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Classic Italian Pasta Salad

Classic Italian pasta salad with pepperoni, mozzarella, and tri-color rotini tossed in Italian dressing for a red-white-green look. Chill for several hours so the pasta absorbs flavor and turns tender without getting mushy.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 560

Ingredients
  

Tri-color rotini pasta
  • 1 lb tri-color rotini pasta
Pepperoni
  • 8 oz pepperoni slices
Mozzarella
  • 8 oz mozzarella cheese
Cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
Green bell pepper
  • 1 cup green bell pepper
Black olives
  • 0.5 cup black olives
Red onion
  • 0.5 cup red onion
Italian dressing
  • 1 can (16 oz) Italian dressing
Parmesan cheese
  • 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese grated
Italian seasoning
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Cook the tri-color rotini pasta according to package directions until tender. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and remove excess starch (aim for cool to the touch).
  2. Spread the rinsed pasta on a sheet pan in a single layer. Refrigerate briefly while you prep the remaining ingredients to keep the pasta from warming the salad.
Build the salad
  1. Add the pasta, halved pepperoni, cubed mozzarella, halved cherry tomatoes, diced green bell pepper, sliced black olives, and diced red onion to a large bowl. Toss gently to distribute everything evenly and create a tri-color mix.
Dress and season
  1. Pour in the Italian dressing, add the grated Parmesan, and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Toss until the pasta looks glossy and evenly coated, with no dry spots.
  2. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss again briefly so the seasoning is distributed throughout.
Chill and finish
  1. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight, tossing occasionally. The pasta salad should look saucier as the flavors soak in.
  2. Toss again before serving and add more Italian dressing if needed. Serve cold, with the pasta, pepperoni, and vegetables holding their shape.

Notes

For best texture, rinse the pasta with cold water and keep it cool before mixing—warm pasta can make the salad mushy. Refrigerate in a covered container for 3–4 days; it can be frozen only if you tolerate softer pasta after thawing (freezing not recommended for best quality). For a lighter option, use part-skim mozzarella and reduce the dressing by 2–4 tbsp while still tossing thoroughly.