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Pizza Pasta Salad

Pizza salad with pepperoni pasta and melty mozzarella mixed into a cold Italian dressing pasta base. This kid-friendly party salad is tossed with pizza-style toppings like olives, bell pepper, and red onion, then chilled until flavors meld.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 950
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pizza Pasta Salad
  • 1 lb rotini pasta
  • 2 cups pepperoni slices Halve slices before assembling.
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese Cube cheese for even bites.
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes Halve tomatoes.
  • 1 cup green bell pepper Dice into small pieces.
  • 0.5 cup black olives Slice olives.
  • 0.5 cup red onion Dice onion.
  • 1 cup Italian dressing
  • 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese Grate before mixing.
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool it quickly.
Assemble the pizza toppings
  1. In a large bowl, combine the pasta with pepperoni slices, mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, green bell pepper, black olives, and red onion.
Season and toss
  1. Add Italian dressing, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder, then toss until everything is evenly coated and glossy.
Chill before serving
  1. Refrigerate the pizza pasta salad for at least 2 hours so the pasta absorbs the dressing and the toppings firm up.
Serve chilled
  1. Toss again right before serving, then serve chilled for the best pizza-inspired flavor and texture.

Notes

For the best texture, rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water and drain well so the salad doesn’t get watery. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; the flavors continue to improve after chilling. Freezing is not recommended because pasta texture can soften after thawing. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat mozzarella and a reduced-sugar Italian dressing to cut calories while keeping the same pizza vibe.