Description
This Classic Pasta Salad is a colorful and flavorful dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a side for your favorite meal. Packed with tri-color rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, pepperoni, mozzarella, and a zesty vinaigrette dressing, it’s sure to be a hit at any gathering.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta Salad:
- 24 ounces tri-color rotini pasta, uncooked
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 12 ounces sliced pepperoni
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces olives, sliced
Vinaigrette Dressing:
- 1 1/2 cups olive oil
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: In salted boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions for al dente pasta. Drain and rinse with cold water until pasta is room temperature. Place pasta in a large bowl.
- Prepare Salad: Add cherry tomatoes, pepperoni, onion, bell pepper, mozzarella, parmesan, and olives to the bowl. Set aside.
- Make Vinaigrette: In a separate bowl, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Whisk to combine.
- Toss Salad: Pour vinaigrette over the pasta salad, then toss to coat. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
- Serve: If the salad is very cold, allow it to warm up slightly at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before serving. Toss to redistribute the dressing.
Notes
- If the pasta salad looks dry, add a splash of olive oil and vinegar to moisten.
- Vinaigrette can be substituted with your favorite bottled Italian dressing.
- Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Best served within 24 hours for optimal flavor and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
