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Pizza Pasta Salad Recipe

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This pizza pasta salad is easy to assemble and customize, just like a 🍕! It’s perfect for a quick dinner or easy school lunch the kids will love.

I sometimes overcomplicate things when trying to come up with new ways to add variety to our meals and as it turns out, the simplest ideas and recipes are often the most loved by the kids, and this pasta salad proves it!

two bowls of pizza pasta salad next to large serving bowl

While trying to find a non-sandwich lunch idea for my kids, I decided to toss some leftover pasta and steamed broccoli with my kid’s favorite pizza toppings. I packed it into their lunch containers and told them they had pizza pasta for lunch. 

When the containers came back empty, I knew this recipe was a keeper and one to share with you. 

Pizza Pasta Salad for Lunch or Dinner

This pasta salad makes a great option you can prep ahead for a simple weeknight dinner or lunch. Most pasta salads will stay good for up to 3 days, and you can customize this recipe with any of your family’s favorite pizza toppings and cooked pasta. 

To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or if you need a grain-free option, try spiraled zucchini noodles. Just make sure to sauté or steam the noodles before tossing them with the rest of the ingredients. 

When I plan out my meals for the week, I like to select lunches and dinners that can be fully or partially made ahead, this cuts down time spent in the kitchen during the week, and I can still have fresh meals in the lunch bag or on the dinner table. 

You’ll find more recipes you can enjoy for dinner and pack for lunch in the Meal Prep’d eBook. It’s filled with over 70+ options for delicious meals made with real and fresh ingredients. Each recipe also comes with instructions on how to pack it in a lunch container and keep it fresh for the office or school. 

Meal Prep’d eBook

In this book, I share 70+ recipes that can be cooked ahead, stored in single-serve portions or frozen, and save you time and effort in the kitchen. 

Cook once and have ready-to-eat meals for an entire week. These nutritious and filling recipes can be enjoyed as dinner or packed for lunch. 

meal prep ebook displayed on a tablet
Buy the eBook

Pizza Pasta Salad Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to make this easy pizza pasta salad: 

  • pasta, any shape
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • broccoli florets
  • pepperoni
  • sliced black olives
  • cherry tomatoes
  • Italian dressing
  • salt & pepper
One bowl filled with real food turning broccoli into an ultimate kid appeal recipe

Just like a pizza, you can add or subtract toppings to make this pasta salad all your own. Swap the pepperoni for chopped deli meat or prosciutto, replace the broccoli for diced bell pepper, and use any of your favorite cheese, like Provolone, Gouda, Cheddar, or Parmesan.

The store-bought dressing makes it ultra-convenient, but don’t be shy, toss it with my Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette or keep it simple with a drizzle of olive oil and Italian seasoning. 

Make veggies like broccoli less intimidating with this easy pizza pasta recipe

How to Make Pizza Pasta Salad

Grab those ingredients, a large bowl, and let’s make this pasta salad. Here’s what to do: 

  1. Cook the pasta
    Cook pasta according to box directions, drain, rinse, and cool. 
  2. Toss it all together
    Toss the pasta into a bowl with cheese, broccoli, pepperoni, olives, and tomatoes. 
  3. Add the dressing
    Drizzle the salad with the dressing and season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Watch how this simple recipe comes together in the video below: 

Packing Pizza Pasta Salad for Lunch

Once the pasta salad is ready, pack it in a lunch container and place it in a lunch bag with an ice pack. Pasta salad is best when served chilled or at room temperature.

an easy idea to add a little variety to the lunchbox with leftover pasta
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Pizza Pasta Salad

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

Make this pizza pasta salad for dinner or an easy school lunch the kids will love this is the type of recipe that tastes great the next day!

  • Author: Laura Fuentes
  • Prep Time: 18 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8
  • Category: Pasta

Ingredients

  • 12-ounce box pasta, cooked
  • ¾ cup Mozzarella cheese, cubed
  • 1 cup chopped broccoli florets, steamed
  • 4 ounces pepperoni slices, quartered
  • ⅓ cup sliced black olives
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ¼ cup Italian dressing or 1 tablespoon olive oil + 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside to cool down to room temperature.
  2. Combine the pasta, cheese, broccoli, pepperoni, olives, and tomatoes in a large bowl. *Make sure the pasta is cool enough or the cheese will melt. 
  3. Drizzle the Italian dressing over the pasta salad or olive oil and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. 
  4. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

Equipment

meal prep ebook displayed on a tablet

Meal Prep’d

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packed lunches ebook on a tablet

101 Packed Lunches eBook

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Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 373
  • Sugar: 3.5 g
  • Sodium: 864.6 mg
  • Fat: 13.3 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4.1 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 46.7 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 16.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 27.4 mg

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @MOMables on Instagram and hashtag it #momables

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Katie Olson

    October 29, 2017 at 10:35 pm

    Hi! Excited to try this! Can you tell me what kind of container those are?

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      October 30, 2017 at 10:15 am

      You don’t want to buy that container, Katie. It’s one I got years ago as a sample and it leaks.

      Reply
  2. Blade

    May 22, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    For a 27 year old grown man, I’m pretty damn picky. But this is probably one of the best pasta salads I’ve ever had.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      May 26, 2015 at 9:20 am

      Glad you liked it Blade.

      Reply
  3. Liz @ Tip Top Shape

    November 12, 2014 at 7:07 am

    This looks great!! I love pasta salads like this. I was a bit of a picky eater growing up, too, but my mom would put vegetables in stews and stuff like that and I ate it all up. It’s probably because it was drenched in gravy or cream sauce (she made this chicken broccoli them with cream of chicken soup that I STILL have dreams about) but it worked!

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      November 14, 2014 at 9:29 am

      funny the things we remember… lol

      Reply

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