tomato basil combo, am I right?

oil. I like to use the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes jar! This brings an extra level of flavor to the dressing. If you choose not to use the oil (or need to use a combination to get to the full 2/3 cup), you can use extra virgin olive oil.

vinegar. The vinegar used for the dressing is balsamic vinegar.

garlic. garlic is a must for EVERYTHING, so I have a jar of minced garlic living in my fridge at all times. No smelly hands, no peeling garlic. The best shortcut to pay for, in my opinion.

mustard. I recommend using dijon mustard for the dressing.

spices. You will need a combination of red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

this recipe’s must haves

For this recipe, you will definitely need a good quality chef’s knife and cutting board to prepare all of the ingredients for this recipe.

I like to use the largest and the smallest bowls from my set of mixing bowls to combine everything and also to make the dressing (you’ll also need a whisk for the dressing!).

For serving, I prefer a large serving bowl like this 13-inch option (it also comes with a smaller option too).

summer party favorites

large serving bowl

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drink dispenser

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casserole dishes

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here’s how to make sun dried tomato pasta salad

cook pasta

Cook the pasta al dente per the instructions on the package. Once cooked, drain the pasta and immediately rinse with cold water to help cool it off quickly.

You can also set it aside to cool for about 15 to 20 minutes. If the pasta is hot when you add the ingredients, the mozzarella will melt and that will impact the overall texture of the dish.

make dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together oil from the sun-dried tomatoes (or extra-virgin olive oil), balsamic vinegar, garlic, dijon mustard, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, pepper, and salt.

combine and let sit

Toss pasta together in a large bowl with cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, parmesan, mozzarella balls, basil, and parsley.

Add 3/4 of the dressing to the pasta mixture (making sure to reserve 1/4 of the dressing). Chill for 30 minutes at minimum, toss with remaining dressing, and serve.

tips for success

don’t overcook the pasta. Cook the pasta to al dente for the best results. If the pasta is overcooked it will get mushy and slimy when combined with the other ingredients.

use the oil from the jar. Be sure to use the oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes in the dressing! The flavor really adds depth to the already delicious dressing.

make for meal prep. This easy pasta salad is fantastic when served as a summery lunch throughout the week! It’s easy to prep and then enjoy all week long as the flavor just keeps getting better and better. If you run out of dressing you can use a small amount of olive oil to revive the salad.

revive just before serving. Just before serving, you will mix in some of the reserved pasta salad dressing to revive the texture of the salad! This is key, so make sure that you don’t add all of the dressing at one time.

More tasty summer pasta recipes: Summer Lemon Pasta Salad | Lemon Ricotta Pasta | Farmer’s Market Pasta | Roasted Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

can I substitute fresh tomatoes for sun dried tomatoes in a recipe?

If you don’t have sun dried tomatoes or can’t get your hands on them for some reason, you could use more tomatoes in this recipe. I already use cherry tomatoes, so I recommend using another type of tomato (such as hot house or on the vine) to give the pasta salad some variety.

can you make pasta salad the night before?

Yes, this pasta salad tastes even better the next day! It’s a fantastic side dish to make ahead of time for a party side dish, but it also lasts up to 5 days in the refrigerator. That’s why I make it so often for meal prep lunches during the summer!

If you are looking for another easy make-ahead salad, be sure to check out this tropical mango chicken salad.

should I soak sun-dried tomatoes before use?

There’s no need to rehydrate the sun-dried tomatoes before using them unless they are dry-packed. I used sun-dried tomatoes that are sold in a jar marinated in oil both so I don’t have to worry about rehydrating them, but also to use the oil in the bottle to make the dressing for this salad.

If you are using dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, the easiest way to reconstitute them is in oil. Cover the tomatoes in a bowl with good quality extra virgin olive oil. Let them sit for 24 hours before using them. You can also use the oil they soaked in for the salad dressing!

Need more inspiration for side dishes? Check out my side dish recipes page!

what to serve with sun dried tomato pasta salad

More often than not, I make this pasta salad as a meal prep lunch for myself! The flavor gets better and better as the time passes. When you reserve the dressing as the recipe instructs, you can easily revive each portion you serve throughout the week.

If you are making this pasta salad as a side, it goes with almost any summer main dish you could think of! Usually I serve this as a side for a backyard bbq or grilled meal. Here are some of my favorites to pair with the flavors in this pasta salad:

• A classic pulled pork burger is a symphony of flavors nestled between a brioche bun.
• BBQ apple cider ribs are juicy, meat, and extra tender!
• Heat things up with a spicy grilled bbq chicken sandwich.
• Enjoy a classic grilled steak, but with a flavorful twist with this chili coffee rubbed steak.

Need an easy summery dessert to round out the meal? Try any of the ones below!

• A delightfully moist and fluffy chocolate strawberry cake is the ultimate dessert for any summer gathering.
• Apple and blackberry crumble is a simple flavorful dessert that can be made with fresh or frozen berries!
• A rustic peach blueberry galette is easier to make than pie, but tastes just as good (if not a little better!).

how to store

Store. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Be sure to reserve the pasta salad dressing as indicated in the recipe and use it to refresh just before serving. If you are making this as a meal prep lunch, add about 2 teaspoons dressing to each serving just before eating to revive the salad.

Finally, if you make this sun dried tomato pasta salad recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a rating or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment. Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!