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Italian Dressing Pasta Salad

Italian Dressing Pasta Salad

This Italian Dressing Pasta Salad is loaded with pasta, salami, cheese, vegetables, olives, and zesty Italian dressing.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 390
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz rotini pasta
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese cubes
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives
  • 1/2 green bell pepper diced
  • 1/4 red onion finely diced
  • 1 cup sliced salami or pepperoni
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
  • For the Dressing
  • 3/4 cup Italian dressing
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
  2. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water until completely cooled to stop the cooking process.
  3. Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl.
  4. Add the cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cubes, black olives, bell pepper, red onion, and sliced salami to the bowl with the pasta.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
  6. Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss everything together gently until evenly coated.
  7. Sprinkle fresh parsley over the salad and mix lightly once more.
  8. Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavors can blend together.
  9. Toss the salad again before serving and add extra dressing if needed.

Notes

  • Cook pasta just until al dente so it stays firm after chilling.
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water helps cool it quickly and prevents sticking.
  • Use a high-quality Italian dressing for the best flavor.
  • Add extra dressing before serving if the pasta absorbs too much while chilling.
  • Fresh mozzarella cubes give the salad a creamy texture.
  • Chill the salad before serving for the freshest flavor.
  • Slice vegetables evenly for better texture and presentation.