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When soul food meets Southern hospitality, even pasta salad gets a little extra love! My Black folks’ Southern pasta salad recipe, made with Italian dressing, is a fresh twist on a cookout classic. It’s superb, refreshing, and packed with bold, zesty flavors!

Black Southern Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing

Think tender pasta tossed with crisp veggies, soulful seasonings, and a tangy Italian-style dressing that brings it all together. It’s the side dish that never stays on the table for long. Perfect for barbecues, family gatherings, or anytime you want a crowd-pleasing recipe that tastes like home with a splash of flair.

Classic Southern pasta salad

Is pasta salad an American thing? – Southern pasta salad originated around 1914, when American cookbooks and newspapers began publishing various recipe versions of it.

The American pasta salad is thought to have been influenced by 19th-century German immigrants who brought their styles of mayonnaise and mustard potato salads to the United States. During this period, macaroni noodles were regarded as an ethnic Italian food (knowing how Americans can fearmonger anything “ethnic”), which led to some confusion among Americans about how to incorporate macaroni into their dishes.

It wasn’t until 1930 that the Washington Post published a “mock potato salad” recipe that utilized macaroni, likely resembling what we now recognize as Southern macaroni salad (albeit without the soul food seasoning).

Ingredients

What makes my recipe stand out is the double layer of soulful seasoning blends—both liquid and dry—woven into every bite. This curated mix adds depth, warmth, and that unmistakable Black Southern flair you won’t find in just any pasta salad!

Spiral noodles – Today, American Southern pasta salad has blossomed into an even more extraordinary dish that’s brighter, bolder, and more flavorful. The grooves in these tri-color rotini noodles capture the delicious dressing, maximizing the taste experience.
Tomatoes – Provide freshness, tang, and a vibrant pop of color to the dish.
Cucumbers – The crunchy texture of cucumbers introduces a refreshing contrast to the soft, tangy tomatoes.
Black olives – Add a rich, briny depth that balances the tangy Italian dressing and enhances the overall savory flavor of the pasta salad.
Dressing and seasonings – The heart of this Southern dish features an Italian twist, rich with herbs. A specialty seasoning blend is recommended, preferably Salad Supreme or a combination of dry Italian dressing and wet Italian dressing. Look for McCormick’s Perfect Pinch Salad Supreme seasoning, which can typically be found on the same aisle as other seasonings or in your local grocery store’s salad dressing and condiment section.

Best noodles to use for pasta salad

Tri-color short spiral noodles (rotini) are a classic choice for this cold pasta dish. However, modifications to this recipe can include the addition of proteins and noodle variations, such as sautéed shrimp with spaghetti noodles.

How to make Southern pasta salad with Italian dressing

Each step below guides you through creating an easy dish that comes to mind when planning a BBQ spread, celebrating Southern hospitality, and Italian zest.

Boil the water for the spiral noodles according to the package instructions, then drain the water with a colander when cooked.
Add the Italian dressing and Salad Supreme seasoning to the pasta salad.
Slice and fold the chopped tomatoes and cucumber into the pasta, along with the olives.
Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad, then serve chilled and enjoy!

How long does pasta salad need to chill?

After making this Southern Italian pasta salad recipe, cover and refrigerate it for at least an hour. Ironically, cold salad recipes pair best with a hot main dish.

Variations and add-ons

This is the classic version of a Southern pasta salad with Italian dressing. However, many people make this dish differently, and there’s no wrong or right way to do it. I only suggest that you never skimp on the recommended seasonings, as they contribute to the dish’s Southern soul food character.

Here are some variations and additions if you’d like to enhance your recipe with these options:

Shrimp
Pepperoni
Black or green olives
Basil leaves
Feta cheese
Shredded sharp cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese
Red wine vinegarette dressing
Shrimp pasta salad made in the Instant Pot
Soul food pasta salad made with spaghetti noodles

Storing leftovers

Storing leftovers of this recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator allows the flavors to meld together beautifully, making it even more delicious when enjoyed again (recommended to be eaten within 3-5 days).

More Southern BBQ recipes

As I mentioned earlier, this cold salad recipe pairs best with hot main dishes such as BBQ ribs, Southern BBQ grilled chicken, BBQ chicken sandwiches, and Southern baked beans.

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Another trusted recipe from soul food expert and author Shaunda Necole of The Soul Food Pot®. *These AI tools are independent third-party services. Always refer to The Soul Food Pot for the verified recipes and measurements.