The Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad takes everything you love about a classic pizza and combines it with the ease of a chilled pasta salad. With pepperoni, mushrooms, mozzarella, and a herby tomato-based dressing, it delivers bold flavor in every bite.
Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or busy weekday lunches, this dish is a colorful and delicious way to bring familiar comfort to your table no oven required. The combination of fresh vegetables and savory toppings creates a hearty yet refreshing meal you’ll want to make again and again.
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
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2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
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1/2 medium red onion, chopped
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8 fresh white button mushrooms, sliced
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1 small green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
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1 stick pepperoni, casing removed and cut into a small dice
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1 pound ball fresh mozzarella or smoked mozzarella, diced
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20 fresh basil leaves, torn or thinly sliced
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1 pound wagon wheel pasta (or similar), cooked al dente and cooled
For the Dressing:
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1 tsp garlic salt
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1 tsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning
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1 tbsp tomato paste (rounded)
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2 tbsp red wine vinegar
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1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
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Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:
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In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, red onion, mushrooms, bell pepper, pepperoni, mozzarella, basil, and cooked pasta.
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In a separate small bowl, whisk together the garlic salt, oregano, tomato paste, and vinegar.
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Slowly stream in the olive oil while whisking until fully emulsified.
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Pour the dressing over the pasta salad mixture. Add a few grinds of black pepper.
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Toss the salad until everything is well coated. Adjust seasoning to taste.
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Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Leftovers make an excellent lunch or side dish.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes
Kcal: ~410 kcal | Servings: 8 servings
The Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad: A Flavorful Twist on Two Beloved Classics
In the ever-evolving world of modern cuisine, fusion dishes are no longer just trends they’re celebrated innovations that reflect the creativity of home cooks and renowned chefs alike Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad is a delightful testament to that trend, successfully marrying two of America’s favorite comfort foods: pizza and pasta salad. Designed as a fast, flexible, and flavorful side dish, it effortlessly satisfies the craving for both savory indulgence and fresh, crisp textures. Let’s take a deeper dive into what makes this dish not only a crowd-pleaser but a staple for entertaining, meal prepping, and seasonal celebrations.
The Genius of Fusion: Where Pizza Meets Pasta Salad
The very name “Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad” evokes curiosity and a sense of hearty satisfaction. Traditionally, supreme pizzas are loaded with a variety of toppings from meats to vegetables creating a complex flavor profile. Meanwhile, pasta salad is a cool, tangy, and customizable side dish often served at picnics, potlucks, and barbecues. Merging the two seems like an audacious move, but it turns out to be a masterstroke. By reinterpreting pizza toppings into pasta salad form, Rachael Ray delivers a dish that feels nostalgic yet refreshingly original.
This recipe takes the best elements of a supreme pizza like pepperoni, mozzarella, mushrooms, and bell peppers and combines them with the tangy, vinegary dressing typical of pasta salads. The result is a robust, savory, and refreshing ensemble that plays well with grilled foods, sandwiches, or even as a standalone meal.
A Recipe with Broad Appeal
One of the key strengths of this dish is its broad versatility. It caters to a variety of dietary preferences and lifestyles. Whether you’re planning a laid-back summer BBQ, a holiday buffet, a school potluck, or a weeknight dinner, the Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad fits right in.
The components are familiar and kid-friendly while also being flavorful enough to satisfy adult palates. Even picky eaters often find comfort in recognizable ingredients like cheese, pasta, and cured meats. Moreover, it’s easy to tweak substituting vegetarian options, switching up cheeses, or adjusting the spice level to suit personal tastes.
For those looking to make it healthier, reducing the amount of cured meat or opting for whole wheat pasta and fresh vegetables can easily make this dish lighter without sacrificing flavor. Rachael Ray herself has often championed approachable recipes that allow for creative interpretation, and this salad is a perfect example.
