This straightforward Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing dish excellent for summer time picnics or potlucks. Filled with contemporary greens, cheese, pepperoni and dressed with a zesty do-it-yourself Italian dressing, this salad is bound to be a success. Plus, try the recipe video for step-by-step directions!
Have you ever made our Greek Pasta Salad? It’s actually good and one of the crucial widespread recipes on our web site. Right here’s the factor although, not everyone seems to be a fan of feta cheese, so we felt like we had no selection however to bust out an amazingly straightforward pasta salad recipe full with mozzarella cheese, contemporary and flavorful do-it-yourself Italian dressing, and meat and colourful greens galore.
There’s one thing about pasta salad recipes and summertime that simply make the world comfortable. I get nearly giddy the nearer we get to summer time simply fascinated about dusting off the BBQ and pulling out the garden chairs for out of doors cookouts with associates. Make some grilled chicken and grilled corn on the cob with this pasta salad with Italian dressing, and you’ve got your self the excellent summer time dinner!
What’s in Italian Pasta Salad?
I’ll be trustworthy with you — our youngsters completely pick a few of the substances on this do-it-yourself pasta salad. Two of our youngsters love straight up chilly pepperoni. So Cade and I are left to eat no matter’s leftover from this pasta salad with pepperoni. The fun of parenthood!
To make this pasta salad recipe, you’ll want:
- Rotini Pasta: Any quick, sturdy pasta works nice like penne, farfalle, fusilli, macaroni, and so forth.
- Pepperoni
- Salami
- Black Olives
- Mozzarella Cheese: Recent mozzarella balls are most well-liked.
- Parmesan Cheese: freshly grated
- Bell Pepper: I favor a crimson, yellow or orange bell pepper.
- Tomatoes: Grape or cherry tomatoes work nice.
- Pink Onion
- Italian Salad Dressing: You possibly can seize some on the grocery retailer or make it at house with the recipe we’ve included beneath.
The measurements wanted for every ingredient might be discovered within the recipe card on the finish of the submit.
Find out how to Make Italian Pasta Salad
Don’t let all of the mix-ins idiot you, this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni is as straightforward because it will get! It’s only a matter of cooking the pasta, chopping up all of the salad elements and making the dressing. Right here’s how we make this pasta salad with Italian dressing:
- Whisk: Add all of the substances for the dressing to a small bowl and whisk collectively to mix.
- Prepare dinner: Add water to a big saucepan and closely salt the water. Prepare dinner the pasta in line with bundle directions, then drain in a colander and let cool.
- Mix: Add the pasta, dressing, and remaining substances to a big bowl and gently toss to combine.
Scroll right down to the top of the submit for the entire recipe within the recipe card. It’s also possible to print or save the recipe there.
What to Serve with Italian Pasta Salad
This chilly pasta salad with Italian dressing is nice with plenty of completely different meals, from ham to pulled pork to hamburgers. You title it, I guess it’ll style good with this do-it-yourself pasta salad!
A number of of our favourite essential dishes to get pleasure from alongside this pasta salad are:
Can I Prep Pasta Salad in Advance?
It’s greatest to organize this pasta salad as near consuming it as doable. The longer it sits, the extra it should take in the dressing and switch bland in taste. To not point out, the noodles turn into overly mushy and swollen.
When you want to put together this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni forward of time, be sure the noodles are saved in a zip-top bag and the opposite substances are saved in a separate container with the dressing in a jar. That method, every little thing is prepped however nothing turns soggy!
Can Pasta Salad Be Frozen?
No. Oh, please no. Pasta doesn’t maintain up properly within the freezer except it’s in a casserole, and even then it actually struggles as a result of it absorbs the sauce or dressing simply because it does within the fridge.
Suggestions for Making Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
When cooking the pasta for this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni, you wish to prepare dinner it simply till al dente. Do not forget that the pasta will likely be sitting within the pasta salad dressing, so that you need it to have a bit of chunk to it in any other case it’ll turn into mushy.
Minimize the greens, cheese and meats pretty small so you will get all these daring flavors and textures in each single chunk.
Additionally be aware that you just’re welcome to make use of any quick, sturdy pasta you’ve available. We favor rotini pasta, however penne, macaroni, or bow-tie pasta would work too!
Lastly, as we’ve talked about in our different pasta salad recipe, you must by no means refrigerate pasta salad earlier than serving it. The pasta turns into mushy the longer it sits within the fridge, and fridge-cold pasta salad is usually too dry for our liking.
Now Watch How This Italian Pasta Salad Recipe is Made…
Searching for a fast and scrumptious pasta salad recipe? This straightforward Italian pasta salad is loaded with contemporary greens, herbs, and a zesty dressing. Good for picnics, potlucks, or as a aspect dish.
Extra PASTA SALAD RECIPES:
Description
This straightforward Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing dish excellent for summer time picnics or potlucks. Filled with contemporary greens, cheese, pepperoni and dressed with a zesty do-it-yourself Italian dressing, this salad is bound to be a success.
For the Italian Dressing:
For the Dressing:
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Put together the dressing by including every little thing to a glass jar, including the lid and shaking to mix, or whisking in a bowl.
1/2 Cup Further Virgin Olive Oil, 2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese, 1 Tablespoon Pink Bell Pepper, 1 Tablespoon Parsley, 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder, 1 teaspoon Garlic, 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice, 1 teaspoon Basil, 1 teaspoon Oregano, 1 teaspoon Sugar, Salt and Pepper, 1/4 Cup White Wine Vinegar
For the Pasta Salad:
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Prepare dinner the pasta for about 7-8 minutes, or till it is simply al dente.
1 Pound Rotini Pasta
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Place the cooked pasta in a strainer within the sink and let cool.
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Add the combination in substances and the salad dressing in addition to salt and pepper to style. Toss gently to coat and serve inside half-hour.
1 Cup Pepperoni, 1 Cup Salami, 1/2 Cup Black Olives, 1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese, 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese, 2 Tomatoes, 1 Pink Bell Pepper, 1/2 Cup Pink Onion
Retailer pasta salad in an hermetic container within the fridge. It can maintain for as much as 5 days.
Energy: 562kcal
Beneficial Merchandise
Might 2018: Initially Posted
March 2025: Content material up to date and video added