Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
Bursting with bold flavors and vibrant colors, this Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing side dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, and weeknight dinners. Made with tender rotini pasta, crunchy fresh vegetables, tangy black olives, and savory pepperoni slices, every bite is coated in a zippy Italian dressing that ties it all together. Cubed mozzarella and a sprinkle of Parmesan add creamy, cheesy goodness, while fresh parsley lends a finishing touch of freshness. Ready in just 25 minutes, this easy-to-make recipe is best served chilled, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully. Add this pasta salad to your favorite party menu or enjoy it as a refreshing meal on warm summer days!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 0.5 medium red onion
- 1 cup black olives
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (cubed)
- 1 cup pepperoni slices
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Slice the cherry tomatoes in halves, peel and dice the cucumber, chop the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.
Slice the black olives in halves if they are whole. Dice the mozzarella cheese into small cubes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, mozzarella cheese cubes, and pepperoni slices.
Pour the Italian dressing over the salad ingredients and toss everything together until well coated.
Season the pasta salad with salt and black pepper. Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley, and mix gently to combine.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3529 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 246.2 g | 316% | |
| Saturated Fat | 93.7 g | 469% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 26.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 418 mg | 140% | |
| Sodium | 11180 mg | 486% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 192.4 g | 70% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 15.3 g | 55% | |
| Total Sugars | 51.5 g | ||
| Protein | 141.9 g | 284% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.9 mcg | 9% | |
| Calcium | 2735 mg | 210% | |
| Iron | 20.5 mg | 114% | |
| Potassium | 2419 mg | 51% | |
*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.
