Raise your hand if, like us, seeing a meat and cheese tray is basically like instant nirvana – even better if there are olives thrown in the mix as well! We’re obsessed with all things Italian, so it’s no surprise that a charcuterie board with sliced meats and yummy cheeses and salty snacks brings us to our happy place…which is why we took that inspiration and turned it into a summery, Tuscan pasta salad.

Skip the macaroni or penne or rotini pasta, and instead go with fettuccine or longer egg noodles of some sort. The noodles grip the Italian dressing, so you get tons of flavor in each bite, along with chunky bites of salami, cannellini beans, olives, tomatoes, spinach, red onions and fresh herbs. Plus, the dressing is deliciously creamy, while still feeling light (perfection!); it’s got mayo and Greek yogurt, and then it gets its kick from white wine vinegar and dijon mustard – with a healthy dose of Italian seasoning to make this as Tuscan as it can get. It’s jam-packed with flavor (and nutrients!) and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

While you could easily add in just about any other Italian-esque ingredient you like, we think our recipe hits just the right note and does a great job balancing all the different flavors. The dressing is zesty and flavorful without overpowering the other ingredients, like the salami and olives, and the other ingredients all play nicely together and make this salad utterly delicious.

We particularly like the addition of the white beans and spinach, since they’re more subtle flavors on their own, but add plenty of protein and iron respectively, and then get all sauced up in dressing and help take this dish to the next level. Whether it’s served as a side dish or the main course, this pasta salad knocks it out of the park every time, you’ll see!