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Easy Italian Pasta Salad for a Crowd

A close-up serving of amazing pasta salad featuring rotini pasta, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, black olives, and crumbled feta cheese.
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You need this easy Italian pasta salad recipe for your next gathering. It combines tender pasta, crisp vegetables, and a zesty homemade dressing. This cold pasta salad is perfect for potlucks and can be made ahead of time.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound rotini pasta
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup cucumber, diced
  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
  • 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup bell pepper (any color), diced
  • 1 cup mozzarella pearls or cubed provolone cheese
  • 1/2 cup salami or pepperoni, chopped (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Set aside.
  2. Prepare the Italian dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.
  3. In a very large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, black olives, red onion, bell pepper, mozzarella or provolone cheese, and salami or pepperoni, if using.
  4. Pour the prepared Italian dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture.
  5. Toss everything gently until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing.
  6. Stir in the fresh parsley.
  7. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 2 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to blend.

Notes

  • For the best flavor, prepare this cold pasta salad up to 24 hours in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator.
  • If you are making this pasta salad for a crowd, double the recipe and use a very large bowl for mixing.
  • You can substitute rotini with bowtie or penne pasta.
  • If you skip the meat, this recipe becomes a great vegetarian pasta salad option.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingzenith.com/easy-italian-pasta-salad-for-a-crowd/