Ugly Pasta Salad

Bright, bold, and bursting with flavor, the "Ugly Pasta Salad" is a vibrant medley of colorful vegetables, tender rotini pasta, and irresistible mix-ins like mozzarella pearls and zesty pepperoni slices. Despite its quirky name, this crowd-pleaser is anything but unattractive when it comes to taste, thanks to a flavorful basil pesto and Italian dressing blend that ties everything together. Packed with cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and sweet bell peppers, it’s a refreshing, hearty dish perfect for potlucks, picnics, or meal prep. Ready in just 30 minutes and served chilled for optimal flavor, this pasta salad is a delicious, no-fuss option for easy entertaining or weeknight dinners. Search no further for your next go-to summer salad recipe!

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 ounces Rotini pasta
• 1 pint Cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium Cucumber
• 2 Bell peppers (assorted colors)
• 0.5 Red onion
• 0.5 cup Olives (black or green, pitted)
• 8 ounces Mozzarella pearls (or cubed mozzarella)
• 0.5 cup Pepperoni slices
• 0.5 cup Fresh parsley
• 0.5 cup Basil pesto
• 0.25 cup Italian dressing
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and chop the bell peppers into bite-sized pieces. Finely slice the red onion. Roughly chop the parsley.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, red onion, olives, mozzarella pearls, and pepperoni slices.

Step 4

In a small bowl, whisk together the basil pesto and Italian dressing. Pour the dressing mixture over the pasta salad and toss everything together to coat evenly.

Step 5

Add salt and ground black pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning if needed.

Step 6

Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Garnish with additional parsley just before serving, if desired.

Step 7

Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy your 'Ugly Pasta Salad'!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1797.8 grams (1797.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3625

Total Fat 187.90g	241%
Saturated Fat 61.60g	308%
Polyunsaturated Fat 6.40g
Cholesterol 318mg	106%
Sodium 7980mg	347%
Total Carbohydrate 337.70g	123%
Dietary Fiber 27.50g	98%
Total Sugars 55.90g
Protein 139.60g	279%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 2460mg	189%
Iron 24mg	131%
Potassium 3819mg	81%

*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: 47.0%

Protein: 15.5%

Carbs: 37.5%