Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

Bursting with bold flavors and vibrant colors, this Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing side dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, and weeknight dinners. Made with tender rotini pasta, crunchy fresh vegetables, tangy black olives, and savory pepperoni slices, every bite is coated in a zippy Italian dressing that ties it all together. Cubed mozzarella and a sprinkle of Parmesan add creamy, cheesy goodness, while fresh parsley lends a finishing touch of freshness. Ready in just 25 minutes, this easy-to-make recipe is best served chilled, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully. Add this pasta salad to your favorite party menu or enjoy it as a refreshing meal on warm summer days!

Nutriscore Rating: 61/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

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

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Step 2

While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Slice the cherry tomatoes in halves, peel and dice the cucumber, chop the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.

Step 3

Slice the black olives in halves if they are whole. Dice the mozzarella cheese into small cubes.

Step 4

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

Step 5

Pour the Italian dressing over the salad ingredients and toss everything together until well coated.

Step 6

Season the pasta salad with salt and black pepper. Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley, and mix gently to combine.

Step 7

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	2065 grams (2065.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4333

Total Fat 241.60g	310%
Saturated Fat 89.10g	446%
Polyunsaturated Fat 26.10g
Cholesterol 473mg	158%
Sodium 11330mg	493%
Total Carbohydrate 352.90g	128%
Dietary Fiber 23.10g	83%
Total Sugars 61.60g
Protein 176.80g	354%

Vitamin D 51IU	257%
Calcium 2854mg	220%
Iron 30mg	166%
Potassium 3546mg	75%

*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: 50.6%

Protein: 16.5%

Carbs: 32.9%