Sean’s Antipasto Pasta Salad is a hearty salad that comes together quickly and satisfies the heartiest of appetites.
Well, Happy Monday morning friends! How was everyone’s weekend?
If you happen to be a mom, I’m hoping your weekend was full of love, rest and relaxation and of course, some delicious food! My weekend was absolutely wonderful. The sun finally decided to show its face on Sunday which made Mother’s Day even more special! And a Mother’s Day breakfast at my favorite spot at the Jersey Shore, the Fishin’ Pier Grille, made the day just spectacular!
I am getting so excited guys because it was boppin’ this weekend at the beach! Everyone is working on their businesses, homes, boats and everything in between. Flowers are blooming, boats are going in the water and town is coming alive again! I’m anxiously counting the days til Memorial Day! Aren’t you?
Today’s recipe for Sean’s Antipasto Pasta Salad is a summer favorite and a favorite of my oldest son Sean (hence the name). When Sean was growing up, I made it all during the summer so he could take it to his summer jobs for lunch. I don’t think I know anyone who loves an Italian hoagie more than he does. So creating a pasta salad to change things up a bit with all his favorite hoagie ingredients was easy and immediately became a regular in the lunch rotation.
I think most pasta salads are relatively easy to whip up, but this one has to be the easiest ever. Just boil up your pasta, add some cubed hard salami, capicola ham, smoked provolone and some popular hoagie fixins’. I ask the people at the deli counter to slice me up two slices each of the cold cuts and the cheese, close to 1/2 inch thick and then I cube it all up. I add some roasted red peppers, grape tomatoes, red onion and banana peppers because those are Sean’s favorite hoagie toppings, but feel free to add what toppings you prefer. Toss it all with your favorite Italian dressing and BAM! Now, hopefully Sean’s favorite Antipasto Pasta Salad will be your favorite too! Hope you enjoy!
I’m so excited to share a special cocktail on the blog this Thursday! It’s been a while since I’ve shared one with you guys and this one will be a summer winner, I guarantee it! I was inspired by a cocktail I enjoyed when Tom and I were visiting Sean in Charleston at Thanksgiving and I’ve been keeping it under my hat waiting for the right time to share! With summer coming, it’s the PERFECT time! Hope to see you back at the BHK on Thursday because you won’t want to miss it!
- 1 lb penne pasta cooked according to package directions
- 2 cups hard salami cubed
- 2 cups capicola ham, cubed
- 2 cups sharp provolone cubed
- 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes quartered
- 1 cup banana pepper rings
- 1 cup roasted red peppers sliced
- 3/4 cup red onion sliced and roughly chopped
- 1 cup zesty Italian dressing
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In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
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Place drained and cooled pasta in large bowl. Add salami, capicola ham, sharp provolone, tomatoes, banana pepper rings, roasted peppers and red onion. Toss with dressing. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator.
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Just before serving, toss and add more dressing if needed.
Yes, wasn’t it AMAZING to finally see the sun over New Jersey? I almost couldn’t believe it. Meantime, this salad is full of so many good things, and a great way to celebrate the great weather! Have a wonderful, sunny week. :)
Yes, it was great to finally enjoy some nice weather Kate! Hope you have a wonderful week too!
Glad you had a nice weekend and Mother’s Day and the weather was nice for you, Mary Ann! What a lovely salad. So unique! And so many flavours going on…love the banana peppers; perfect little hint of spice! Have a lovely week :)
Thanks Dawn! Sean LOVES this one! Hope you have a great week too!
An Italian hoagie is Boys favorite sandwich and I’m always using those ingredients in dishes.. so it sounds like my husband and your son could be long lost relatives! ;) I make him a similar pasta salad in the summer, but yours looks just fabulous, Mary Ann! I can’t wait to make this for Boy!! Pinned! Cheers, friend!
P.s. So thrilled you had a wonderful Mother’s day!
P.s.s. I can not wait to see that cocktail!!!
Then Boy will totally love this pasta salad Cheyanne! I’m so excited to share the cocktail Cheyanne!
I Can. Not. Wait. For Memorial Day weekend either Mary Ann! And finally seeing the sun this weekend makes me wish it were even closer. This salad is perfect for those warm weather days and a crowd pleaser for sure. Can’t wait to try!
I know Cathy, I’m totally counting the days!!
This is definitely coming with me to all Memorial Day cookouts. Looks super tasty!
Yay! It’s so easy and so delicious Karen. You’re going to love it!
Oh wow this looks like a perfect celebration of spring. I would love to have some of this at a Memorial Day BBQ. Your son sounds like he has good taste, just like his mom ;)
Sean loves this one Sarah! Thanks so much!
We go to Indiana to see family for Memorial Day so I couldn’t be more excited. YAY for all things summer, including this fresh pasta salad! Looks lovely, Mary Ann!!
YES, YAY for all things summer Lauren! It will be here before we know it!
This is great, Mary Ann. A mash-up of a pasta salad and a chopped salad! Your son is a lucky guy. I am so looking forward to Memorial day – sounds like everyone is in your neck of the woods too! Your pictures look wonderful – so bright and pretty.
Yes, excatly! It’s a tasty salad. Thanks Geraldine! It had been raining here for almost two weeks straight!! UGH! So looking forward to summer and sunny weather!
What a great looking pasta salad! This is a must for Memorial Day weekend! :)
Thanks Laura! Sounds like a good plan!
Oh wow… another winner Mary Ann. I’m always looking for great new salads to take to summer gatherings – looks like this one will definitely make the rotation! Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Thanks Mary Beth! Trade you this pasta salad for that crazy delicious looking s’mores pie?!
I love salads like this. There is a German version without the pasta , it is called Fleischsalat (meat salad) and my mother loved it.
Me too Gerlinde. It’s a meal in itself really. Hope you have a great week!
This has to be the best pasta salad ever! I wish I could have some and sit on your beach while watching boats come in and out! I’m looking forward to your cocktail!
You’ll love this one Rachelle! So easy, so hearty and so delicious! I’m excited to share the cocktail!
What a great salad! I can see why it’s his favourite :) Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Thanks Jennifer, I hope you did too!
Wow this looks amazing! The colors are beautiful. I think this will be a great summer bbq recipe! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Amanda! I love the colors too! It’s wonderful at BBQ’s. Always a crowd pleaser!
WOW! This pasta salad look AMAZING! I am glad you had a great weekend, it is always nice when the sun comes out! Your photos are always so colorful and beautiful. You inspire me! Great recipe Mary Ann, cant wait to try this one. :)
Thanks Amanda! I’m glad. It’s always a great recipe for summer parties!
YUM Mary Ann!! This looks like such a good and hearty salad. I’m thinking this is a salad that my son would eat…which would be a major paradigm shift over here. So good. Can’t wait to see that cocktail!! xoxo
My son Sean just loves this one! I’m so excited to share the cocktail tomorrow!
Hello, do you have a recipe for zesty Italien dressing?
Thank you.
Hi Donna. No, I don’t have one on the blog. I used a Zesty Italian bottled dressing from the market for this pasta salad to keep it easy.
Thank you for your response. I’ll look for a good one. Thank you again for your recipes!