Creamy, Spicy Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad

This smoked mozzarella pasta salad combines tube pasta, baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red pepper in a creamy, spicy sauce. Serve it hot or cold for a delicious vegetarian main meal or side dish.

I took the popular Whole Foods pasta salad and gave it a little spin, adding some extra ingredients and replacing others to make this a more macro-friendly recipe.

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Kitchen Gear Needed

I prepped this recipe in the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker because I could roast the red pepper and cook the pasta all in one pot. But you can just as easily prepare it on the stove top.

Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker

Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer – 6qt capacity, 12 functions to quickly cook one-pot meals.

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Ingredients & Swaps for Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Ingredients List

10 oz. Pasta – any small tube pasta works, like penne or rigatoni

8 oz. Smoked Mozzarella – smoked gouda is also good in this recipe, just make sure whatever you use is smoked

2 cups Baby Spinach – regular spinach works, just tear it into small pieces

1/2 cup Sun-dried tomatoes – try to find tomatoes not packed in oil or water, but come in a packet. I find them at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.

1/2 cup Roasted Red Pepper – I love fresh roasted red pepper, but skip a lot of prep and buy red pepper strips in a jar.

1/4 cup Fresh Basil

Dressing Ingredients – grated Parmesan, mayonnaise, non-fat Greek yogurt, paprika, garlic and white wine vinegar (see recipe card below for exact amounts)

How to Make Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Here are the general steps to make this recipe, whether you make it in the Ninja Speedi like I did or you make it on the stove. See the recipe card below for specific instructions.

Step 1 Cook the pasta in the cooking pot, adding the sun-dried tomatoes in the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Step 2 If roasting the red pepper, place the red pepper quarters on the crisping tray of the Ninja Speedi or roast it in the oven while the pasta cooks. Mix the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl.

Step 3 When the pasta is done and drained, add the baby spinach, smoked mozzarella, red pepper, and dressing to the pasta. Stir together.

Step 4 Serve cold or hot for a delicious, creamy, spicy main dish or side dish.

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Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Yield: 5

This smoked mozzarella pasta salad combines tube pasta, baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red pepper in a creamy, spicy sauce.

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Ingredients

Salad

• 10 oz penne pasta
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not in oil), roughly chopped
• 1 large red bell pepper, seeded, quartered
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 8 oz smoked mozzarella, cubed
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, torn

Dressing:

• 1/12 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
• 2 TBSP white wine vinegar
• 4 tsp garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp smoky paprika

Instructions

1. Add penne pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and 3 cups of water to the Ninja Speedi cooking pot. Make sure most of the pasta is submerged in the water.
2. Put the crisping tray in the upper position and place the halved red pepper on the tray.
3. Cook on SPEEDI MEALS at 360° for 10 minutes. The unit will steam for about 7 minutes before switching to air fry.
4. When the unit shuts off, remove the bell pepper and crisping tray. Stir the pasta and tomatoes. Let the pasta cool a little while you prepare the dressing and peel the pepper.
5. To make the dressing, mix all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
6. Once the pepper has cooled a little, peel the charred skin off and chop the pepper into 1/2" pieces.
7. Add the spinach, cubed smoked mozzarella, torn basil, and dressing to the pasta. Stir well to combine. Chill for about 30 minutes or serve immediately.

Notes

STOVETOP METHOD:

1. Cook the pasta according to directions. Add the sun-dried tomatoes to the pasta for the last 5 minutes of cooking time.
2. While the pasta cooks, broil the halved red pepper in the oven or air fryer until the skin is charred. Set aside to cool.
3. When the pasta is done, drain it and run under cool water if you want cold pasta salad. Otherwise let the pasta cool a little while you prepare the dressing. and peel the pepper.
4. To make the dressing, mix all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
5. Once the pepper has cooled a little, peel the charred skin off and chop the pepper into 1/2" pieces.
6. Add the spinach, cubed smoked mozzarella, chopped basil, and dressing to the pasta. Stir well to combine. Chill for about 30 minutes or serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 368Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 428mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 17g

Nutrition information is an approximation and may vary based on the specific ingredients and amounts used when preparing the recipe.