This recipe for Easy Italian Pasta Salad is not only simple but quick to make. I use veggie spirals in this recipe which gives the dish a boost of nutrition and makes it even more vibrant with color!
This salad is a tasty and colorful addition to any potlucks or party.
The colors are vibrant, therefore, this dish would look great added to any Summer spread.
Mix and Match this Easy Italian Pasta Salad
I love pepperonis as an addition to this pasta salad. You can also use salami or even ham.
The addition of mini sweet peppers and red onion gives each bite a burst of sweetness but of course, you could use bell peppers in their place.
The cheddar cheese adds a wonderfully smooth texture to the dish and gives it yet another burst of color. However, you can use any cheese you prefer. 🙂
Make-Ahead Pasta Salad
I would say the minimum time to refrigerate this before serving would be 2 hours.
If you have time to make it ahead, I personally would aim to let it chill overnight.
By letting it chill overnight in the refrigerator it gives Italian dressing a chance to mingle and soak into the pasta and veggies.
Easy Potluck Recipe
This Easy Italian Pasta Salad is incredibly easy to double or even triple if you're making it for a large crowd.
The prep work is super easy - cook your noodles, dice your veggies and cheese, and add in your dressings and oil.
So simple! It's a great go-to recipe when you don't have a lot of time to prepare a dish!
Ingredients in Italian Pasta Salad
- Veggie Spiral Pasta
- Italian dressing
- Cheddar cheese
- Pepperoni
- Red onion
- Sweet mini peppers, red, orange, and yellow
- Olive oil
How to Make Italian Pasta Salad
Prepare the pasta- Boil pasta according to the package. Drain the pasta and add ¼ cup of olive oil to prevent pasta from sticking together and drying out.
Chop the veggies- After the veggies cool, add peppers, cheese, pepperoni, and onion.
Stir in the dressing- Mix in Italian salad dressing.
Chill the Italian Pasta Salad- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to marry and it will make the pasta salad more flavorful overall.
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📖 Recipe
Easy Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 package Veggie Spiral Pasta - 12 oz.
- 1 ½ cups Italian salad dressing
- ¼ cup cheddar cheese - diced
- ½ cup pepperoni - diced
- ½ red onion - diced
- ¼ cup sweet mini peppers - red, orange, and yellow, diced
- ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
- Boil pasta according to package.
- Drain pasta and add ¼ cup of olive oil to prevent pasta from sticking together and drying out.
- After it cools, add peppers, cheese, pepperoni, and onion.
- Mix in Italian salad dressing.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
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Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
Love the pepperoni in your salad! This is perfect for a cookout!
Tina Dawson says
Nothing more easier than a pasta salad to tailgate with! This sounds right up my alley!
Danielle says
You can’t beat a classic pasta salad. There are so many things that you can do with it.
Lisa Huff says
LOVE pasta salads this time of year! Love that this has pepperoni, a favorite of my kids!
Edyta at Eating European says
Beautiful colors. Such a nice and easy idea for summer pasta salad.
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
Love the pepperoni in your salad! This is perfect for a cookout!
Tina Dawson says
Nothing more easier than a pasta salad to tailgate with! This sounds right up my alley!
Danielle says
You can’t beat a classic pasta salad. There are so many things that you can do with it.
Lisa Huff says
LOVE pasta salads this time of year! Love that this has pepperoni, a favorite of my kids!
Kristine says
Pasta salads are one of my favorite summer sides! This one looks so fresh and flavorful! I can’t wait to try out the recipe, thanks!
Edyta at Eating European says
Beautiful colors. Such a nice and easy idea for summer pasta salad.