Italian Pasta Salad with Salami, Mozzarella, and Bell Peppers Recipe
A vibrant and flavorful Italian Pasta Salad combining tri-color rotini pasta with diced Italian salami, fresh vegetables, mozzarella balls, black olives, and a zesty Italian-style dressing. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or as a hearty side dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Meat
- 1 (12 ounce) package tri-color rotini pasta
- ¾ pound Italian salami, finely diced
Vegetables and Cheese
- ½ green bell pepper, sliced
- ½ red bell pepper, sliced
- ½ red onion, chopped
- 1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
- 8 ounces small fresh mozzarella balls
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Dressing
- 1 cup Italian-style salad dressing
- 3 (0.7 ounce) packages dry Italian-style salad dressing mix, or to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add tri-color rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 10-12 minutes. Drain pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta.
- Prepare Vegetables and Meats: While pasta cooks, finely dice the Italian salami. Slice the green and red bell peppers and chop the red onion. Drain the sliced black olives completely.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, diced salami, sliced bell peppers, chopped red onion, black olives, fresh mozzarella balls, and shredded Parmesan cheese.
- Add Dressing: Sprinkle the dry Italian-style salad dressing mix over the mixture. Pour in the cup of Italian-style salad dressing. Toss everything thoroughly so that all ingredients are well coated with the dressing and seasoning.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the pasta salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let flavors meld and enhance. Stir before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
- For best flavor, prepare the salad a few hours ahead or overnight to allow the dressing to soak in.
- You can substitute the Italian salami with cooked Italian sausage or pepperoni if preferred.
- Add fresh herbs like basil or parsley for an extra burst of freshness.
- If desired, reduce the amount of dry dressing mix for a less intense flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Keywords: Italian pasta salad, tri-color rotini pasta salad, Italian salami salad, mozzarella pasta salad, picnic pasta salad