All the flavors of your favorite loaded pepperoni pizza turned into a tasty pasta salad! It’s quick and easy and full of so much flavor!
Quick: what’s your absolute favorite pizza? Mine?? Definitely one with all the classic toppings! (I think it’s called a “supreme” pizza right?!🤔) Pepperoni, veggies, olives, all the tomato sauce and ALL of that ooey gooey mozzarella cheese… Geez just typing that is starting to make my mouth water! And guess what babes, this tasty pizza pasta salad tastes exactly like it just tossed into a bowl and drizzled with a zesty homemade Italian vinaigrette!
Ingredients
- Rotini pasta: Feel free to use your favorite “medium” length pasta. (Penne, bowtie, cavatappi and gemelli would be great substitutions too!)
- Pepperoni: Gives your salad that classic pizza flavor! (Can use regular or turkey pepperoni)
- Cherry tomatoes: Gives your salad a burst of freshness. (You can also use grape tomatoes instead.)
- Green bell pepper: Adds a little bit of crunch.
- Red onion
- Mozzarella balls: Are soft and creamy which provides such a great contrast to the tanginess of the dressing!
- Black olives: Adds a little bit of salt to elevate each individal flavor in your salad.
- Fresh basil: Adds so much freshness!
- Zesty Italian vinaigrette: Ties it all together and really gives your salad that Italian feel! (Can be store bought or homemade. See my recipe for an easy homemade Italian vinaigrette below!)
How to make pizza pasta salad
- Cook your pasta according to the package’s direction and allow it to cool completely.
- Then add your pasta, pepperoni, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, mozzarella, olives and fresh basil and drizzle your vinaigrette over the top.
- Toss the salad and serve immediately!
This salad would also be great for an easy meal prepped lunch too! Just divide the salad into separate container and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to eat!
How to make an easy Italian vinaigrette
This recipe is hands down one of my favorite Italian dressings to use for just about everything! It’s simple to make, tangy and has just the right amount of herbs to dress up any dish!
- ½ cup olive oil (I like using extra light tasting olive oil.)
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Whisk your ingredients together in a small bowl or jar and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat!
*This dressing doesn’t just have to be for pasta salad! You can also try it on your favorite fresh greens salad too!
Toppings & Variations
- Optional toppings: Even though this pasta salad is incredibly tasty on it’s own, I’m still a toppings girl at heart. Which means I can never pass up an opportunity to sprinkle a special little something over the top! 😉 Here are of few of my favorite additions!
- Grated parmesan
- Red pepper flakes
- Extra fresh basil, sliced thin
- Diced chicken (for a little extra protein)
- Chopped Italian sausage/salami (turns this salad into more of a “meat lovers” pizza 😉 )
- Gluten free version: Simply replace the regular pasta with your favorite gluten free pasta! (Cook your gluten free pasta according to the package’s directions and allow it to cool. Then prepare the salad according to the recipe below.)
- Dairy free version: Replace the mozzarella balls with dairy free shredded mozzarella! (If you’re looking for a good dairy free mozzarella to try, our faovrite is the Almond Mozzarella Style Shreds from Trader Joe’s.)
More recipes you might like:
- Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
- Easy Italian Pasta Salad
- Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad
- Loaded Greek Salad with Chicken & Avocado
- Healthy Italian Sub Salad
[Made one of my recipes? Make sure to tag my social media @kalefornia_kravings – I love seeing what you create!]
Easy Pizza Pasta Salad
This zesty pasta salad is loaded with all of your favorite classic pizza toppings! Pepperoni, veggies, mozzarella – all tossed in a tangy homemade Italian dressing! It's full of flavor and is always a crowd favorite!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
For the pasta salad:
- 1 box dry rotini pasta
- 50 pepperonis, halved (can use turkey pepperoni insetad)
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¾ of a green bell pepper, chopped
- ½ of a red onion, sliced thin
- 1 6oz can sliced black olives
- 8 oz. mozzarella pearls (or fresh mozzarella cut into small cubes)
- ¼ cup fresh basil, sliced thin
- Optional toppings: grated parmesan & fresh basil
For the Italian vinaigrette:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
To make the vinaigrette:
- Whisk all of your ingredients together in small bowl or jar and store it in the fridge while you prepare the rest of your salad.
To make the pasta salad:
- Cook your pasta according to the packaged directions. Allow the pasta to cool completely.
- Then add the pasta, pepperoni, tomatoes, green pepper, onion, mozzarella, olives and fresh basil and drizzle it with your desired amount of vinaigrette.
- Toss the salad and serve it immedaiately with your desired toppings!
Notes
*These are just suggested amounts. If you preferred more or less of an ingredient please feel free to make the salad according to your preferences.
Gluten frees version: Replace the regular pasta with your faovrite gluten free pasta.
Dairy free version: Omit the mozzarella pearls and replace them with dairy free shredded mozzarella.
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