Description
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, bursting with vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients. This dish combines rotini pasta, zesty pepperoni, and creamy mozzarella pearls, all tossed in a delightful homemade Italian dressing. Perfect for summer barbecues, picnics, or as a satisfying side at family dinners, this pasta salad is both easy to prepare and incredibly versatile. Whether enjoyed as a standalone meal or paired with grilled meats, your guests will be coming back for seconds. With its bold flavors and colorful presentation, Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is sure to become a staple at your gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb rotini pasta
- 3.5–4 oz pepperoni
- 4 oz sliced salami
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup black olives
- 1 orange bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- ½ cup red onion
- 2 tablespoons pepperoncini
- 8 oz mozzarella pearls
- Homemade Italian dressing
Instructions
- Prepare the Homemade Italian Dressing and refrigerate.
- In a large pot, boil salted water and cook rotini pasta until al dente. Drain in a colander.
- In a mixing bowl, combine warm pasta with half of the dressing and toss gently.
- Add remaining salad ingredients: pepperoni, salami, cherry tomatoes, olives, bell peppers, red onion, pepperoncini, and mozzarella pearls.
- Toss until everything is well mixed. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Before serving, toss with remaining dressing and garnish with Parmesan cheese and parsley.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 30mg