🥗 Cold Italian Spaghetti Pasta Salad with Veggies & Mini Pepperoni

A chilled pasta salad made with spaghetti, crisp vegetables, mini pepperoni, olives, and a zesty Italian dressing. Simple, flavorful, and always a crowd-pleaser!

🧾 Ingredients

🍝 Main Ingredients:

• 12 oz spaghetti noodles, cooked and cooled

• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

• 1 cup cucumber, quartered slices

• 1/2 cup sliced black olives

• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

• 1/4 cup diced red onion (optional)

• 1 cup mini pepperoni slices (or regular pepperoni cut smaller)

• 1/2 cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese

🍋 For the Dressing:

• 1 cup Italian dressing (bottled or homemade)

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

• Salt and pepper to taste

🍳 Instructions

1. Cook the Spaghetti:

• Boil spaghetti according to package directions.

• Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.

• Let it cool completely and toss lightly with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.

2. Chop the Veggies:

• While the pasta cools, chop the cucumbers, tomatoes, bell pepper, and red onion.

3. Mix the Salad:

• In a large bowl, combine:

  • Cooled spaghetti

  • Chopped veggies

  • Olives

  • Mini pepperoni

  • Parmesan cheese

4. Dress the Salad:

• Pour Italian dressing over the salad.

• Add garlic powder and crushed red pepper flakes.

• Toss everything well to coat.

5. Chill & Serve:

• Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving (for best flavor).

• Toss again just before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.

🔁 Variations & Tips:

• Make it vegetarian: Skip the pepperoni or replace it with chickpeas.

• Use other pasta: Rotini or penne also work great.

• Add-ins: Mozzarella balls, banana peppers, artichokes, or salami for more flavor.

• Homemade dressing? Mix olive oil, vinegar, Italian herbs, garlic, salt, and pepper.