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Classic Italian Pasta Salad

Classic Italian pasta salad with pepperoni, mozzarella, and tri-color rotini tossed in Italian dressing. Chilled for hours so the flavors meld into a tangy, savory side dish.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 680
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Tri-color rotini pasta
  • 1 lb tri-color rotini pasta
Pepperoni and cheese
  • 8 oz pepperoni slices
  • 8 oz mozzarella cheese
  • 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese grated
Vegetables and olives
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup green bell pepper diced
  • 0.5 cup black olives sliced
  • 0.5 cup red onion diced
Dressing and seasonings
  • 16 oz Italian dressing 1 bottle
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Cook tri-color rotini pasta according to package directions, then drain it and rinse with cold water.
  2. Spread the rinsed pasta onto a sheet pan to stop further cooking and cool while you prep the add-ins.
Build the pasta salad
  1. In a large bowl, combine pasta, pepperoni slices, mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, green bell pepper, black olives, and red onion.
  2. Add Italian dressing, grated Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning, then toss until everything is evenly coated.
  3. Season with salt and pepper, then toss again to distribute the seasoning.
Chill and finish
  1. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight, tossing occasionally, until the pasta salad is thoroughly chilled.
  2. Right before serving, toss again and add more Italian dressing if needed to loosen the salad and refresh the coating.

Notes

For best texture, rinse the pasta well with cold water so it cools quickly and won’t keep cooking. Refrigerate in a covered container for up to 4 days; freezing is not recommended. If you want a lighter version, use reduced-fat mozzarella and a reduced-sugar Italian dressing to keep the same classic flavor profile.