Easy Italian Chopped Pasta Salad Recipe

• servings: 10 servings
• active time: 25 minutes
• total time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups dried pasta (I used fusilli)

2 tsp olive oil

1/2 cup chopped salami (I used Genoa salami)

1/2 cup chopped pepperoni

1 cup small cubed mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup chopped pickled pepperoncini peppers

1 can black olives (drained)

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped red onion

2 cups chopped romaine lettuce

1/2 cup chopped radicchio

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp finely chopped pickled pepperoncini peppers (or pickled banana peppers)

2 tsp pepperoncini pepper pickle brine (from the pickle jar) (or lemon juice)

2 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

2 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tbsp granulated sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Directions

First boil 2 cups dried pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water, and cook pasta until al dente (follow package directions). Drain well, then put the cooked pasta into a large serving bowl. Then toss the noodles with about 2 tsp olive oil.

Add the salad ingredients to the pasta:1/2 cup chopped salami, 1/2 cup chopped pepperoni, 1 cup small cubed mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup chopped pickled pepperoncini peppers, 1 can black olives, 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup chopped red onion, 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce, 1/2 cup chopped radicchio

Next make the dressing. I put all of the dressing ingredients into a wide mouth mason jar and use a hand blender to mix: 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp finely chopped pickled pepperoncini peppers, 2 tsp pepperoncini pepper pickle brine (from the pickle jar), 2 tsp Dijon mustard, 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, 2 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tbsp granulated sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Pour the dressing over the salad and mix well.

Cover and let rest at least 1 hour before serving.