Italian Pasta Salad
Bursting with vibrant colors and bold Mediterranean flavors, this Italian Pasta Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for any occasion. Made with tender rotini pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, sweet red bell peppers, tangy black olives, and creamy mozzarella cheese balls, every bite delivers a satisfying crunch and creamy finish. Tossed with a zesty Italian dressing and sprinkled with grated Parmesan and fresh parsley, this refreshing pasta salad is perfectly balanced with a touch of savory pepperoni. Quick and easy to prepare in just 25 minutes, it’s the perfect make-ahead dish for potlucks, barbecues, and picnics. Serve it chilled and watch it disappear!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 large red bell pepper
- 0.5 medium red onion
- 0.75 cup black olives
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese balls
- 0.5 cup pepperoni slices
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to cool it down. Set it aside to drain completely.
While the pasta cools, prepare the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.
Drain and slice the black olives if needed. Cut the mozzarella cheese balls in half if they are large.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, mozzarella cheese balls, and pepperoni slices.
Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together to coat evenly.
Add the grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, salt, and pepper. Toss again to combine.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
459 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 29.3 g | 38% | |
| Saturated Fat | 11.0 g | 55% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.2 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 42 mg | 14% | |
| Sodium | 1552 mg | 67% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 31.6 g | 11% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.9 g | 10% | |
| Total Sugars | 8.4 g | ||
| Protein | 17.7 g | 35% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 302 mg | 23% | |
| Iron | 2.6 mg | 14% | |
| Potassium | 404 mg | 9% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
