Description
A refreshing and flavorful Italian Pasta Salad recipe that is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a quick summer side dish. This colorful salad is packed with rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, mozzarella, and a zesty Italian dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad:
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cup cucumber (diced)
- 3/4 cup black olives (sliced)
- 3/4 cup mozzarella balls or cubes
- 1/2 cup red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1/2 cup salami or pepperoni (diced)
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3/4 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, black olives, mozzarella, red onion, salami, and Parmesan cheese.
- Add Dressing: Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
- Chill and Serve: Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley just before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the salami or pepperoni.
- You can use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta as needed.
- This salad can be made a day in advance—just give it a quick toss before serving and add more dressing if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 25mg