Description
This Hot Honey Pasta Salad Recipe is a fun sweet and spicy twist on a classic summer side dish. Tender pasta is tossed with a flavorful hot honey dressing, juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella pearls, fresh basil, peppery arugula, and mini pepperoni slices. It is easy to make in about 20 minutes and is perfect for picnics, barbecues, potlucks, and summer meals.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup light olive oil
- â…“ cup honey
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1½ teaspoons onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 pound medium size pasta, such as bowtie or penne
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half or fourths if too large
- 8 ounces mozzarella pearls, fully drained
- 4 ounces mini pepperoni slices
- 1½ cups baby arugula
- ½ cup fresh basil, finely diced
Instructions
- Boil the pasta until tender according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain thoroughly and briefly rinse with cool water.
- While the pasta is cooking, add the light olive oil, honey, lemon juice, dried oregano, dried thyme, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the bottom of a large bowl. Whisk until well combined.
- Once the pasta is drained and cooled, add it to the bowl with the dressing. Stir until every piece of pasta is well coated.
- Add the cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, mini pepperoni slices, baby arugula, and fresh basil. Stir gently until all ingredients are evenly combined.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for at least 2 hours for the best flavor.
Notes
- Use a large bowl to make stirring the pasta salad easier.
- Make sure the pasta is completely cooled before adding the fresh ingredients.
- Choose high-quality ingredients for the best results.
- For make-ahead preparation, toss freshly cooked pasta with the dressing and refrigerate overnight, then add the remaining ingredients before serving.
- Alternatively, prepare the recipe as written but leave out the arugula. Refrigerate overnight and add the arugula just before serving.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: Boil
- Cuisine: American