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Flavorful Italian Pasta Salad with Pepperoni

Italian pasta salad with pepperoni - featured image
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A quick and easy Italian pasta salad featuring zesty pepperoni, fresh veggies, and a punchy Italian dressing, perfect for summer parties and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces rotini or penne pasta
  • 6 ounces sliced pepperoni, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 3/4 cup Italian dressing
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of rotini or penne pasta and cook according to package instructions (usually 8-10 minutes) until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool and stop cooking. Drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
  2. While pasta cooks, halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes, dice 1 medium cucumber, 1 medium red bell pepper, finely chop 1/4 cup red onion, slice 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, and chop 1/4 cup fresh basil. Cut 6 ounces pepperoni slices into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Add the pepperoni and all chopped veggies to the cooled pasta. Toss gently but thoroughly to mix evenly.
  4. Pour 3/4 cup Italian dressing over the salad. Toss again, making sure every piece is coated. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Sprinkle 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese and chopped basil over the salad. Give one last gentle toss to combine all flavors.
  6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Cook pasta al dente and rinse with cold water to prevent sticking. Chop ingredients uniformly for balanced flavor. Chill salad for at least 30 minutes to meld flavors. Adjust salt carefully due to salty ingredients like pepperoni and olives. Salad tastes better the next day. Store leftovers in airtight container for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian pasta salad, pepperoni pasta salad, summer salad, easy pasta salad, potluck recipe, picnic salad

Find it online: https://hungermind.com/flavorful-italian-pasta-salad-with-pepperoni-easy-recipe-for-summer-parties/