Easy Ditalini Pasta Salad in a Jar – Better Than Takeout
Easy ditalini pasta salad is the ultimate better-than-takeout meal. After making this for countless potlucks and meal preps, I’ve discovered the secret to the perfect Italian dressing. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Taco Pasta Salad and Creamy Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad.
Why This Easy Ditalini Pasta Salad in a Jar – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Perfect for meal preps and potlucks
- Better than takeout, ready in 20 minutes
- Customizable with your favorite veggies and proteins
What You'll Need for Easy Ditalini Pasta Salad in a Jar – Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 12 oz ditalini pasta
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: Cooked chicken or shrimp
- Optional: Artichoke hearts
- Optional: Roasted red peppers
- Optional: Crispy bacon
📝 Ingredient Notes
- ditalini pasta: Any small pasta shape like orzo or rotini can be substituted.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Good quality olive oil — Enhances the flavor of the Italian dressing → See on Amazon
- Stainless steel mixing bowls — Keeps your salad fresh and cold → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Ditalini Pasta Salad in a Jar – Better Than Takeout
- Cook pasta: Cook ditalini pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Prepare veggies: Halve cherry tomatoes and dice cucumber. Pit and halve Kalamata olives.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and feta cheese.
- Add dressing: Pour Italian dressing over the pasta mixture. Add grated Parmesan cheese, chopped basil, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.
- Serve or store: Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Ditalini Pasta Salad in a Jar – Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: Overdressing the pasta salad can make it soggy. Start with half the amount of dressing and add more to taste.
- Pro tip: For a protein-packed meal, add cooked chicken or shrimp to the pasta salad.
- Pro tip: Make this pasta salad in a jar for easy grab-and-go meals. Layer the ingredients in the order listed in the recipe.
Storing & Reheating Easy Ditalini Pasta Salad in a Jar – Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: This recipe can be made up to 2 days ahead of time.
Freezing Easy Ditalini Pasta Salad in a Jar – Better Than Takeout
Not suitable for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not necessary, enjoy cold or at room temperature. Microwave: Not necessary, enjoy cold or at room temperature.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add some red pepper flakes to the Italian dressing.
- Best substitution: Substitute the feta cheese with crumbled goat cheese or shredded mozzarella.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the veggies and dressing ahead of time. Cook the pasta and combine just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If your pasta salad is too dry, add more Italian dressing. If it's too wet, add more cooked pasta or let it sit in the fridge for a few hours to release some moisture.
Want to level up this recipe?
Glass meal prep containers — Keeps your pasta salad fresh and makes meal prep a breeze → Check price on Amazon
Easy Ditalini Pasta Salad in a Jar – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12 oz ditalini pasta
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Seasonings
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings
- Cooked chicken or shrimp
- Artichoke hearts
- Roasted red peppers
- Crispy bacon
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Cook ditalini pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Prepare veggies: Halve cherry tomatoes and dice cucumber. Pit and halve Kalamata olives.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and feta cheese.
- Add dressing: Pour Italian dressing over the pasta mixture. Add grated Parmesan cheese, chopped basil, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.
- Serve or store: Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add some red pepper flakes to the Italian dressing.
- Best substitution: Substitute the feta cheese with crumbled goat cheese or shredded mozzarella.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the veggies and dressing ahead of time. Cook the pasta and combine just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If your pasta salad is too dry, add more Italian dressing. If it's too wet, add more cooked pasta or let it sit in the fridge for a few hours to release some moisture.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Not suitable for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Not necessary, enjoy cold or at room temperature.
- Microwave reheat: Not necessary, enjoy cold or at room temperature.
- Make ahead: This recipe can be made up to 2 days ahead of time.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 12g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Cholesterol: 20mg
- Sat. Fat: 3g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Ditalini Pasta Salad in a Jar – Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, you can make this pasta salad up to 2 days ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Pasta releases starch when it's cooked, which can make your salad watery. To fix this, let the pasta cool before adding the dressing, or add more cooked pasta to absorb the excess moisture.
While you can freeze the cooked pasta, the veggies and dressing do not freeze well. It's best to enjoy this salad fresh.
Italian dressing is the classic choice for ditalini pasta salad. You can also try ranch, Caesar, or your favorite vinaigrette.
The air fryer is not suitable for cooking pasta or making pasta salad. Stick to the stovetop or oven for this recipe.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Ditalini Pasta Salad in a Jar – Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
