Name: Italian Pasta Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 16 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 lb rotini pasta (uncooked); 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese pearls (or chopped into pieces if you can't find pearls); 8 oz salami chopped (or substitute summer sausage)); 6 oz black olives (sliced); 1/2 red onion (diced); 1 1/2 C cherry tomatoes (halved); 2 Tbsp fresh parsley (chopped); 1/2 C Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese; pepperoncinis (sliced (optional)); 1 1/2 C Zesty Italian Dressing

Italian Pasta Salad

Course

Side Dish

Cuisine

Italian

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

15 minutes

Passive Time

2 hours

Servings

servings

Ingredients

1 lb rotini pasta uncooked
8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese pearls or chopped into pieces if you can't find pearls
8 oz salami chopped or substitute summer sausage)
6 oz black olives sliced
1/2 red onion diced
1 1/2 C cherry tomatoes halved
2 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
1/2 C Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
pepperoncinis sliced (optional)
1 1/2 C Zesty Italian Dressing

Course

Side Dish

Cuisine

Italian

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

15 minutes

Passive Time

2 hours

Servings

servings

Ingredients

1 lb rotini pasta uncooked
8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese pearls or chopped into pieces if you can't find pearls
8 oz salami chopped or substitute summer sausage)
6 oz black olives sliced
1/2 red onion diced
1 1/2 C cherry tomatoes halved
2 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
1/2 C Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
pepperoncinis sliced (optional)
1 1/2 C Zesty Italian Dressing

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain water and rinse pasta with cold water. Allow it to cool for at least 10 minutes.
Add pasta to a large bowl and pour half of the salad dressing over it. Toss to combine. Add remaining ingredients and dressing and toss everything to combine.
Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or longer, before serving. Store in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

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Nutrition Facts

Italian Pasta Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 290 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 15g 23%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Polyunsaturated Fat 3g

Monounsaturated Fat 4g

Cholesterol 23mg 8%

Sodium 630mg 26%

Potassium 101mg 3%

Total Carbohydrates 27g 9%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 4g

Protein 12g 24%

Vitamin A 7%

Vitamin C 10%

Calcium 20%

Iron 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Creamy Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad

Course

Main Dish

Cuisine

American

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

10 minutes

Servings

servings

Ingredients

20 oz package three cheese refrigerated tortellini
2/3 C caesar salad dressing divided
1 1/2 C cherry tomatoes halved
6 oz black olives drained and chopped
3 green onions chopped
1/4 C basil pesto homemade or store-bought
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/3 C sunflower seeds
2/3 C Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese divided
6-8 leaves fresh basil chopped, for garnish

Course

Main Dish

Cuisine

American

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

10 minutes

Servings

servings

Ingredients

20 oz package three cheese refrigerated tortellini
2/3 C caesar salad dressing divided
1 1/2 C cherry tomatoes halved
6 oz black olives drained and chopped
3 green onions chopped
1/4 C basil pesto homemade or store-bought
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/3 C sunflower seeds
2/3 C Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese divided
6-8 leaves fresh basil chopped, for garnish

Instructions

Cook the tortellini according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Add tortellini to a large bowl. Add caesar dressing to the pasta and toss to coat.
Add tomatoes, olives, green onion, basil pesto, salt and pepper and garlic powder and toss to combine. Add sunflower seeds and 1/3 cup fresh parmesan cheese and toss to combine.
Serve warm or cold. Store in the fridge. If it seems to dry after sitting in the fridge (the pasta can absorb a lot of moisture) you can add another spoonful of caesar dressing and/or pesto. Garnish with the remaining parmesan and fresh chopped basil before serving.

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Nutrition Facts

Creamy Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 487 Calories from Fat 288

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 32g 49%

Saturated Fat 8g 40%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 62mg 21%

Sodium 717mg 30%

Potassium 145mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates 32g 11%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 2g

Protein 18g 36%

Vitamin A 17%

Vitamin C 14%

Calcium 36%

Iron 7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.