This medley of perfectly cooked rotini pasta, pepperoni slices, and a mouthwatering blend of fresh ingredients will leave you craving more. Whether you're hosting the next barbecue, packing a picnic, or simply looking for an easy side dish, this Rotini Pasta Salad is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
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This is one of my favorite cold pasta salad recipes. Made with fresh ingredients and an easy cooking process, this is a great recipe for large crowds and picky eaters.
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🌟Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Fresh ingredients. This easy salad recipe is made up of fresh ingredients like green bell peppers, fresh mozzarella pearls and your own dressing.
- Made in under 20 minutes. Not much is better than a side dish that can be whipped up in minutes and feed a hungry crowd. Serve it up with my Mediterranean cucumber salad for the perfect party spread.
- Pantry staples. The homemade dressing can be made with common ingredients found in most pantries like olive oil, garlic cloves, and black pepper.
🥘Ingredients and Substitutions
- Rotini Pasta- sub out the rotini pasta for your favorite type of pasta or a gluten-free option.
- Red Onion- if you like the crunch of onion but prefer a subtler taste opt for a shallot, white or yellow onion instead.
- Green Bell Pepper- this recipe can be made with red peppers for a sweeter flavor or a mix of your favorite fresh veggies.
- Mozzarella- mozzarella pearls or small mozzarella balls are great in this salad. However, provolone and feta cheese would both be great substitutes.
See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.
🔪Instructions
Step 1: Cook the rotini pasta in a large pot, according to package instructions until al dente. Next, add the cucumber, onion, tomatoes, mozzarella, green pepper and pepperoni.
Step 2: While the pasta is cooking, combine the dressing ingredients in a large measuring cup or small bowl.
Step 3: Whisk the dressing ingredients together to combine.
Step 4: Finally, pour the dressing over the salad, toss and enjoy!
💭Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can substitute the pepperoni for your choice of cured meat. Turkey pepperoni, Spanish chorizo, or Genoa Salami are all great options.
A cold pasta salad recipe is great made ahead of time, as long as it's stored in an airtight container in the fridge and served within 3-4 days.
Of course! There are some great additions to add spice like red pepper flakes or you can opt for a spicy salami such as Spanish chorizo or a Calabrese salami.
👩🏻🍳Chef Tips
- Al dente pasta. A good pasta salad will flounder if the pasta is overcooked and falls apart. Make sure to cook the pasta just to al dente per the cooking instructions on the packaging.
- Rinse the pasta. When making hot pasta dishes, it's advised to never rinse your pasta but the opposite is true when making pasta salads. Rinsing it under cold water stops the cooking process and prevents the pasts from becoming mushy.
- Pasta salad is best served cold or at room temperature on a hot day. Make sure to fully cool the pasta before combining all other ingredients.
🥗Serving
Add this classic pasta salad recipe to your next potluck, BBQ, or dinner party for an easy crowd-pleaser. Try this pasta recipe paired with Grilled St. Louis Ribs, Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs, Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs, or my Baked Salmon Burgers.
Pair this pasta salad with these Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs for a delicious summer dinner.
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Rotini Pasta Salad with Pepperoni
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Ingredients
Pasta Salad
- 16 ounces uncooked rotini pasta
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 package of small mozzarella balls
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 1 cup pepperoni, sliced into strips
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Pasta Salad
- Cook the rotini pasta in a large pot, according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water then transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
Dressing
- While the pasta is cooking, combine the dressing ingredients in a large measuring cup or small bowl and whisk to combine.
Pasta Salad
- To the large bowl, add the cucumber, onion, tomatoes, mozzarella, green pepper and pepperoni.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve and enjoy!
Sarah's Tips
- Al dente pasta. A good pasta salad will flounder if the pasta is overcooked and falls apart. Make sure to cook the pasta just to al dente per the cooking instructions on the packaging.
- Rinse the pasta. When making hot pasta dishes, it's advised to never rinse your pasta but the opposite is true when making pasta salads. Rinsing it under cold water stops the cooking process and prevents the pasts from becoming mushy.
- Pasta salad is best served cold or at room temperature on a hot day. Make sure to fully cool the pasta before combining all other ingredients.
KITCHEN TOOLS NEEDED
- Cutting board
Ken Tilghman says
Really easy to prepare and then enjoyed by entire family. This has become my go to salad for a quick meal.
Sarah Hill says
Hi Ken, really happy to hear everyone enjoyed this salad. It's the perfect way to feed a crowd 🙂