Pizza Salad a K a the World's Best Pasta Salad

Elevate your next potluck or family dinner with "Pizza Salad a.k.a. The World's Best Pasta Salad," a crowd-pleasing fusion of classic pizza flavors and hearty pasta salad. This easy-to-make dish combines tender rotini pasta with savory pepperoni, creamy mozzarella pearls, juicy cherry tomatoes, and a medley of vibrant veggies like green bell peppers and red onions. Tossed in a zesty homemade vinaigrette featuring olive oil, red wine vinegar, Parmesan, and a hint of garlic and red pepper flakes, every bite bursts with flavor. Perfectly balanced and packed with fresh basil for an herby twist, this pasta salad is irresistible when chilled and even better after the flavors merge. Ideal for picnics, BBQs, or weeknight meals, this dish will quickly become your new go-to favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 58/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz Rotini pasta
• 1 cup Pepperoni slices, quartered
• 1 cup Mozzarella pearls
• 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes, halved
• 0.5 cup Black olives, sliced
• 1 medium Green bell pepper, diced
• 0.25 cup Red onion, thinly sliced
• 0.25 cup Fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 0.25 cup Olive oil
• 3 tbsp Red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp Dried oregano
• 0.5 tsp Garlic powder
• 0.25 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes
• 0.25 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
• 0.5 tsp Salt
• 0.25 tsp Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water to cool.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, pepperoni, mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, black olives, green bell pepper, red onion, and chopped fresh basil.

Step 3

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, garlic powder, crushed red pepper flakes, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper to create the vinaigrette.

Step 4

Pour the vinaigrette over the pasta mixture and toss well to combine, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.

Step 5

Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 6

Before serving, toss the salad again to redistribute the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Step 7

Serve chilled or at room temperature and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1476.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3968.2

Total Fat 241.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 84.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.3g
Cholesterol 359.0mg	0%
Sodium 7954.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 307.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 23.7g	0%
Total Sugars 32.1g
Protein 141.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1399.0mg	0%
Iron 22.8mg	0%
Potassium 2374.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 54.7%

Protein: 14.2%

Carbs: 31.0%