Easy Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad

Easy Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad

Loaded with salami, pepperoni, lots of veggies, mozzarella & a homemade zesty Italian dressing! This antipasto pasta salad is simple, hearty & the perfect combination of classic Italian flavors! Serve it as a side dish or entree – it’s delicious either way!

Ingredients

For the antipasto salad:

  • 8 oz. dry rotini pasta (or your favorite short pasta)
  • 9 oz. hard salami, chopped (or ¾ cup presliced)
  • 6.5 oz. pepperoni, chopped (or ½ cup presliced)
  • 1 cup canned artichoke hearts, drained & quartered
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup olives, pitted & halved (kalamata, green or a mixture of the two)
  • ½ cup pepperoncini, sliced
  • 8 oz. mozzarella pearls
  • ¼ cup red onion, sliced thin
  •  cup fresh basil, sliced thin

For the 

Italian vinaigrette:

    . ½ cup olive oil

  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • Salt & black pepper, to taste

Instructions

To make the vinaigrette:

  • Whisk your vinaigrette ingredients together then set it aside while you prepare the rest of your salad.

To make the pasta salad:

  • Cook your pasta according to the package’s directions then set it aside to cool completely.
  • Once the pasta is cool, add it to a large bowl along with your salami, pepperoni, tomatoes, artichokes, pepperoncini, olives, mozzarella, onion and fresh basil. Pour your desired amount of dressing over the top and toss the salad until it’s fully coated.
  • Serve immediately or let it chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving.