Italian Pasta Salad

Bursting with vibrant colors and bold Mediterranean flavors, this Italian Pasta Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for any occasion. Made with tender rotini pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, sweet red bell peppers, tangy black olives, and creamy mozzarella cheese balls, every bite delivers a satisfying crunch and creamy finish. Tossed with a zesty Italian dressing and sprinkled with grated Parmesan and fresh parsley, this refreshing pasta salad is perfectly balanced with a touch of savory pepperoni. Quick and easy to prepare in just 25 minutes, it’s the perfect make-ahead dish for potlucks, barbecues, and picnics. Serve it chilled and watch it disappear!

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz rotini pasta
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 0.75 cup black olives
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese balls
• 0.5 cup pepperoni slices
• 1 cup Italian dressing
• 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.

Step 2

Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to cool it down. Set it aside to drain completely.

Step 3

While the pasta cools, prepare the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.

Step 4

Drain and slice the black olives if needed. Cut the mozzarella cheese balls in half if they are large.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, mozzarella cheese balls, and pepperoni slices.

Step 6

Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together to coat evenly.

Step 7

Add the grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, salt, and pepper. Toss again to combine.

Step 8

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.

Step 9

Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1975.4 grams (1975.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3418

Total Fat 167.00g	214%
Saturated Fat 57.70g	289%
Polyunsaturated Fat 25.90g
Cholesterol 272mg	91%
Sodium 8071mg	351%
Total Carbohydrate 348.40g	127%
Dietary Fiber 23.90g	85%
Total Sugars 60.40g
Protein 127.80g	256%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1889mg	145%
Iron 24mg	134%
Potassium 3327mg	71%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 44.1%

Protein: 15.0%

Carbs: 40.9%