November 11, 2014
updated
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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!
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.
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
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.
How to Make Pizza Pasta Salad
Grab those ingredients, a large bowl, and let’s make this pasta salad. Here’s what to do:
- Cook the pasta
Cook pasta according to box directions, drain, rinse, and cool. - Toss it all together
Toss the pasta into a bowl with cheese, broccoli, pepperoni, olives, and tomatoes. - 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.
Pizza Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12- ounce box pasta, cooked
- ¾ cup Mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 1 cup broccoli florets, steamed and chopped
- 4 ounces pepperoni slices, quartered
- ⅓ cup black olives, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup Italian dressing or 1 tablespoon olive oil + 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside to cool down to room temperature.
- 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.
- Drizzle the Italian dressing over the pasta salad or olive oil and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper and toss to combine.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Katie Olson
Hi! Excited to try this! Can you tell me what kind of container those are?
Laura Fuentes
You don’t want to buy that container, Katie. It’s one I got years ago as a sample and it leaks.
Blade
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.
Laura Fuentes
Glad you liked it Blade.
Liz @ Tip Top Shape
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!
Laura Fuentes
funny the things we remember… lol