Gluten Free Pasta Salad

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This Gluten Free Pasta Salad has become my go-to when I want a pasta salad that holds its texture, is topped with that classic Italian pasta salad dressing, and is made with quick, simple ingredients. It is topped with fresh cherry tomatoes and mozzarella pearls, as well as spoonfuls of rich bruschetta. Forget the old days of bland, heavy and falling apart pasta salad. This one uses a gluten free pasta that won't fall apart.

I made this easy gluten free pasta salad without any meat but I've got protein toppings and protein pasta covered too! Once you bring this to one BBQ, everyone will be begging you to bring it again!

gluten free pasta salad in a bowl with pasta, mozzarella balls, tomtatoes and basil

Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Pasta Salad

It’s faster and cheaper than buying it already made from the deli. A deli pasta salad ranges from $5.99-$8.99 per pound. That’s expensive! This one comes together in 15 minutes and is much more affordable.
It works with any protein you’re in the mood for. Mixing in pepperoni is my go-to, like in this high protein pasta salad, but this recipe is just as good with shredded chicken, grilled chicken or even salami.
It teaches you how to build a good pasta salad. I'll show you how to build a balanced pasta salad from start to finish. Crunchy, creamy, and fresh toppings all come together so the pasta salad tastes flavorful, not dry and bland.
It is allergy friendly. It is made with gluten free pasta and swapping in dairy free cheese is an easy adjustment for a dairy free recipe. Everyone can enjoy it!
It is perfect for meal preps, BBQs AND lunches! This gluten free italian pasta salad is the perfect versatile recipe to make life easier this summer. It is ready in less than 30 minutes and uses simple, affordable ingredients, just like my elote pasta salad.

Ingredients You’ll Need

pasta salad ingredients laid flat on the counter

Gluten free pasta: Gluten free pasta options can be made with rice flour, corn flour, quinoa, lentils, cauliflower or even chickpeas. The best pasta for a gluten free pasta salad is one that doesn't fall apart easily such as pastas made from corn flour or quinoa.
Toppings: Choose from a variety of crunchy, creamy, fresh, and flavorful toppings like cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, rich jarred bruschetta and fresh basil.
Homemade Dressing: this pasta salad had a quick and easy homemade dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic and oregano. A balanced dressing has a rich ingredient and an acidic ingredient to balance it out. This dressing uses olive oil and lemon juice. If you don't have lemon juice you can use red wine vinegar instead because it provides a similar acidic component.

Recipe Variations

Italian pasta salad: gluten free pasta, tomatoes, salami, mozzarella, olives,
Greek pasta salad: gluten free pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, feta, olives
Dairy free pasta salad: skip cheese or use dairy free cheese
Vegan pasta salad: add chickpeas
High protein pasta salad: mix in pepperoni, shredded chicken, or tuna

Best Gluten Free Pasta for Pasta Salad

The best gluten free pasta to use in a pasta salad is a pasta that will hold up and not fall apart. That's what we're all looking for, right? A sturdy pasta that is soft but still sturdy and has good texture. Pasta made with cauliflower, rice or chickpeas tend to be softer and cook quicker but do not hold up well when sitting for multiple days in a dressing. Gluten free pasta made with corn, brown rice or quinoa are thicker, sturdier and are perfect to make a pasta salad with because they do not fall apart as easily.

Rotini, fusilli and penne work best for pasta salad because they are short shapes so they tend to not break as easily. They also have grooves which hold the dressing well! Avoid pastas like spaghetti or bucatini.

How to Make Gluten Free Pasta Salad

Step 1: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool it down. Add the cooled pasta to a large serving bowl.

Step 2: Add the bruschetta, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella pearls.

Step 3: Drizzle in the olive oil and squeeze in the lemon juice.

pasta in a bowl with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil

Step 4: Top with the garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.

Step 5: Toss everything together gently until well combined. You do not want to break any of the noodles.

Step 6: Top the fresh basil.

The Secret to Flavorful Pasta Salad

Remember, pasta salad cannot be rushed! While it is simple and quick to make, you always want to leave a good amount of time for the pasta to sit and chill and absorb the dressing. This process is the secret to making flavorful pasta salad. While the pasta is chilling is absorbs the salt and acid, which gives it maximum flavor. I always recommend tossing it before serving to make sure the dressing is evenly distributed and none of the noodles have dried out. If you notice some noodles are dry you can add an extra drizzle of olive oil or dressing.

The minimum chill time is 30 minutes. The maximum recommended chill time is overnight. The ideal amount of chill time to aim for is 3-4 hours. This will give you maximum flavor without risking the noodles falling apart.

How to build a balanced pasta salad

To build a balanced pasta salad you want to make sure it has 1-2 of each component: Crunchy and sturdy, creamy and saucy, and fresh.

Crunch and sturdy: fresh tomatoes, gluten free pasta
Creamy and saucy: the components for the dressing are oil and lemon juice. This ensures the pasta is creamy, dressed and sauced properly and is not too dry. You can also choose from mayo, avocado oil or red wine vinegar.
Fresh: fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, fresh basil

Recipe Tips

The key to making sure these pastas stay sturdy and do not fall apart is making sure they are also not overcooked. I like to cook my pasta for 1 minute less than the box recommends.
I always rinse my pasta in cold water immediately after draining to stop the pasta from cooking and to prevent the pasta from sticking. I also recommend drizzling with a little olive oil immediately after rinsing to ensure the pasta doesn't stick together.
Reserve 2-3 tbsp of dressing in case you need to freshen it up before serving so it is not too dry.
If you find the pasta salad is too dry, add 2-3 tbsp of extra dressing before serving. If your pasta tastes bland you can season with salt, pepper, garlic and oregano to your taste.
Always let the pasta cool and rinse in cold water before mixing in the toppings to ensure the mozzarella cheese doesn't melt.

Make Ahead & Storage Tips

The gluten free pasta should be prepared at least 4 hours ahead of time to allow for the pasta salad to have ample time to chill. Store the pasta salad in a large serving bowl covered with tin foil or plastic. If you are preparing the pasta salad 24 hours beforehand to l let it chill overnight, store in an airtight container.

You can save time by preparing the toppings in advance, slicing the vegetables, and making your homemade dressing in advance.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes. You want the pasta salad to ideally chill for 3-4 hours.You can prepare the toppings and dressing up to 2 days in advance.

How long does pasta salad last?

You can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days but the longer it sits the softer the noodles will get.

Can I make this dairy free or vegan?

Just use vegan cheese!

Do I need to rinse gluten free pasta?

Yes. Not only does it help remove any excess starch there might be, but it also will help your pasta not overcook.

Do I need to salt my water when making the pasta?

Yes! Always salt your water when making pasta. Pasta absorbs the water as it cooks and when the water is salted it is actually seasoning the pasta from the inside and infusing it with flavor.

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