Easy Italian Pasta Salad- Best Recipe Ever

Looking for the ultimate crowd-pleaser that’s unbelievably simple to make? Our Easy Italian Pasta Salad is the ‘Best Recipe Ever’ for a reason! Packed with vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients, it’s perfect for potlucks, BBQs, or a quick weeknight side dish.

Ingredients

• 16 oz (about 450g) rotini or fusilli pasta
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 pint (about 2 cups) cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 (2.25 oz) can sliced black olives, drained
• 4 oz pepperoni or salami, diced
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella balls (pearls or ciliegine), halved
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool down. Set aside.
2. While the pasta cooks, prepare your vegetables and cheese. In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced red bell pepper, green bell pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, drained black olives, diced pepperoni/salami, and halved mozzarella balls.
3. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper until well combined. This is your dressing.
4. Add the cooled pasta to the large bowl with the vegetables, meats, and cheese. Pour the prepared dressing over all the ingredients.
5. Toss gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
6. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld. For best results, chill for 2-4 hours or even overnight. Stir again before serving.