Description
This delicious Italian Pasta Salad is a colorful medley of rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, savory meats, and zesty dressing. It’s a perfect side dish for any occasion, from backyard BBQs to potluck gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad:
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup mozzarella pearls
- 1/4 cup salami or pepperoni slices, quartered
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil salted water and cook pasta until al dente. Rinse under cold water.
- Prepare Salad: In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, olives, mozzarella, salami, and parsley.
- Add Dressing: Pour Italian dressing over the salad and toss. Season with salt and pepper.
- Chill: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese, chill for 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a lighter option, use turkey pepperoni or omit the meat entirely.
- This salad can be made a day ahead and kept in the refrigerator.
- Add extra dressing before serving if it has absorbed into the pasta.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: Boiling, Tossing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
