The Best Easy & Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Recipe (Make-Ahead Friendly)
Make this crowd-pleasing Italian pasta salad for your next gathering. It features rotini pasta, mozzarella, pepperoni, olives, and a zesty homemade Italian dressing. It is simple to prepare and great for potlucks or BBQs.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 1 cup cubed mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup sliced pepperoni or salami
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water to cool it down quickly. Place the cooled pasta in a large bowl.
- Prepare the zesty Italian dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until combined.
- Add the mozzarella cheese, pepperoni or salami, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and green bell pepper to the bowl with the pasta.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta and mix gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Sprinkle the shredded Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Cover the bowl and chill the pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together.
Notes
- You can prepare this cold pasta salad a day ahead of time for easier entertaining.
- For a high-protein version, add grilled chicken breast pieces.
- If you are making this for a crowd, double the dressing recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 20
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
- Cholesterol: 45