Description
Classic Italian Pasta Salad is a refreshing, vibrant dish combining rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, red onion, olives, pepperoni, bell pepper, and a zesty homemade Italian dressing. Fresh basil and parsley add aromatic flavor. This pasta salad is ideal for picnics or gatherings, as it’s easily made ahead and develops more flavor after chilling for a couple hours.
Ingredients
- 1 lb rotini or penne pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup pepperoni, diced
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, red onion, black olives, pepperoni, and bell pepper.
- Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to make the dressing.
- Pour dressing over pasta mixture; toss well to coat.
- Add fresh basil and parsley, then toss again.
- Refrigerate pasta salad for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.
- Toss before serving, adding more dressing if needed.
- Garnish with additional fresh herbs as desired.
Notes
For substitutions, try bow-tie or macaroni pasta, vegan cheese for mozzarella, or omit pepperoni for a vegetarian version. Prep ahead and refrigerate for up to 3 days for best flavor; store in an airtight container. If pasta absorbs the dressing, stir in a bit more before serving. Use high-quality olive oil for best results and ensure pasta is fully cooled to prevent melting the cheese.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian