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Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta salad is a quick and easy pasta salad that has all your favorite pizza flavors but in a pasta salad. Only 6 ingredients and done in 30 minutes!
AN EASY‚ FUN PASTA SALAD RECIPE
This summer I’ve been craving cold pasta salads but I haven’t wanted the same ole salads. Something to change up the usual cold pasta salad routine. This Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad was incredibly tasty‚ easy to make and there are a lot of possibilities with this one! It combines flavors from savory pizza with the tanginess of pasta salad with Italian dressing and crafts a delicious pasta salad dish.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I add other vegetables to this? Absolutely! Just use whatever you think would work with the pizza flavors. Bell peppers (green red or yellow)‚ sliced olives and red onions would work nicely in this! What’s the best Italian dressing to use? Just use your favorite bottled dressing. You want one with a good punch of flavor. You could even make your own homemade Italian dressing! For a slightly more creamy dressing‚ try using Olive Garden’s Italian dressing. Can I use a different pasta? Absolutely! You can use any pasta shape that you want. Just make sure it is 16 ounces (1 pound). Penne‚ rotini‚ bow tie‚ shell or even spaghetti work well with this. Can I just use preshredded cheese? One thing I have found is freshly shredded parmesan seems to work best here since it blends better than the store bought shredded bags of cheese‚ but of course‚ you can use whatever is easiest. Where do you find pepperoni sticks in the store? You can usually find these sticks of pepperoni near the bags of sliced pepperoni. If not‚ you can get a 1/2 pound block of pepperoni from the deli counter at your grocery store. Do I have to wait that long for it to chill? I know it seems like forever to wait for it to chill and mix the flavors‚ but it’s totally worth it. Don’t skip that step. The flavors really set up as it hangs out for a couple of hours in the fridge. It makes all the difference! What herbs and spices could I add? If you want to “up” the Italian flavor‚ you can always add additional Italian spices to this: 1/2 teaspoon each of dried Oregano‚ Basil‚ Red Pepper flakes‚ Garlic Powder and Salt and Pepper (to taste). How do I store leftovers? Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad needs to be covered and kept stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
rotini pasta – other types can be used‚ check out the FAQ section for more ideas.
pepperoni – I used a pepperoni stick and then sliced it up‚ but you could use pepperoni slices.
mozzarella cheese – mozzarella cheese balls are also an option if you don’t want to dice up a block of mozzarella cheese.
Italian dressing – use whatever you enjoy here. The Olive Garden Salad Dressing works well here too.
tomatoes – cherry or grape tomatoes are optimal‚ but you could also chop up a beefsteak tomato.
freshly shredded parmesan cheese – if you don’t like parmesan cheese‚ you could try Romano cheese or just leave it out.
HOW TO MAKE PEPPERONI PIZZA PASTA SALAD
In a large stock pot of boiling water‚ cook your pasta until al dente (following the directions on the back or side of the box.) When finished cooking‚ drain and rinse pasta with cool water. Let it drain well‚ then add to a large lidded bowl.
Chop up all of the mozzarella and pepperoni into 1-inch cubes. And slice the grape tomatoes in half (I usually cut them lengthwise).
Add those to the cooled pasta.
Pour the Italian dressing on top. You don’t have to use the whole bottle. This all comes down to taste. Give it all a good stir. Next‚ add the shredded parmesan cheese and give it another good stir. Cover with plastic wrap or a fitted lid.
Then pop it into the refrigerator to cool for at least 2 hours. And serve!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Summer Spaghetti SaladCaprese Pasta SaladRuby Tuesday Pasta SaladBacon Ranch Pasta SaladChicken Bacon Pasta SaladChicken Macaroni SaladTuna Macaroni SaladBaked Pizza Pasta (+Video)Pepperoni Pizza Cups
Originally published: August 2012Updated photos &; republished: March 2024
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Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta salad is a quick and easy pasta salad that has all your favorite pizza flavors but in a pasta salad. Only 6 ingredients and done in 30 minutes!
Course SaladCuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes minutesCook Time 10 minutes minutesTotal Time 30 minutes minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 601kcal
Author Brandie @ The Country Cook
Ingredients1 pound (16 ounce) box rotini pasta8 ounce package whole pepperoni8 ounce package mozzarella cheese16 ounce bottle of your favorite Italian dressing1 cup grape tomatoes½ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
InstructionsIn a large stock pot of boiling water‚ cook the pasta until al dente (following the package directions). When finished cooking‚ drain and rinse pasta with cool water. Let it drain well‚ then add to a large bowl. Chop up all the mozzarella and pepperoni into 1-inch cubes. Add to cooled pasta in the bowl.Slice the grape tomatoes in half (I usually cut them lengthwise) and add to the bowl. Pour the Italian dressing on top (using as little or as much as you like). Give it all a good stir. Finally add shredded Parmesan Cheese and give it another good stir. Cover with plastic wrap or a fitted lid. Then pop the bowl into the refrigerator to cool for at least 2 hours before serving.
Video
Notes
Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
NutritionCalories: 601kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 33g | Sodium: 1339mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g