Pizza Pasta Salad Recipe (2024)

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Fresh and zesty Pizza Pasta Salad is packed with flavor and fresh vegetables, plus cheese and pepperoni to include all of your favorite pizza toppings. One of our family favorite crowd-pleaser recipes that's great for potlucks, barbecues, and holidays.

Pizza Pasta Salad

ThisPizza Pasta Saladis a family favorite, all year round. I love making Pizza Pasta Salad all Summer long, but I also bring it to almost every family gathering. Birthdays, holidays, you name it! And it's always a hit!

Pizza Pasta Salad isloaded with veggies and packed with flavor. Pepperoni, cheese, fresh garlic, Italian dressing. Basically all of your favorite pizza toppings and then some.

Do You Have to Rinse Pasta for Pasta Salad?

Yes, it is highly recommended to rinse the pasta under cold water after draining. The rinsing will stop the cooking process so that it will not be too mushy or over-cooked.

Can It be Made Ahead of Time?

Pizza pasta salad should definitely be made ahead of time! I try to do it at least 8 hours, but a full day is best to give the flavors enough time to absorb and marry.

Can Pizza Pasta Salad be Heated?

Yes! If you'd like to reheat the leftovers for a little something different, toss them in a large pot with some pasta sauce and heat until warmed through.

How to Serve Pizza Pasta Salad

You can serve it cold as a side dish for a barbecue or potluck. We love to serve it with simple grilled dishes like chicken or pork chops or even burgers and hot dogs.

You can also reheat it for something different. (directions above!)

One of my favorite ways to serve it is by using half chickpea pasta for a little extra protein. Then chop up some romaine hearts and toss together with the pasta salad for an actual pasta green salad. We serve it this way as a full and filling meal, and because it's a cool dish, the whole family loves it in the summer.

More Summer Salad Recipes You'll Love

  • Dill Pickle Pasta Salad - cool and creamy pasta salad with the slight tang of dill pickles.
  • Best Southern Potato Salad - family favorite potato salad with everything that makes potato salad great.
  • Creamy Southern Coleslaw - fresh cabbage and carrots in a creamy sweet and tangy dressing.
  • Easy Homemade Fruit Salad - healthy, quick, and simple. Great as a side or a healthy dessert!
  • Southern Succotash - a southern side dish made with corn and lima beans along cherry tomatoes and bacon, for a fresh and zesty side dish perfect for summer.

Pizza Pasta Salad Video

Pizza Pasta Salad Recipe (3)

Pizza Pasta Salad

Pizza Pasta Salad has all your favorite pizza ingredients, all in one side dish! Pepperoni, cheese, Italian dressing, garlic, and lots of veggies for a go-to picnic favorite!

5 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 331kcal

Author: Michelle

Ingredients

  • 12 oz uncooked rotini
  • ½ large tomato chopped
  • ½ green pepper finely chopped
  • ½ red pepper finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 (4 ounce) can sliced mushrooms
  • 1 (2.5 ounce) can sliced black olives
  • 4 green onions sliced
  • 1 (2.5 ounce) package pepperoni
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or oregano
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
  • 1 (26 ounce) bottle Zesty Italian dressing

Instructions

  • Prepare rotini according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer in a large bowl.

  • Add in remaining ingredients, except dressing. Gently toss to combine.

  • Add in the dressing. Add a little at a time, and add more if you need (that way it doesn't get over-dressed).

  • Cover and chill, preferably for at least 24 hours, until ready to serve.

Notes

  • Use chickpea rotini or gluten free noodles to make it gluten free. Omit the cheese or use a dairy free cheese alternative to make it dairy free.
  • Add some sliced hot or mild pepperoncini peppers for a little spice.
  • You can also add other pizza toppings you love such as diced red onions, fresh chopped spinach, or cooked Canadian bacon.
  • Make Ahead: This pasta salad is best made ahead of time, at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours.
  • Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 920mg | Potassium: 196mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 370IU | Vitamin C: 12.3mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 0.9mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michele says

    Loved this pizza pasta salad! I took it to a potluck and it was a hit. No leftovers and a couple of people asked me for the recipe! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  2. Amanda Dixon says

    So delicious! I love pasta salad and pizza equally, so this was my perfect side dish! Will definitely make all summer long.

    Reply

  3. Denay DeGuzman says

    This pasta salad is so delicious! I love that it was quick and easy to assemble. The family loved the great Italian flavors. We enjoyed this out on the water when boating.

    Reply

  4. Dannii says

    Yes! I am all about this combination. Anything with pizza flavours is good with me.

    Reply

  5. Michelle says

    I made this last night and my kids actually really loved this, minus the olives! (Hah, that means more for me). Delicious!

    Reply

  6. Luci Petlack says

    My husband would love this recipe. He's obsessed with pasta salad, especially with any kind of meat. And it's so hot here in Northern California, I love that I can make it before it gets too warm outside!

    Reply

  7. Lima Ekram says

    Loved this! Made it for a picnic and it was delicious! Gone in minutes!

