Hot Pasta Salad

Try this Hot Pasta Salad recipe for a hearty, spicy college-style meal. A mix of bowtie pasta, mozzarella, pepperoni, and spicy Italian dressing!

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8 Servings

1 Lb Bowtie (Farfalle) Pasta
8 Oz. Low Moisture Mozzarella Cheese We actually used string cheese sticks in a pinch
6 Oz. Canned Black Olives I Use Medium Sized
6 Oz. Sliced Pepperoni
1 C Spicy or Zesty Italian Dressing
1/2 C Basil Pesto
Salt to Taste
Red Pepper Flakes to Taste (Optional)

Set a pot of water to boil for your pasta.
While the water heats up, cut the mozzarella into 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch cubes.
8 Oz. Low Moisture Mozzarella Cheese
Drain and roughly chop the black olives.
6 Oz. Canned Black Olives
Slice the pepperoni slices into 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch strips (it doesn't have to be perfect).
6 Oz. Sliced Pepperoni
When the water is boiling, reduce the heat to medium and add a couple Tbsp. of salt along with the pasta. Cook to the maximum time range on the pasta directions.
1 Lb Bowtie (Farfalle) Pasta, Salt to Taste
Once boiled, reduce the heat to low, drain the water and mix all of the other ingredients in with the pasta. Mix until well combined and the cheese is just a little melty.
Note: you can also keep the heat on and mix a little longer to fully melt the cheese. Or you can chill this dish in the refrigerator for a few hours and enjoy it cold.
1 C Spicy or Zesty Italian Dressing, 1/2 C Basil Pesto
Season with salt and (optional) red pepper, and enjoy right away!
Red Pepper Flakes to Taste

Experiment - I bet this recipe would go pretty well with baby mozzarella balls instead of the cubed mozzarella cheese

Keyword Black Olive, Bowtie, Dressing, Hot, Italian, Mozzarella, Pepperoni, Pesto, Spicy, Warm, Zesty