Description
Quick Italian Pasta Salad (with 1 Secret Ingredient) is a delightful, vibrant dish that will brighten any meal. Perfect for picnics, barbecues, or casual family dinners, this pasta salad combines fresh vegetables, savory meats, and a homemade dressing featuring a surprising secret ingredient. With its robust flavors and colorful presentation, it’s sure to impress your guests. Fast to prepare in just 25 minutes, it’s ideal for busy weeknights and makes a fantastic make-ahead option. Enjoy this crowd-pleaser as a side dish or a light main course that everyone—kids and adults alike—will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb rotini noodles
- 3.5 oz pepperoni (quartered)
- 4 oz salami (quartered)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cup black olives (halved)
- 1 orange bell pepper (diced)
- 1 green bell pepper (diced)
- 1/2 cup red onion (finely diced)
- 8 oz mozzarella pearls
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Cook rotini noodles in boiling salted water until al dente; drain and cool.
- Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, and spices in a mixing bowl.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled noodles with meats, vegetables, and mozzarella.
- Pour dressing over the salad; toss gently to coat.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 40mg