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Classic Pasta Salad

Classic pasta salad with rotini, diced peppers, black olives, and cheese tossed in a bold Italian dressing. Cooked al dente, rinsed cold, chilled for at least 1 hour, then re-tossed for peak flavor and a crisp-tender bite.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and vegetables
  • 1 lb rotini
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 0.5 red onion, diced
  • 1 cup black olives, sliced
  • 4 oz salami or pepperoni, halved
  • 4 oz mozzarella, cubed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Dressing and seasonings
  • 16 oz Italian dressing
  • 0.25 tsp Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to taste
  • 1 Fresh parsley for garnish

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Cook the rotini until al dente, then drain it.
  2. Rinse the drained pasta cold under running water to stop cooking, then cool until no longer steaming.
Build the salad
  1. Add the cooled rotini to a large mixing bowl.
  2. Toss in the diced green bell pepper, diced red bell pepper, and diced red onion.
  3. Add the sliced black olives, halved salami or pepperoni, cubed mozzarella, and halved cherry tomatoes.
Dress and season
  1. Pour the Italian dressing over the pasta mixture.
  2. Sprinkle in Italian seasoning and toss to coat every bite.
  3. Season with salt and pepper, then toss again until evenly combined.
Chill and finish
  1. Refrigerate the pasta salad at least 1 hour.
  2. Right before serving, toss the salad and add more dressing if needed to loosen and shine.
  3. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes

For the best texture, cool the pasta thoroughly after rinsing so the dressing doesn’t turn watery. Store covered in the refrigerator for 3–4 days; add a splash of extra Italian dressing and toss after chilling. Freezing is not recommended. For a lighter option, use low-fat mozzarella or swap part of the salami/pepperoni for turkey or grilled chicken.