Summertime Pasta Salad

With the Fourth of July quickly approaching, I wanted to share one of my most beloved and easy cookout salads for you to enjoy! I’ve been making versions of this pasta salad for years now. It’s the perfect summertime side to accompany burgers, dogs, chicken or steak. Just look at all those bright, summery colors! This salad will be sure to stand out at your summer cookout!

Make ahead and refrigerate over night to let the dressing really marinate the pasta. Just be careful to cool all your ingredients before adding them together or the hot pasta can melt the cheese and it warps it and looks weird. Also, I always reserve a little Italian dressing for right before I serve the salad so it isn't too dry.

The Perfect Bite of this salad is a piece or two of pasta, a bite of cheese and pepperoni and some broccoli to round out the flavor, all seeped in Italian dressing of course.

Prep time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

· 1 box tri-colored rotini

· 2 bell peppers (red, orange or yellow), chopped

· ½ yellow onion, chopped

· 1 broccoli crown, chopped and steamed

· 1 package turkey pepperoni

· 1 block sharp cheddar cheese

· 1 bottle zesty Italian dressing

Directions:

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add salt & some olive oil to water (this will season the pasta and keep it from sticking together). Cook rotini until al dente.

2. While pasta cooks, chop veggies.

3. Steam chopped broccoli in a microwave safe bowl, with some water, covered, for 3 minutes. Drain and let cool.

4. Add all veggies to large serving bowl.

5. Cut cheese and turkey pepperoni into small bite sized pieces. Add to bowl with veggies.

6. Drain pasta & LET COOL before adding to bowl.

7. Once cool, add pasta to bowl. Mix all ingredients & add Italian dressing. Continue to mix until well incorporated.

8. Cover with plastic wrap & store in fridge for at least an hour, preferably a few.

9. Serve cold!