Zesty Italian Pasta Salad for Colorful Make-Ahead Meals
A clear, step-by-step guide to zesty Italian pasta salad, including exact ingredients, timing, and serving details.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 recipe homemade Italian dressing prepared and divided
- 1 lb rotini pasta
- 3.5-4 oz pepperoni quartered
- 4 oz sliced salami quartered
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup black olives drained and halved
- 1 orange bell pepper chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion finely diced
- 2 tbsp pepperoncini chopped
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls
- Parmesan and parsley for garnish
Instructions
Instructions
- Prepare the Italian dressing and refrigerate it until needed, shaking it again before use.
- Cook the rotini in salted water according to the package directions, drain, and transfer to a large serving bowl.
- Toss the warm pasta with half of the dressing, then fold in the pepperoni, salami, tomatoes, olives, peppers, onion, pepperoncini, and mozzarella.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours, keeping the remaining dressing separate.
- Before serving, toss with the remaining dressing and garnish with Parmesan and parsley if desired.