Creamy Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad

Name: Creamy Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 85 min
Ingredients: 1 pkg Suddenly Pasta Salad Creamy Italian; 1/2 cup Mayonnaise; 13 grape tomatoes (halved); 1/4 cup Mini Pepperoni; 1/2 cup Fresh mini mozzarella pearls; 1/4 cup Fresh basil (chiffonade)

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Creamy Pepperoni Pasta Salad made with 6 ingredients and in under 30 minutes it’s perfect to serve as a side at your next barbecue or pot luck. Children and adults will love this fun twist on the traditional pasta salad recipe.

Close up of a creamy tubed pasta salad with tomatoes, basil, and pepperoni.

Barbecues and pot lucks always need a pasta salad. This recipe for Pepperoni Pasta Salad is a crowd pleaser and requires only a few ingredients. We have a group of friends who we like to barbecue often with. In order to do this we typically delegate each family to bring a dish or two. The host family almost always provides the main dish. These are small barbecue get-togethers, so I’m always searching for a smaller side dish to bring that doesn’t necessarily have to feed an army.

That’s where this Creamy Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad recipe was born. Everyone loves pepperoni pizza and pasta salad so why not marry the two together? Genius, right? You can thank me later. I know my family loves pizza like my pepperoni pizza popcorn and my Pepperoni Pizza Toast. So why not make a fun twist on a pasta salad, too!

Tube pasta salad with tomatoes and basil in a red dish sitting on a red checkered cloth.

In this post you will learn the following information.

Ingredients
Directions
FAQs
Tips & Tricks
Side Dish Recipes

Ingredients

Suddenly Pasta Salad Creamy Italian – I like to use a boxed pasta salad mix as the base. If you can’t find this or don’t want to use this you can use any type of tubed pasta, dried Italian seasoning dressing, and some thawed from frozen, peas and carrots.
Mayonnaise – This gives the creaminess to this pasta salad.
Grape Tomatoes – You can leave them whole or cut them in half.
Mini Pepperoni – I like the mini, but if you don’t have those you can use regular pepperoni and cut them in quarters.
Fresh mini mozzarella pearls – I like the tiny pearls, but once again, you can use whole mozzarella and dice.
Basil – Lots of fresh basil to bring the flavors up a notch in this semi-homemade pasta recipe!

Directions

Top view of cooked pasta with vegetables in a clear glass bowl on a red and white cloth.

Cook the pasta according to package; boiling for 13 minutes. While pasta is cooking, Slice grape tomatoes, pepperoni (if using regular size pieces), and separate fresh mozzarella pearls. Drain water and rinse with cold water. Set to the side.

Top view of mini pepperoni, mozzarella pearls, sliced tomatoes and basil in a glass bowl.

In a large bowl combine mayonnaise and seasoning packet. Place cooked pasta in the bowl with the sauce mixture and then add in the grape tomatoes, pepperoni and fresh mini mozzarella balls.

Mixed creamy penne pasta with sliced grape tomatoes and pepperoni in a glass bowl with green spatula.

Mix well and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Before serving chiffonade the basil and mix into the pasta salad.

FAQs

How long does it take for pasta salad to get cold?

Most pasta salads take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour to get cold in the refrigerator. This all depend on how much pasta salad you need to chill.

Should you rinse pasta for pasta salad?

Yes, you should always rinse the pasta after you done cooking it for pasta salad. It will immediately stop the pasta from cooking, and it will also begin to cool the pasta to bring it to room temperature.

Is Suddenly Pasta Salad healthy?

Pasta salad in general is not one of the healthier side dishes. It’s always best to make the pasta salad from scratch so it has less processed ingredients. The biggest concern with Suddenly Pasta Salad is that the sodium is on the higher side.

Top view of creamy tubed pasta salad with sliced grape tomatoes, basil, and chopped pepperoni.

Tips & Tricks

Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks I’ve found helpful when making this recipe.

Prep – Prep all the pasta salad ingredients while the pasta is cooking on the stove top. This will help expedite the preparation process.
Rinse Pasta – Once your pasta is done cooking, rinse it with cold water until the pasta is at room temperature. This will help the pasta salad chill faster once it goes into the refrigerator.
Chill – Once your pasta salad is mixed together, seal the salad with a lid or plastic wrap and let it chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Close up of penne creamy pasta salad with tomatoes and basil in a red dish.

Side Dish Recipes

Here are a few of my favorite side dishes to serve at your next barbecue!

My garden is currently bursting at the seams right now with grape and cherry tomatoes and fresh basil among other things. I’m finding ways to incorporate tomatoes and basil into just about every recipe these days.

If you make this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

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