Classic Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
This Classic Italian Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring tricolor rotini pasta mixed with fresh vegetables, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and a zesty Italian dressing. Perfect as a side or a light meal, it’s easy to prepare and ideal for potlucks, picnics, or family dinners.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 box (16 oz) rotini – tricolor or original
Vegetables
- 1 small head (about 1 cup) broccoli, cleaned and cut into small pieces
- 1 bell pepper or 1 cup multi-color peppers, diced
- 1 (8 oz) can black olives, drained and sliced
- 1 (8 oz) Cherry Tomatoes, washed and cut in half
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup English cucumber, sliced thinly and quartered
Dairy
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, diced
Meat
- 1 cup pepperoni pieces or salami, cut or 1 (5 oz) mini pepperoni
Herbs and Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, plus a little for garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil, chopped for garnish if desired
Dressing
- 1 bottle (16 oz) Italian salad dressing
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the rotini pasta according to the directions on the box until al dente. Once cooked, drain and rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- Combine Ingredients: Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add the prepared broccoli pieces, diced bell peppers, sliced black olives, halved cherry tomatoes, finely diced red onion, sliced and quartered English cucumber, diced mozzarella, and pepperoni pieces. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add Dressing and Toss: Pour the entire bottle of Italian salad dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss everything gently but thoroughly until all components are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator. Let the salad chill for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and develop fully.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, sprinkle fresh parsley and chopped fresh basil over the salad for added color and flavor.
- Store Leftovers: Keep any leftovers covered in the refrigerator and consume within 2-3 days for best freshness.
Notes
- Rinsing the pasta after cooking is essential to prevent it from becoming mushy and helps it absorb the dressing better.
- You can customize this salad by swapping pepperoni with salami or omit meat to make it vegetarian.
- Allowing the salad to chill for at least two hours improves flavor infusion and texture.
- Add more fresh herbs like basil or parsley for enhanced freshness.
- This salad can be made a day ahead for convenience.
Keywords: Italian pasta salad, rotini pasta salad, cold pasta salad, easy pasta salad, picnic recipes, potluck salad
Find it online: https://cookwithruby.com/classic-italian-pasta-salad-recipe/
