Italian Pasta Salad
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4.7
528 reviews
Excellent
Italian Pasta Salad
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This classic Italian pasta salad is super easy and packed full of tasty bites! Made with a homemade Italian dressing, this simple dish is the perfect recipe to share with family and friends, or have as a side for dinner or a BBQ!
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Ingredients
For The Pasta Salad
- 16 ounces rotini tricolor or original, or other short pasta shape
- 1 cup broccoli about 1 small head of broccoli cut into small pieces
- 1 cup bell pepper diced, about 1 bell pepper
- 1 cup English cucumber sliced thinly and quartered
- ½ cup red onion finely diced, about 1/2 an onion.
- 8 ounces cherry tomato sliced in half
- 8 ounces black olives drained and sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese diced
- 5 ounces pepperoni cut or mini pepperoni, can also use salami, about 1 cup
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped, plus a little for garnish
- salt and pepper to taste
For The Dressing
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon oregano dried
- 1 tablespoon parsley dried
- 4 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 1/2 cups oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
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Instructions
For The Pasta Salad
- In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta in the water according to the package directions on the box for al dente, or the minimum cooking time. You want your pasta to be cooked, but still have a little bite. Place in a colander to drain, and quickly rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Let the pasta drain as much as possible.
- Prep your vegetables by dicing and chopping your broccoli, bell pepper, cucumber, onion (optional) and cherry tomatoes into bite-sized pieces.
- Drain your olives and slice into bite-sized pieces.
- Slice pepperoni and cheese if needed into bite-sized pieces.
For The Dressing
- In a medium-sized bowl combine garlic powder, oregano, parsley, sugar, salt and pepper together and mix well.
- Next to the spices add water, oil, vinegar and lemon juice. With a whisk quickly whip together all the dressing ingredients until combined.
Finishing The Salad
- In a large bowl combine pasta, all vegetables, meat, cheese and dressing. Mix well. Chill well!
- Garnish with fresh chopped basil, parsley and a little parmesan just before serving if desired!
Notes
- I prefer to chill this pasta salad overnight, as the flavors get even better the next day! This can be made and served right away though, but it shines even more if you make it ahead!
- You can swap 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning for the garlic, oregano, and parsley.
- You can use your favorite bottle of Italian dressing in place of the homemade dressing if you prefer.
- While I usually make this pasta salad with red onion for a crowd, at home I made it with sweet onion. Sweet onion has a little less bite to it than red onion does.
- This recipe is super easily adaptable. Some ideas of things you can swap in and out include- marinated cheese, cubed mozzarella or provolone, sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives, fresh or marinated mushrooms, other colors of bell pepper, and zucchini cut into bite-sized pieces.
Nutrition Information
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Calories
629kcal
(31%)
Carbohydrates
41g
(14%)
Protein
12g
(24%)
Fat
47g
(72%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
11g
Monounsaturated Fat
28g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
23mg
(8%)
Sodium
892mg
(37%)
Potassium
314mg
(9%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Vitamin A
920IU
(18%)
Vitamin C
35mg
(39%)
Calcium
102mg
(10%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 629 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 629kcal | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 41g | 14% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 47g | 72% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 11g | 65% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 28g | 140% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 23mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 892mg | 37% |
| Potassium | 314mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 920IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 35mg | 39% |
| Calcium | 102mg | 10% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
528 reviews
Excellent
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