Instant Pot Pasta Salad

Pasta salad in the Instant Pot? Believe it! This one has tender bites of pasta in tangy vinaigrette. It all comes together in the Instant Pot without any need for draining. 

Warmer weather is coming and pasta salad is on the menu! Great for quick lunches, summer barbecues, potlucks and make-ahead meals, it's a hard meal to beat. And the Instant Pot makes it so incredibly simple.

This recipe uses my go-to formula for cooking pasta in the Instant Pot. And the finished dish? It's great paired with a fresh green salad for a plate that is packed with color and fresh flavor. If you need some ideas, try it with Greek Goddess, Italian House, Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula, or this fruit-filled Summer Salad.

How to Make Instant Pot Pasta Salad

1. Make the vinaigrette - Make a simple vinaigrette with red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, honey, mustard, salt, black pepper, and olive oil. Or just use a store-bought vinaigrette.
2. Pressure cook the pasta - Combine the pasta, water, and some salt in the bowl of a 6-quart Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes and then release any remaining pressure.
3. Add half the vinaigrette - Stir in half the vinaigrette, stir the pasta well, and let it sit, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes until the texture of the pasta is just right.
4. Let the pasta cool completely.
5. Stir in mix-ins - When the pasta is cool, stir in the remaining half of the vinaigrette and all of the mixing.
6. Serve room temperature or chilled.

Instant Pot Pasta Salad is:

• Tangy
• Fresh
• Filling
• Colorful
• One Bowl
• Easy (!)

Ingredients

• Italian Vinaigrette - Make your own vinaigrette using the recipe below, make a vinaigrette with your own favorite flavors using this post, or use a store-bought Italian Vinaigrette (I have a soft spot for Kraft’s Zesty Italian Dressing).
• Dry Italian Salami  - Look for this variety of salami in a roll or pre-sliced. Either way works, though if it’s not sliced, it will take a bit more work for you to prep it. This comes in spicy and mild varieties and adds so much flavor to the pasta salad. Pepperoni will work too!
• Cheese - I love the rich flavor of Sharp White Cheddar Cheese in this salad, but an Italian cheese like mozzarella is great as well. If using mozzarella, look for mozzarella pearls which are tiny balls of the cheese that you don't even have to slice before using. 
• Tomatoes and Basil - These add fresh flavor to the finished dish.  

Possible Variations

• Make it vegetarian - Just skip the salami for a vegetarian version of Instant Pot Italian Pasta Salad or add canned chickpeas (drain them first) for a vegetarian protein. 
• Add / change vegetables - Load this up with any vegetables you like. It’s best to cook them separately before adding them to the pasta salad, so saute them in a skillet or steam them in the microwave first. If you’re making a spring version, try peas and asparagus. For a fresh version with some crunch, try diced bell peppers.
• Add seasoning - Change the flavors in the vinaigrette. Make it spicy with red pepper flakes, add extra Italian herbs, or even add some parmesan cheese for more savory richness.
• Make it gluten-free - Use gluten-free pasta and this dish is instantly gluten-free.

Cooking Tips

• Use a pasta shape that has twists and curls in it. Those will hold the vinaigrette best.
• Wait to add half the vinaigrette until just before serving. The warm pasta will soak up vinaigrette, giving it flavor. But for the sauciest result, wait to add the remaining half of the sauce until just before serving.

FAQs

More Pasta Salad Recipes

• Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad
• Pesto Pasta Salad
• Pasta Salad with Creamy Chipotle Dressing
• Greek Pasta Salad
• Pasta Salad Skewers

Favorite Tools

• 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo 
• Mixing Bowl
• Whisk

📖 Recipe