    Reply

  8. Tara says

    Such a fun pasta salad! All the flavors sound absolutely amazing and I love the addition of the mini pepperoni. Yum!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Pizza Pasta Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the five mistakes to avoid pasta salad? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Pasta Salad
  • Using the wrong pasta. The wrong pasta type or size can make pasta salad soggy, slimy, or just plain hard to eat. ...
  • Salting only once, at the end. ...
  • Too many raw ingredients! ...
  • Overdressing or underdressing the salad. ...
  • Not seasoning again just before serving.

What is pizza salad made of? ›

Combine lettuce, salami, mozzarella cheese, Cheddar cheese, tomato, olives, and chives in a large bowl. Mix well to combine. Make dressing: Whisk together tomato sauce, oil, vinegar, sugar, oregano, salt, garlic powder, and pepper in a medium bowl. Pour enough dressing over lettuce mixture to coat; toss and serve.

How do you make pasta salad not soggy? ›

Cook the pasta al dente: Al dente pasta is firmer and less likely to become mushy or soggy when mixed with other ingredients. Rinse the pasta with cold water after cooking: This helps to remove excess starch and cool the pasta, which can help to prevent it from becoming soggy.

What is the difference between macaroni and pasta salad? ›

The main difference between the two is in the way they are dressed. Macaroni salad is usually dressed with mayonnaise, while pasta salad is usually dressed with vinaigrette. Macaroni salad is considered a type of pasta salad. In the U.S., Macaroni salad is traditionally made using elbow macaroni.

Should I rinse pasta for cold pasta salad? ›

If you're making a dish that will be served chilled or at room temp—think cold soba, rice noodles, pasta salad—you do want to rinse so that you get toothsome (sorry) individual strands rather than one big gummy clump. Certain types of noodles benefit from a rinse in almost all applications.

Do you rinse pasta after cooking for pasta salad? ›

When you're making cold pasta salads, it's helpful to rinse your cooked pasta because it's going to lower the temperature of the pasta, which is ideal given that it's going to be served chilled — often alongside other cool and/or raw ingredients.

What is pizza without meat called? ›

Vegetarian Pizza

Top these versatile pies with fresh spinach or mushrooms in addition to traditional toppings like cheese and tomato sauce. Some people also include bell peppers, onions, olives and artichoke hearts. The key to an incredible vegetarian pizza is finding the right balance of toppings to crust and cheese.

Do Italians put lettuce on pizza? ›

You don't generally find uncooked veggies on Italian pizzas -- but the exception is salad greens.

Do Italians eat salad with pizza? ›

You can combine pizza with antipasto or pizza with dessert, but never with salad. (Just eat salad for lunch and savor the pizza, you're in Italy, after all.) By the way, it's perfectly acceptable to cut your pizza into slices, and eat them with your hands.

Why does my pasta salad taste weird? ›

Vinegar and other acidic ingredients do strange things to the flavor of pasta when used in salad-level amounts. Ever notice an irritating acerbic aftertaste just about every time you've eaten pasta salad? That's the vinegar announcing itself, and it's not pleasant.

What is the best olive oil for pasta salad? ›

If you prefer an oil-based pasta salad over a mayo-based pasta salad, using quality, flavorful oil is key. You can't go wrong with California Olive Ranch's extra virgin olive oil.

Why do Italians say macaroni instead of pasta? ›

Etymology. In Italian, maccheroni refers to elongated pasta, not necessarily in tubular form. This general meaning is still retained outside Rome and in different languages which borrowed the word.

Can you use any pasta instead of macaroni? ›

Sure you can! I wouldn't use huge pasta shapes, but anything that's around elbow macaroni size- maybe up to twice as big- should be fine. For ziti, there is much more room inside the noodles, so there may not end up being as much cheese sauce on the outside- so pick a recipe that makes a generous amount of sauce.

Which is healthier macaroni or pasta? ›

Spaghetti is generally considered to be a healthier option than mac and cheese. Here's why: Nutrient density: Spaghetti is made from wheat flour, which is a whole grain and contains more nutrients such as fiber, B-vitamins, and minerals than the refined flour typically used in mac and cheese.

What are the seven things that you should not do when preparing the salad? ›

Common Salad Mistakes
  1. Here are seven things you should NOT do when making salads: Too much dressing. ...
  2. Pouring on the dressing. ...
  3. Wet salad leaves. ...
  4. Not seasoning it. ...
  5. Subpar salad dressings. ...
  6. Uncreative toppings. ...
  7. Served in a bowl.
May 13, 2013

When creating a salad what 5 factors should you consider? ›

But today, I am going to teach you how to make a salad without using a recipe so you, too, can become a salad artist. Sound like a deal? There are five elements to a perfect salad: greens, sweetness, creaminess, crunchiness, and dressing.

What is necessary to avoid when making fresh pasta? ›

15 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Fresh Pasta
  1. Not using the well method to mix your pasta. ...
  2. Using the wrong type of flour. ...
  3. Using too many egg whites. ...
  4. Not using the correct dry-to-wet ingredient ratio. ...
  5. Not adding semolina. ...
  6. Under-kneading your pasta dough. ...
  7. Forgetting to rest your pasta dough. ...
  8. Rolling out your pasta by hand.
Feb 1, 2023

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