Description
This Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a side for any meal. Packed with colorful veggies, cheese, and a tangy dressing, it’s a crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad:
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cup cucumber (diced)
- 1 cup bell peppers (red, yellow, or green, diced)
- ½ cup red onion (thinly sliced)
- ¾ cup black olives (sliced)
- 1 cup mozzarella pearls or cubed mozzarella
- ¾ cup sliced pepperoni or salami (optional)
- 1 cup bottled zesty Italian dressing
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, red onion, black olives, mozzarella, and pepperoni or salami if using.
- Add Dressing and Seasoning: Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and toss to coat everything evenly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Chill and Serve: Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Garnish with fresh parsley just before serving.
Notes
- This salad can be made a day ahead and tastes even better after sitting overnight.
- For a vegetarian version, simply omit the meat.
- You can substitute store-bought dressing with homemade zesty Italian if preferred.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook (after boiling pasta)
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
