Chopped Italian Pasta Salad
Chopped Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 1 pound short pasta, (rotini, fusilli, or cavatappi)
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt, for pasta water
For the Salad
- 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 4 ounces pepperoni, chopped
- 4 ounces salami, chopped
- 3 ounces deli ham, chopped
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, diced
- 6 ounces mozzarella, sliced, plus mini fresh mozzarella balls
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup pepperoncini, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, for dressing
- 1 garlic clove, grated into dressing
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt to the boiling water. Add 1 pound of short pasta (such as rotini, fusilli, or cavatappi) to the salted boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it thoroughly in a colander. Rinse the pasta immediately with cold water to cool it down and prevent it from sticking together. Set aside to continue cooling while you prepare the other ingredients.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
In a small mixing bowl, combine the 1/2 cup of mayo, 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of balsamic glaze, 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, and the 1 grated garlic clove. Whisk all ingredients together vigorously until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
In a very large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta. Then add the 3 cups of chopped romaine lettuce, 4 ounces of chopped pepperoni, 4 ounces of chopped salami, 3 ounces of chopped deli ham, 4 ounces of diced sharp cheddar cheese, 6 ounces of sliced mozzarella (along with any mini fresh mozzarella balls), 1/2 cup of finely chopped red onion, 1/4 cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1/2 cup of chopped pepperoncini, and 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Pour the prepared dressing evenly over all the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Using a large spoon or tongs, mix everything together thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Serve the Chopped Italian Pasta Salad immediately, or cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving. This salad is excellent for cookouts and gatherings.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Chopped Italian Pasta Salad
For the Pasta
- 1 pound short pasta, (rotini, fusilli, or cavatappi)
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt, for pasta water
For the Salad
- 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 4 ounces pepperoni, chopped
- 4 ounces salami, chopped
- 3 ounces deli ham, chopped
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, diced
- 6 ounces mozzarella, sliced, plus mini fresh mozzarella balls
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup pepperoncini, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, for dressing
- 1 garlic clove, grated into dressing
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt to the boiling water. Add 1 pound of short pasta (such as rotini, fusilli, or cavatappi) to the salted boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it thoroughly in a colander. Rinse the pasta immediately with cold water to cool it down and prevent it from sticking together. Set aside to continue cooling while you prepare the other ingredients.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
In a small mixing bowl, combine the 1/2 cup of mayo, 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of balsamic glaze, 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, and the 1 grated garlic clove. Whisk all ingredients together vigorously until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
In a very large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta. Then add the 3 cups of chopped romaine lettuce, 4 ounces of chopped pepperoni, 4 ounces of chopped salami, 3 ounces of chopped deli ham, 4 ounces of diced sharp cheddar cheese, 6 ounces of sliced mozzarella (along with any mini fresh mozzarella balls), 1/2 cup of finely chopped red onion, 1/4 cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1/2 cup of chopped pepperoncini, and 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Pour the prepared dressing evenly over all the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Using a large spoon or tongs, mix everything together thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Serve the Chopped Italian Pasta Salad immediately, or cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving. This salad is excellent for cookouts and gatherings.
⏱️ 5 min