Description
Easy Italian antipasto pasta salad is a fresh, colorful, and flavor-packed dish loaded with pasta, savory meats, cheese, olives, and crisp vegetables tossed in tangy Italian dressing. It is perfect for potlucks, meal prep, summer gatherings, or simple family dinners.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta (rotini, penne, or bow tie)
- 1 cup salami, chopped
- 1 cup pepperoni, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup green olives, sliced
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup banana peppers, sliced
- 1 cucumber, chopped
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
- Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl.
- Chop the salami, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, cucumber, and vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
- Add the salami, pepperoni, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, olives, red onion, banana peppers, and cucumber to the bowl with the pasta.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese and fresh parsley over the top.
- Chill the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
Notes
- Add artichoke hearts or roasted red peppers for additional flavor.
- Use turkey pepperoni and reduced-fat cheese for a lighter version.
- Chickpeas make a great protein-rich addition.
- Mix in spinach or arugula right before serving for extra freshness.
- Add extra Italian dressing before serving leftovers if the salad seems dry.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
