Chopped Italian Pasta Salad
This Chopped Italian Pasta Salad is packed with bold deli flavors, crisp veggies, and a tangy hoagie-style dressing, all finely chopped and tossed with pasta for the perfect bite every time. It’s a fresh, hearty side that’s perfect for cookouts, meal prep, or any gathering.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
PASTA
- 1 lb rotini pasta cooked and cooled
CHOPPED MIX
- 2 handfuls shredded lettuce
- 8 slices ham
- 12 slices Genoa salami
- 12 slices pepperoni
- 6 slices provolone cheese
- 1/2 red onion roughly chopped
- 1 tomato sliced
DRESSING
- 1/3 cup mayo
- 1 large spoonful hot hoagie spread
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup pepperoncini peppers
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup pepperoncini juice
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, then set aside to cool completely.
- On a large cutting board, add the shredded lettuce, ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone, red onion, and tomato. Using a sharp knife, chop everything together until you reach a rough, even consistency.
- Transfer the chopped mixture to a large bowl and add the mayo, hot hoagie spread, red wine vinegar, oil, garlic, pepperoncini, and seasonings. Mix thoroughly until everything is well coated and combined.
- Add the cooled pasta to the bowl along with the pepperoncini juice. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the dressing and mixed with the chopped ingredients.
- Taste the pasta salad and adjust seasoning or dressing as needed, adding more mayo, vinegar, or pepperoncini juice to your preference.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to come together. Serve chilled and enjoy.