It’s happening: the pasta salad that tastes like pizza. Pizza Pasta Salad has creamy mozzarella, spicy, meaty pepperoni, and all the classic toppings of green peppers, banana pepper rings, and olives. The sauce is a homemade Italian dressing, with all the tang, herbaceousness, and smoothness you’d expect. Pizza Pasta Salad is faster than any delivery and tastier than just about any other pasta salad. Now your barbecue can have pizza with its hamburgers without fear!
Ingredients
For the homemade Italian dressing:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons parmesan, grated
For the pasta salad:
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 3 ounces pepperoni, cut into halves or quarters
- 4 ounces mozzarella, chopped into small cubes
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 1/2 (12-ounce) jar of banana pepper rings, drained
- 1/2 (4-ounce) can of sliced black olives, drained
Directions
Step 1 –In a bowl or a jar, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and parmesan.
Step 2 –Whisk the olive oil mixture together or close the jar and shake.
Step 3 –Let the dressing flavors meld together.
Step 4 –Cook the rotini according to the package directions.
Step 5 –Drain the pasta and rinse briefly with cold water.
Step 6 –Drain the pasta again as thoroughly as possible.
Step 7 –Transfer the pasta to a large bowl.
Step 8 –Toss the pasta, pepperoni, mozzarella, bell pepper, red onion, banana pepper, and black olives together to combine.
Step 9 –Shake or stir the dressing and drizzle it over the salad.
Step 10 –Toss the salad once to coat everything in the dressing.
Step 11 –Serve.