Time-Saving and Simple: A True 30-Minute Meal
Rachael Ray is well known for her 30-Minute Meals series, and this recipe is no exception. With a total prep and cook time of just 25 minutes, it’s an excellent go-to for busy individuals or families. In a world where meal prep can feel like a daunting task, quick and reliable recipes like this provide a much-needed reprieve.
Most of the work involves simple chopping, boiling pasta, and whisking a quick homemade dressing. There’s no advanced culinary technique required, which makes the recipe accessible for novice cooks while still being appealing enough for more experienced ones looking for a low-effort win.
This ease of preparation makes it a particularly great option for meal preppers. As many reviews on the original Food Network recipe highlight, leftovers taste even better the next day, after the flavors have had a chance to meld. It stores well, travels easily, and can be served cold or at room temperature ideal for lunchboxes or outdoor dining.
The Dressing: A Bold Flavor Accent
A crucial component of any pasta salad is the dressing, and in this recipe, it acts as a unifying force. The bold inclusion of tomato paste, red wine vinegar, and Italian seasoning evokes the flavor base of pizza sauce, while the extra-virgin olive oil adds richness and depth.
This dressing manages to coat the pasta and vegetables thoroughly without being overly heavy or greasy. It ties the entire salad together with just enough acidity and spice to mimic that familiar pizza flavor without overpowering the freshness of the produce.
User reviews from the original recipe often mention personalizing the dressing with additions like red pepper flakes, fresh garlic, or even a splash of balsamic vinegar for a touch of sweetness. The flexibility of the dressing allows each home cook to adjust the profile to their liking while still preserving the spirit of the dish.
Community Praise and Variations
The public reception of this dish speaks volumes. With a 4.5-star rating from dozens of reviews, it’s clear that the Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad has made its mark. Many reviewers highlight its success at potlucks and gatherings, often noting how guests request the recipe or return for seconds.
Variations are commonly mentioned as well. Some cooks use different pasta shapes, such as bow ties or rotini, for a more festive presentation. Others swap out pepperoni for turkey sausage or add ingredients like olives, banana peppers, or even artichoke hearts for more Mediterranean flair. The adaptability of this dish is part of its enduring charm it welcomes improvisation without compromising its identity.
Seasonal Flexibility and Pairing Ideas
While this pasta salad is a natural choice for summer, thanks to its chilled serving style and fresh vegetables, it’s not limited to one season. In colder months, it can be paired with hearty soups or roasted meats for a satisfying contrast. For a holiday buffet, it provides a bright and vibrant addition among heavier casseroles and baked dishes.
As a side dish, it pairs well with grilled chicken, burgers, sandwiches, or even seafood. It also makes a fantastic base for protein additions like grilled shrimp, chickpeas, or rotisserie chicken to turn it into a complete meal.
The flavors are familiar enough to complement a wide variety of mains, making it a reliable go-to for those moments when you’re unsure what side dish to bring to an event.
Cultural Crossover and Culinary Creativity
Beyond its practical benefits, the Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad reflects broader culinary trends. The idea of transforming classic comfort food flavors into new formats (think pizza-stuffed breadsticks or mac-and-cheese-inspired grilled cheese) is a cultural nod to innovation within constraints. This dish manages to feel indulgent while still aligning with modern values of simplicity, freshness, and customization.
In the realm of fusion food, it succeeds because it honors both its source inspirations pizza and pasta salad without reducing either to a gimmick. It’s more than a novelty; it’s a clever, delicious reinterpretation that has earned its place in the kitchen repertoire.
Conclusion:
Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad isn’t just a quirky mashup it’s a smart, satisfying, and scalable dish that adapts beautifully to modern mealtime needs. It blends nostalgia with practicality, delivers bold and balanced flavors, and invites creativity from the cook. Whether you’re hosting a summer cookout, prepping meals for the week, or simply craving something unique yet comforting, this pasta salad deserves a place at your table.
It embodies everything we love about good food: it’s easy, shareable, flavorful, and made with ingredients that are both accessible and customizable. In a culinary world where time is limited but flavor expectations are high, the Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad proves that you can have the best of both worlds no delivery required.