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the best Italian pasta salad in a big bowl
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5 from 5 votes

Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

This Italian Pasta Salad is zesty, flavorful and feeds a crowd! Simple to make, it's the perfect picnic or potluck dish.
Prep Time20 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Italian Pasta Salad
Servings: 10 people
Calories: 346kcal
Author: Lisa Longley

Ingredients

  • 1 pound tri colored pasta cooked and drained (note one)
  • 1 orange bell pepper diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 2 cups grape tomatoes sliced in half
  • 3 ounces sliced pepperoni quartered
  • 6 ounces sliced black olives
  • 8 ounces mozzarella cheese cubed
  • 1/2 cup sliced pepper rings optional (found near the pickles)
  • 16 ounces Italian salad dressing (see note two)

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta according to package instructions, rinsing with cold water when done.
  • While the pasta is cooking, dice the peppers, slice the grape tomatoes, quarter the pepperoni, and cube the cheese.
  • Mix together all of the ingredients except for the salad dressing.  Add approximately 1 cup of the salad dressing to the pasta salad, reserving the rest on the side for guests to add to their portion if they would like more.
  • Serve cold.  See notes in the post for how to make this ahead of time.

Video

Notes

1. Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Immediately drain them and rinse them with cold water after cooking.
2. When mixing this salad, only use about half of the dressing, leaving the rest on the side for guests to add to their serving if they wish.

Nutrition

Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 1055mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 21IU | Vitamin C: 58mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 43mg