Description
A zesty Italian pasta salad loaded with savory meats, fresh vegetables, and a homemade dressing—perfect for potlucks, meal prep, or light dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb rotini pasta
- 3.5–4 oz pepperoni, quartered
- 4 oz sliced salami, quartered
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup black olives, halved
- 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
- 2 tbsp chopped pepperoncini
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls
- Fresh Parmesan, for garnish
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
- For the dressing: 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp each: dried parsley, dried basil, dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp each: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook rotini pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and place in a large serving bowl.
- Pour half of the prepared dressing over the warm pasta and toss well to coat evenly.
- Add salami, pepperoni, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, olives, pepperoncini, and mozzarella pearls. Mix gently until combined.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours for deeper flavor.
- Before serving, toss salad with the remaining dressing. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan and chopped parsley.
Notes
- Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free option.
- Add dressing in two stages to prevent pasta from soaking it all up during refrigeration.
- Soak red onion in cold water to reduce sharpness if preferred.
- Customize proteins and veggies to suit dietary preferences.
- For a creamy twist, stir in a few tablespoons of mayo and sour cream.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-cook after boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx.)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 25mg