A twist on pasta salad, this pizza salad recipe stars pepperoni center stage. This popular, native Italian sausage with its spicy essence adds zest to this dish. The black olives, onions, tomatoes, and green pepper contribute crunch, color, and their own distinct flavors.
Cheddar cheese, originally from a small village in England, ranges from mild to sharp. It's a matter of personal preference which one you choose. With a pound of whole wheat macaroni, be assured there will be plenty to go around, but none to take back home.
Ingredients:
1 pound macaroni, whole wheat spirals
1 can black olives, drained
1 large green pepper, diced
1 large tomato, diced
1 large onion, diced
1 small package pepperoni slices
1 package shredded cheddar cheese
16 ounces Italian salad dressing
Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients together. Enjoy!
What Are the Benefits of Whole Wheat Pasta?
You might be wondering why we chose whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta for this recipe. Whole wheat pasta presents a number of health benefits, helping this salad achieve its healthy status. Let's talk about the benefits of using whole wheat pasta.
The process of making whole wheat pasta ensures that it retains all of the grain's nutrients. This includes fiber. Fiber is necessary for a healthy gut; without it, you'll suffer from a number of digestive problems. Whole wheat pasta also has more protein, antioxidants, and B vitamins, among other nutrients. Antioxidants in particular are very important for our health; many studies have shown that they have anticancer properties, and can reduce your risk of heart disease and type II diabetes.
Whole wheat pasta can actually help you lose weight, more so than regular pasta. Whole wheat pasta takes longer to digest, which means it will elevate your blood sugar levels more slowly. This reduces your risk of excess fat storage. In turn, you should notice a difference in your weight loss.
Ultimately, this pizza salad recipe is much healthier than an actual pizza! You can use regular pasta if you want, but we strongly suggest sticking with whole wheat pasta. It still tastes delicious, but comes packed with nutrients to help keep you and your family healthy. Once you've enjoyed this recipe, feel free to check out some of the other awesome recipes we have available!
The image featured at the top of this post is ©mnimage/Shutterstock.com.