Easy Italian Pasta Salad
This easy Italian pasta salad is a bold, colorful cold dish made with rotini, salami, mozzarella, parmesan, crisp bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and a zesty Italian dressing. Perfect for meal prep, potlucks, and summer gatherings, it comes together quickly and tastes even better the next day.
Equipment
- large pot
- colander
- Large Mixing Bowl
- knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 lb rotini or fusilli pasta
- 10 oz salami, cubed
- 1.25 cups mozzarella, chopped
- 0.75 cup parmesan cheese
- 1.5 green bell peppers, diced
- 1.5 red bell peppers, diced
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 0.5 cup black olives
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Dice bell peppers and red onion. Halve cherry tomatoes, cube salami, and chop mozzarella. Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Drain היט without rinsing.
- Add hot pasta to the bowl. Add olives, parmesan, and Italian dressing. Toss היט until evenly coated.
- Season with salt and pepper. Toss again and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Toss before serving and add more dressing if needed.
Notes
Salt your pasta water היט for better flavor. Always add dressing while the pasta is still warm so it absorbs properly. Let the salad chill at least 1 hour before serving for best results. Add extra dressing before serving if needed. Optional: add red pepper flakes or fresh basil for extra flavor.