This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
This Pizza Pasta Salad is so great for summer get togethers! It is loaded with pepperoni, tomatoes, olives, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
Featured with this Recipe
We make this pizza pasta salad all the time when we are feeding a crowd, it’s the perfect side dish for BBQ’s and picnics and potlucks. It is also a very kid friendly pasta salad. Dress it up as you would your favorite pizza and then you are good to go!
Ingredients in Pizza Pasta Salad
- Noodles – you can use tri-color rotini pasta, but you can also use bowtie, penne, fusilli, tortellini, or we have even seen this made with spaghetti noodles. We like using the rotini noodles because it seems to hold a lot of the delicious dressing. Cook according to package directions, then drain and rinse.
- Bernstein’s Restaurant Recipe Italian Dressing – the secret to this Pizza Pasta Salad is the dressing. You have to get the Bernstein’s Restaurant Recipe Italian Dressing. It is sooo much better than your regular Italian dressings (no, this is NOT a sponsored post– I really do just like it that much). I have been able to find a bottle of it at just about every grocery store I have been to. If you can’t find it, then you can also use Olive Garden Italian Salad Dressing.
- Sliced Pepperoni – you can also use the mini pepperonis.
- Mozzarella – use fresh mozzarella, mozzarella pearls, or regular mozzarella cheese cut into cubes
- Tomatoes – use diced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes. If the cherry tomatoes are on the larger side, then cut them in half.
- Black Olives
- Parmesan Cheese
The Secret is in the Dressing
The secret to this is the dressing. You have to get the Bernstein’s Restaurant Recipe Italian Dressing. It is sooo much better than your regular Italian dressings (no, this is NOT a sponsored post– I really do just like it that much). I have been able to find a bottle of it at just about every grocery store I have been to. It is so good!
Substitutions and Additions
Feel free to leave any of the ingredients out if you think a family member wouldn’t like it. Our dad won’t do olives so if we know he is going to be eating with us we either make him a batch with no olives or we use whole olives so they are easy to pick out. You can pretty much use any of your favorite pizza toppings as an addition to this recipe, including but not limited to:
- Sliced mushrooms
- Chopped or sliced red onion
- Red or green bell peppers
- Green Chilies
- Pepperocinis
- Cooked sausage crumbles
- Pineapple
- Ham/Canadian Bacon
- Chopped artichoke hearts
- Spices like Italian seasoning, garlic, fresh basil, and oregano
Recipe Tip
For the perfect pasta, cook to just barely al dente. Then, drain the pasta and rinse with cold water immediately after cooking. This stops the cooking process and keeps the pasta from getting too soggy. It also rinses off some of the starches and makes it so the pasta doesn’t stick together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rinse the pasta in cold water and then drain to cool it down before adding other ingredients.
Yes! In fact it is better to cook it the day before so then the flavors have time to mesh!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Read Next: 35+ Best BBQ Side Dishes
Other Delicious Pasta Salads
Making more than one pasta salad or just want some more pasta salad recipe ideas? Then we’ve got you covered:
- BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad
- Light Greek Pasta Salad
- Layered Pasta Salad
- Mom’s Traditional Macaroni Salad
- Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Summer Pasta Salad
How to Make Pizza Pasta Salad
Pizza Pasta Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 1 bag colored spiral noodles
- ¾ cup pepperoni cut into wedges
- ¾ cup mozzarella cut into small cubes
- ½ cup olives sliced
- ¾ cup fresh tomatoes diced
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese not the powdery kind
- 1 bottle Bernstein's Restaurant Recipe Italian Dressing
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Then, drain and rinse with cold water.
- Mix together all ingredients and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving. We like to put it in a tupperware container with a tight lid and flip it upside down, then right side up a few times while it is chilling to distribute the dressing into the pasta better.
Notes
- Sliced mushrooms
- Chopped or sliced red onion
- Red or green bell peppers
- Cooked sausage crumbles
- Pineapple
- Ham/Canadian Bacon
- Chopped artichoke hearts
- Spices like Italian seasoning, garlic, fresh basil, and oregano
Nutrition Information
The salad sounds good but Bernstein’s is definitely NOT an option. In the 2 towns nearest to us I could find no grocery that carries it. The Bernstein’s website said they could find no sellers in our area. I can order it from Amazon ($13.50/14 oz.) but I’m not rich enough to splurge like that. Since you said the secret is in the dressing and it has to be Bernstein’s, do you have any other suggestions?
Ken’s or Newmann’s Own should work!
