Description
A refreshing Italian Pasta Salad featuring rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, mozzarella, and pepperoni tossed in Italian dressing. Perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, or as an easy make-ahead meal with vibrant flavors that meld beautifully after chilling.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup bell pepper, diced (any color)
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
Cheese and Meat
- 3/4 cup mozzarella balls or cubes
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni or salami (optional)
Dressings and Garnishes
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta in salted boiling water according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process, then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Add Vegetables and Cheese: To the bowl with pasta, add cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, mozzarella balls or cubes, and pepperoni if using. Toss gently to combine.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the Italian dressing over the salad ingredients and toss well to evenly coat everything. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley on top.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld. Before serving, toss the salad again and adjust seasoning if needed with additional salt, pepper, or dressing.
Notes
- This salad can be made a day ahead—just refresh it with an extra splash of Italian dressing before serving.
- Use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta as desired to accommodate dietary preferences.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the pepperoni or salami and add extra veggies or cheese.
- Make sure to rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and keep the pasta from sticking together.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook (after boiling pasta)
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
