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Best Italian Pasta Salad with Pepperoni (Easy 15-Minute Recipe)

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This best Italian pasta salad with pepperoni is quick, easy, and absolutely delicious. It’s the one that disappears first at every potluck and the one you’ll find yourself craving on a random Tuesday.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 6 ounces (170g) pepperoni, sliced and quartered
  • 8 ounces (225g) fresh mozzarella pearls or cubed
  • 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup (75g) black olives, sliced
  • 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium bell pepper (any color), diced
  • 1 cup (240ml) Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rotini and cook according to package directions until al dente (about 8-10 minutes).
  2. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process. Shake off as much water as possible.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, quarter the pepperoni slices, halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the black olives, thinly slice the red onion, and dice the bell pepper. Cube the mozzarella if not using pearls.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, quartered pepperoni, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, black olives, red onion, and bell pepper.
  5. Pour the Italian dressing over the top. Start with about 3/4 cup and add more as needed. You want everything lightly coated, not swimming in dressing.
  6. Gently toss everything together until well combined. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  7. Sprinkle the fresh chopped parsley over the top for garnish. Serve immediately, or for best results, let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.

Notes

The pasta will absorb some of the dressing as it sits. If making ahead, reserve a little extra dressing to toss in right before serving. Salt the pasta water generously. Don’t skip rinsing the pasta. Let the salad rest for 30 minutes to an hour for best flavor. Use fresh mozzarella for best texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian pasta salad, pepperoni pasta salad, easy pasta salad, 15-minute recipe, potluck pasta salad

Find it online: https://lindabake.com/best-italian-pasta-salad-with-pepperoni-easy-15-minute-recipe/