This Awesome Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing, easy-to-make side dish loaded with fusilli pasta, pepperoni, provolone, cherry tomatoes, salami, bell pepper, olives, and pimentos, all tossed in zesty Italian dressing. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a light dinner addition, it’s packed with irresistible flavors and textures sure to win over any guest.
Total Time:45 minutes
Yield:16 servings
Ingredients
Pasta
1 (16 ounce) package fusilli (spiral) pasta
Vegetables
3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 (10 ounce) can black olives, drained
1 (4 ounce) jar pimentos, drained
Meats & Cheeses
½ pound provolone cheese, cubed
½ pound salami, cubed
¼ pound sliced pepperoni, cut in half
Dressing
1 (8 ounce) bottle Italian salad dressing
Instructions
Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add fusilli and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 12 minutes. Drain well and set aside to cool slightly.
Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, provolone cheese, salami, pepperoni, green bell pepper, black olives, and pimentos. Mix gently to distribute the ingredients evenly.
Add Dressing: Pour the Italian salad dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss well to ensure everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
Chill and Serve: For best flavor, cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. Give a quick toss before plating and enjoy!
Notes
Feel free to substitute your favorite Italian meats or cheeses for a different flavor profile.
For a vegetarian version, omit the meats and add more veggies or beans.
This salad is excellent made ahead—flavors improve as it sits.
Add fresh herbs like basil or parsley for extra freshness.
Use whole grain or gluten-free pasta for dietary needs.
