This Italian bow tie pasta salad is the perfect side dish. It is so easy to make and great for parties and potlucks!

pasta salad (bow tie pasta, cheese cubes, bell pepper, salami, and ham pieces) in a white bowl. There is a wooden spoon and orange linen near it.

This Italian bow tie pasta salad is great for a side dish, potlucks, or parties. Not only is this pasta salad versatile but it so easy to make. This pasta salad uses Italian dressing which gives it a zesty flavor.

pasta salad (bow tie pasta, cheese cubes, bell pepper, salami, and ham pieces) in a white bowl. There is an orange linen near it.

The ingredients in this recipe are pretty flexible, so you can use what you like or what you have on hand. I love making this pasta salad with bow tie pasta since it is one of my daughter’s favorite types of pasta.

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What ingredients do I need for this recipe?
What kind of pasta should I use in pasta salad?
How long is this pasta salad good for?
How long should this recipe marinate for?
Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad

What ingredients do I need for this recipe?

Ingredients needed to make Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad

To make this recipe, you will need:

Red bell pepper and yellow bell pepper: I like using yellow, red, or orange bell peppers in this pasta salad as they’re sweeter and less bitter than green bell peppers.
Italian dressing: Use your favorite brand. You can even use extra zesty Italian dressing, if desired.
Hard salami and ham: You’ll need one standard salami and one cup of chopped ham.
Colby jack cheese: You can buy cubes or cut a block into cubes.
Pasta: You can use bowtie (also called farfalle) or other pasta varieties like rotini, macaroni, or penne also work well.

This recipe is very flexible, if you want to leave something out or add something (like pepperoni, tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower florets, etc.). You can also use macaroni, penne, or rotini noodles if you don’t have any bow tie pasta on hand. This also a great recipe to use up leftover ham from Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter.

What kind of pasta should I use in pasta salad?

I love using bow tie pasta (also called farfalle pasta) with this recipe but if you don’t have bow tie on hand you can also use rotini, penne, or macaroni noodles.

How long is this pasta salad good for?

This pasta salad is good for up to four days in your fridge. Be sure to store it in an airtight container.

How long should this recipe marinate for?

Let this bow tie pasta salad marinate for at least three hours before serving. If possible, marinate overnight for the best flavor.

More great side dish ideas:

If you tried this Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad or any other recipe on my site, please leave a ⭐ rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I would love to hear from you!