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closeup of Italian pastas salad with a wooden spoon in the bowl
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5 from 8 votes

Italian Pasta Salad (with Special Seasoning)

This Classic Italian Pasta Salad is summer picnic comfort food at its best. Tri-color pasta, veggies, cheese and pepperoni fill this zesty Italian salad.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy pasta salad, easy summer dinner recipe, picnic salad, summer picnic
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 370kcal
Author: Julie Clark

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces tri-color rotini pasta
  • 1 can sliced black olives (2.25 ounce) drained
  • 5 ounces sliced pepperoni (cut into quarters)
  • 1/2 cup chopped red onion
  • 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup diced cucumber
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes halved (or cherry tomatoes)
  • 3 tablespoons pasta salad seasoning
  • 1 cup zesty Italian dressing

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to package instructions in a large pot. Drain the pasta in a colander and allow it to cool. 12 ounces tri-color rotini pasta
  • Once the pasta has cooled to room temperature, place the pasta in a large bowl. Add the drained olives, pepperoni, onion, cheese, cucumber and tomato. Mix well. 1 can sliced black olives, 5 ounces sliced pepperoni, 1/2 cup chopped red onion, 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese, 1 cup diced cucumber, 1 pint grape tomatoes
  • Refrigerate the salad to chill it for at least an hour.
  • Just before serving, sprinkle the salad seasoning on top of the salad, then pour the dressing over the top. Mix well. 3 tablespoons pasta salad seasoning, 1 cup zesty Italian dressing
  • Add more dressing, to taste. Garnish with parmesan cheese if desired.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up 48 hours. It may need more dressing to freshen it up as it sits. This is best served the day you make it.

Video

Notes

Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 10, with 1 serving being 1/10 of the salad. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 1145mg | Potassium: 301mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 679IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 1mg