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Pasta Salad For A Crowd
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Pasta Salad for a Crowd

Packed with vibrant vegetables, mozzarella cheese, and tangy Italian dressing, this pasta salad is a party favorite. Perfect for feeding a large gathering, it tastes even better when prepared ahead of time.
Prep Time1 hour 30 minutes
Chill time4 hours
Total Time5 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 100
Calories: 157kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds multi-colored rotini pasta
  • 64 ounces Italian dressing
  • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 32 ounces mozzarella cheese cut into small cubes
  • 40 ounces cherry tomatoes halved
  • 3 green bell peppers diced
  • 3 red bell peppers diced
  • 36 ounces sliced black olives drained

Instructions

Cook the Pasta:

  • Cook half of the rotini pasta according to package instructions. Drain and quickly rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • Repeat with the second half of the pasta.

Mix the Salad:

  • In a very large bowl, place half of the cooked pasta.
  • Pour half of the Italian dressing over the pasta and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of Kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Stir well using a long-handled spoon.
  • Add half of the mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and black olives. Stir to combine.
  • Repeat the process with the remaining pasta, dressing, salt, pepper, and other ingredients. Stir everything together thoroughly.

Store the Salad:

  • Divide the pasta salad into 2 or more large foil pans for easier storage. Cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Chill and Serve:

  • For best results, make the pasta salad 24 hours ahead of time to allow the pasta to absorb the dressing and flavors to meld.
  • Before serving, check if the pasta salad is dry. If so, add extra Italian dressing to refresh it. Serve chilled.

Notes

Mixing Tip: Work in batches to ensure all ingredients are evenly combined.
Make-Ahead: Prepare the salad 24 hours in advance to let the flavors meld.
Refresh Before Serving: Keep extra Italian dressing on hand to add if the salad dries out in the fridge.