Delicious. Love this for summer and for potlucks! I’m thinking of using the mini pepperonis next time instead of cutting them all up so it can save me a step. You think those will work ok?
This is usually the first thing gone, anytime I have taken it anywhere! I make it all the time, because it’s quick & easy & has tons of flavor!
What a great mash up of two of my favorite recipes! Loved this recipe; easily, a new favorite dish!
How much is one bag of pasta? 8oz or something else? Not all try-color rotini comes in a bag.
We usually use between 12-16 oz. of pasta. Hope this helps!
Thank you
I have been making a similar pasta salad since the mid 80s and it is one of my very grown kids favorite “memory dishes” from Mom. I also add sliced mushrooms, either fresh that I saute or in a pinch I’ll add the sliced ones that come in a jar. I also add marinated artichoke hearts (liquid and all). If they are big, I’ll cut them in half. After moving to Texas, I started added black beans. After 30 years, I guess it’s still a work in progress.
Thanks for all the fun new add-in ideas!
I’ve been making a version of this for over 20 years. I do cook the pasta very al dente, add raw sliced mushrooms and serve it with lots of Parmesan cheese. Can’t wait to try the Bernstein’s Restaurant Recipe Italian Dressing!
I’m definitely adding mushrooms next time I make this – yum! You are going to love the Bernstein’s Restaurant Italian Dressing.
Would it be possible to use any other variety of pasta? Had a bad experience with spiral noodles. I was thinking perhaps bowtie. Also, would it be possible to use the sliced pepperoni you buy to put on pizza?
You could totally use bowtie and sliced pepperoni. Those are both good substitutions!
umm cook thepasta first i think do we not?
yes, cook the noodles first
It truly made me LOL about the cooking the pasta……I did that once and did NOT cook the pasta thinking it would absorb and become soft……I was a very new and very young “chef”….and I was mortified at my very crunchy salad!! Those were the days of funny times of learning!!! Love this recipe, added it to my favorites and when I bring it to a cookout, it is loved by everyone so I double the size now.
Olive Garden Italian Dressing is my favorite. I just mixed up a big bowl for supper tonight. I can’t wait to taste it!
I think I’ll add some pepperoncini too.
How many servings will this recipe make?
It makes a good 10-12 servings if taking to a potluck…
Do you have to cook the pasta before mixing all the ingredients or do they soften in the dressing?
Yes, you definitely cook the pasta first.
Hola soy de Peru y me encantan las recetas, pero aca no se consiguen algunos ingredientes como la botella de Bernstein’s Restaurant Recipe Italian Dressing
Que se le podria poner con otros ingredientes faciles de conseguir.
Gracias
Is anyone able to translate this? I am guessing they are from Peru and can’t find Bernstein’s Italian dressing.
If that is the case you can definitely substitute another brand of Italian dressing.
Translation:
Hello I’m from Peru and I love recipes but over here you cannot find some of the ingredients like the bottle of Bernstein’s Restaurant Recipe Italian Dressing . What other ingredients can you use that might be are easier to find?
You could try whatever kind of italian or greek dressing is available there.
I’m also having a hard time finding this salad dressing, I live in Queens, N.Y, never heard of the stores that you have listed. Also was wondering if you cook the pasta, or just let it marinade in the dressing to soften up and absorb the flavors.
Try finding an italian dressing that says something like “restaurant” style or recipe. And yes, you do want to cook the pasta. It will still absorb the flavor of the dressing.
Hello! This looks delish! I am wanting to make it for a cookout next week but I can’t find the Bernsteins Dressing. I searched on their website and it says that it is not available in Nashville, TN which is hard to believe…what store carries it where you live? Thanks
I have found it at Albertson’s and Winco and Safeway. I hope that helps!
I make that a lot this time a year and throughout summer. I never knew it was pizza pasta salad. I just call it pasta salad. I use generic Italian light. It is very good. Just enough flavor but not over powering. We love it.
Made this tonight..DELISH!Thank you ..melissa in Charlotte, North Carolina!
This sounds like the perfect summer supper. Thanks for a great idea.
I made this yesterday and it was a big hit with everyone! You were especially right about the dressing. I new want to go back and try substituting this dressing in where it calls for other Italian dressings and see if it improved those pasta salads too.
Yummy, fresh and colorful. Perfect for summer.
I love this salad! I like your tupperware lid and shake technique. I will have to remember that! I usually add a dash of Vegetable Supreme seasoning too. It is delicious.
PS We still miss you Ems!
Looks so good! I love cold Italian pasta salads in the Summer!
This is a favorite at our house too. I'll have to try that Berrnstein's dressing!