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Creamy Italian Pasta Salad

Creamy Italian Pasta Salad

This Creamy Italian Pasta Salad is a perfect blend of tangy Italian dressing, creamy mayonnaise, and fresh vegetables tossed with tender pasta, making it a crowd-pleaser for potlucks, picnics, and weeknight dinners.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 385

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 large cucumber, diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup black olives, sliced
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
  • 1 cup pepperoni slices, quartered
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup Italian dressing
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
  2. Step 2: While the pasta cooks, prepare all your vegetables. Dice the cucumber and bell pepper into bite-sized pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes and slice the olives. Finely chop the red onion. Cube the mozzarella cheese and quarter the pepperoni slices.
  3. Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Italian dressing, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Whisk everything together until smooth and well combined.
  4. Step 4: Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the dressing. Toss until every piece is coated.
  5. Step 5: Add all the prepared vegetables, mozzarella, and pepperoni to the bowl. Fold everything together gently but thoroughly.
  6. Step 6: Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  7. Step 7: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Notes

This pasta salad tastes even better after chilling in the refrigerator. You can make it ahead of time for maximum flavor.