Amazingly Delicious Tri Color Cold Pepperoni Pasta Salad Recipe (2024)

4.8 from 13 votes

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Pepperoni Pasta Salad the PERFECT Pot Luck Salad and let me tell you WHY! This Tri Color Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing is a keeper recipe.

Young and Old will go back for 2nds or 3rds and you will wish you made more. The bite size pepperoni with mini mozzarella pearls are truly a favorite.

Amazingly Delicious Tri Color Cold Pepperoni Pasta Salad Recipe (1)

Ready in 60 mins | Perfect as Sid Dish | 6 Qt Pressure Cooker

Not to mention this Cold Pasta Salad is loaded with yummy ingredients like cherry tomatoes, olives and parmesan cheese.

If that's not reason enough for this salad to be a perfect Pot Luck Salad, then let me share one more reason why you need to make this recipe.

This recipe has been the favorite Cold Pasta Salad at our neighborhood BBQ 3 years in a row. To me that's pretty darn perfect!

We are a BBQ kind of family which means all sorts of amazingly yummy Pasta Salad Recipes and I always want to bring a pot luck salad recipe that gets eaten.

This is definitely a winner recipe.

We have loved making Pepperoni Pasta Salad because of how easy it is to make and how it packs a punch of flavors that we love.

Plus my picky eater loves the mini Pepperoni and the Mozzarella pearls are a total hit too!

Amazingly Delicious Tri Color Cold Pepperoni Pasta Salad Recipe (2)

I use Tri Color noodles for the cold pasta salad recipe. Why? Well, I love the garden noodles and how it adds to the color of the Pasta Salad but the flavor too.

Who doesn’t need a little more veggies in their diet anyways? I sure do.

This recipe is simple and uses ingredients you likely have at home too. Don't hesitate to use some of those fresh veggies from the fridge and use ingredients that you love.

Your local grocery store will have the Mini Pepperoni as well as the Mozzarella Pearls so don’t worry, they are easy to find! But a fun tip is to slice Mozzarella Cheese Sticks in slices too. Kids love them and you likely have them on hand.

Amazingly Delicious Tri Color Cold Pepperoni Pasta Salad Recipe (3)

Cold Pasta Salad

Cold Pasta Salad are favorites because of how easy they are to make and a perfect Summer Side Dish or Dinner Recipe.

On those hot summer nights, a cool pasta salad is ideal. So load this summer salad up with all the favorites and make a meal of it.

You can add or substitute to this Pepperoni Pasta Salad Recipe by adding your favorite Pizza toppings too. Throw in mushrooms, or bell peppers for some added texture and taste too.

Making the Dressing is super simple as well. You can always use a bottled Italian Dressing or make your own with some Vegetable Oil and Red Wine Vinegar and Italian Seasonings.

How to make Pepperoni Pasta Salad?

Pepperoni Pasta Salad can be made on the Stove Top or theInstant Pot. I have included both in theRecipe Card below!

Tri Colored Pasta Salad

I choose to make Cold Pepperoni Pasta Salad with Tri color Noodles. I love the look it gives to the salad as well as the flavor of using Garden noodles. You can however use plain noodles.

Amazingly Delicious Tri Color Cold Pepperoni Pasta Salad Recipe (5)

Is Pizza Pasta Salad and Pepperoni Pasta Salad the samething?

Yes! Make Pizza PastaSalad or Cold Pepperoni Pasta Salad Recipe using the same or similaringredients. It’s a cold pot luck saladthat complements any meal

How much Pasta Salad per person?

Generally speaking you would want about 4-5 ounces of Pasta Salad per person.

Amazingly Delicious Tri Color Cold Pepperoni Pasta Salad Recipe (6)

Can Pasta Salad be Gluten Free?

Of course it can, but you must use Gluten Free Pasta and other Gluten Free Ingredients.

Cooking Gluten Free Pasta in the Instant Pot or on the Stove will take additional time.

Can Pasta Salad be made the day ahead?

We all know what it’s like to make things right when we need them, so go ahead and make this salad the day before. Just hold off adding the Italian Dressing until you are ready to serve.

The pasta will absorb all the Italian Dressing if you pour it on the day before.

Amazingly Delicious Tri Color Cold Pepperoni Pasta Salad Recipe (7)

Looking for more amazing Pot Luck Salad Recipes?

Neighborhood Favorite ~ Dorito Taco Salad Recipe
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Strawberry Poppyseed Pasta Salad
BLT Pasta Salad
Taco Pasta Salad
Mushroom and Garlic Noodles
Zucchini and Cherry Tomatoes with a creamy Pasta Sauce
Ramen Pad Thai

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4.77 from 13 votes

Pasta Salad with Pepperoni

Awesome Summer Pasta Salad, perfect for Pot Lucks, BBQ, and Family Gatherings. Cold Pepperoni Pasta Salad is perfect using Tri Color Pasta in a delicious Italian Dressing. Family and friends will love how easy Pepperoni Pasta Salad is to make using your Instant Pot pressure cooker or stove top.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time3 minutes mins

Additional Time35 minutes mins

Total Time43 minutes mins

Devour Dinner

Ingredients

12 oz Tri Colored Rotini Pasta
4 Cups Water
8 oz Mini Pepperoni
4 oz Sliced Olives
1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes ~ Sliced in half
1 Cup Mozzarella Pearls
½ Cup Parmesan Cheese
1 ¼ Cup Italian Dressing

Instructions

Instant Pot Directions:
Place water and Tri Colored Rotini in Instant Pot. Set to Manual (Pressure Cook) High for 3 mins with a 3 minute natural release
Rinse Pasta under cold water and place in the refrigerator for 30-45 mins
In a separate large bowl Combine cooked cooled pasta, Pepperoni, sliced Tomatoes, Olives, Mozzarella Pearls, and grated Parmesan Cheese. Toss to combine
Pour Italian Dressing over top just before serving, and toss so everything is coated.
Store in Refrigerator until ready to eat. Leftovers can be kept in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Stove Top Directions:
Follow directions on Pasta package for cooking instructions
Rinse Pasta under cold water and place in the refrigerator for 30-45 mins
In a separate large bowl Combine cooked cooled pasta, Pepperoni, sliced Tomatoes, Olives, Mozzarella Pearls, and grated Parmesan Cheese. Toss to combine
Pour Italian Dressing over top just before serving, and toss so everything is coated.
Store in Refrigerator until ready to eat. Leftovers can be kept in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Notes

Substitutions:

Make your own Italian Dressing with:

¾ Cup Olive Oil

½ Cup Red Wine Vinegar

2 teaspoon Oregano

1 ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 teaspoon Salt

¼ teaspoon Pepper

¼ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes

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Nutrition Disclaimer

All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.

Nutrition