Pepperoni Pasta Salad
Bright, zesty, and packed with bold flavors, this Pepperoni Pasta Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for your next potluck, picnic, or busy weeknight dinner. Featuring rotini pasta tossed with savory pepperoni slices, juicy cherry tomatoes, briny black olives, and crunchy green bell peppers, this dish offers a delightful mix of textures in every bite. A tangy drizzle of Italian dressing ties it all together, while shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses add a rich, creamy finish. Fresh parsley and red onions provide a pop of color and zest, making this chilled pasta salad as visually appealing as it is delicious. Ready in just 25 minutes and easy to prepare ahead, this pepperoni pasta salad is the perfect blend of convenience and flavor. Serve it cold for a refreshing side dish or a satisfying meal in itself!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup pepperoni slices
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup black olives
- 1 green bell pepper
- 0.5 red onion
- 0.75 cup Italian dressing
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, typically about 8-10 minutes.
Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Set aside.
While the pasta cools, chop the green bell pepper into small bite-sized pieces, halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the black olives if needed, and finely dice the red onion.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, pepperoni slices, cherry tomatoes, black olives, green bell pepper, red onion, shredded mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
Add the Italian dressing, salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Toss everything together until well coated and evenly distributed.
Sprinkle fresh parsley over the top for garnish and an extra burst of flavor.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour to chill and let the flavors meld.
Before serving, give the pasta salad a quick toss to redistribute the dressing. Adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
Serve chilled and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3610 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 191.9 g | 246% | |
| Saturated Fat | 65.2 g | 326% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 19.8 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 357 mg | 119% | |
| Sodium | 9050 mg | 393% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 325.3 g | 118% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 21.0 g | 75% | |
| Total Sugars | 43.0 g | ||
| Protein | 136.2 g | 272% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 1450 mg | 112% | |
| Iron | 26.9 mg | 149% | |
| Potassium | 2582 mg | 55% | |
*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.
