With tri-colored noodles, Italian dressing, turkey pepperoni and a generous amount of cheese, this easy to make, 5-ingredient Pepperoni Pasta Salad recipe is the perfect take along for a BBQ or picnic--or just the perfect bowl of yum at your next weeknight family dinner table!
Pepperoni Pasta Salad is great with hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, pork, Ham and Swiss Cheese Sliders and Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Sliders.
No one can resist the salty, savory bites of pepperoni folded in between a ton of tender pasta noodles and tangy crumbled feta and shredded cheddar cheese. And the fact that this recipe uses store-bought Italian dressing (though you can make your own), makes this salad so easy to put together.
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👪Why you'll love it
| Easy recipe- If you can boil a box of noodles, slice some pepperoni and mix a few things together, you can make Pepperoni Pasta Salad! Salad dressing timesaver- This cold pasta salad's secret weapon is Ken's Steak House Lite Northern Italian Dressing. It is hands down the BEST store-bought dressing for this and makes the prep so easy. With a ton of seasonings and flavors, including basil and Romano cheese, the dressing perfectly accents the salad's ingredients, giving it a rich, savory taste. Highly customizable- There are many different veggies and fruits (see variations below) that you can add to make this salad your own! |
🥘Ingredients
- tri-color rotini pasta- using colored noodles makes the salad look pretty; corkscrew pasta works best because the ingredients will stick better to all the curvy nooks and crannies
- turkey pepperoni- this pepperoni variety has fewer calories and less fat
- shredded cheddar cheese- can also use Mexican blend
- crumbled feta cheese- for a salty, tangy accent
- Ken's Steak House Lite Northern Italian Dressing- strongly recommended for its wonderful, robust flavor
🔪Instructions
For more detailed instructions, see the printable recipe card below
- Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente (usually 7-9 minutes). Drain and rinse.
- Place cooled off pasta in bowl.
- Add pepperoni, cheddar cheese and crumbled feta to the bowl. Mix.
- Add ¾ cup of the dressing to the bowl and mix well. Reserve the other ¼ cup to stir in just before serving.
Hint: The longer the salad sits, the more the noodles absorb the dressing's flavors. I like to drizzle a little bit more dressing on just before serving (especially if I have leftovers the next day) for an additional boost of flavor and extra smooth consistency.
🥣Substitutions
Cheese: Instead of feta, use mozzarella pearls
Dressing: Feel free to make your own Italian dressing or use your favorite. Some readers like using Olive Garden's Signature Italian dressing in this recipe.
📖Variations
Mediterranean Pasta Salad: Add sliced black olives, whole grape tomatoes, diced red onion, diced mini cucumbers and chickpeas; you can also use a Greek dressing
Caprese Pasta Salad: Use mozzarella pearls instead of feta, add crushed fresh basil or arugula, and whole grape or cherry tomatoes
Spicy Pasta Salad: Add diced bell peppers, minced jalapeño and a dash of cayenne
Italian Pasta Salad: Use mozzarella pearls instead of feta, add cubed salami, arugula, pimentos and pepperoncini peppers
🍽Equipment
- large pot with lid
- colander
- large mixing bowl
- mixing spoon
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- measuring cups
🍶Storage
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate. Enjoy within 3-5 days.
Add a little extra dressing and mix before serving. For aesthetic purposes, you may also choose to sprinkle some additional feta on top.
💭Top tip
When making this and other pasta salads, cook the noodles to al dente. They will naturally soften further as they absorb the dressing. If your noodles are overcooked from the start, they will likely fall apart in the salad from being too soft.
🗨️FAQ
Yes. Rinsing not only helps the cooked pasta to cool, it helps remove some of the starch so the noodles don't stick together.
It's important not to add all the dressing at once because the noodles will absorb it. That's why in this recipe, we add more just before serving. This will make your pasta salad more flavorful. It's also a good idea to have some additional dressing on hand for leftovers for the same reason.
🥄Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
🍴Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Pepperoni Pasta Salad:
📋Recipe
Pepperoni Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 (12 oz.) box tri-color pasta rotini recommended
- 3 oz turkey pepperoni can substitute original if preferred
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 cup crumbled feta Président recommended
- 1 cup Ken's Steak House Lite Northern Italian Dressing & Marinade divided
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions for al dente, usually 7-9 minutes. Drain in colander and set aside until cooled off.
- Once completely cooled and drained, place pasta in large mixing bowl.
- Slice turkey pepperoni into 3 or 4 strips each. Add to bowl; mix.
- Add shredded cheddar to the bowl. Mix well.
- Add crumbled feta to the bowl. Mix well.
- Add ¾ cup of the dressing to the bowl. Mix well. Save the other ¼ cup to stir in just before serving.
Serve immediately or chill for additional flavor.
- Although the salad can be enjoyed immediately, it is recommended to cover and refrigerate it for 1-2 hours before serving. This allows the noodles to absorb the flavors of the dressing for a more pleasing and palatable experience.
Leftovers and storage:
- Store in an airtight conatiner and refrigerate. Enjoy within 3-5 days.
Linda D. says
This easy salad is my favorite go to when we barbeque...we really like it with chicken. Sometimes I even cut up the chicken and add it into the salad!
Kitchen Ready Betty says
We like this Pepperoni Pasta Salad with grilled chicken too...that's a great idea adding it right into the salad. Thanks for sharing.