{"id":90078,"date":"2025-08-04T05:20:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T11:20:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kalynskitchen.com\/?p=90078"},"modified":"2025-08-04T05:20:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T11:20:45","slug":"low-carb-italian-pasta-salad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kalynskitchen.com\/low-carb-italian-pasta-salad\/","title":{"rendered":"Pepperoni Pasta Salad"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Pepperoni Pasta Salad that’s easy to make and loaded with Italian flavors uses lower-carb Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta. Or see options in the recipe for other types of pasta you can use to make this tasty pasta salad with pepperoni, tomatoes, olives, green onions, chopped basil, and Parmesan cheese!<\/i><\/p>\n

PIN the Pepperoni Pasta Salad to try it later!<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Pepperoni<\/p>\n

This Pepperoni Pasta Salad<\/strong> recipe is getting an update for a couple of reasons, and I hope you love the new version of this salad as much as we did! This is a recipe I first made a few years ago with Palmini low-carb pasta made with hearts of palm. And even though Kara<\/a> and I really enjoyed some of our experiments with that pasta, eventually it was clear it was not a hit with most of my readers. Not only was the hearts of palm pasta pricey, I got feedback from quite a few people that they missed the feel of “real” pasta.<\/p>\n

So Kara and I re-created this recipe with Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti, and we ended up deciding it was worth a few more carbs to get the real wheat pasta flavor you get with that option. And we also changed the name to Pepperoni Pasta Salad, since the old name no longer fit the recipe.<\/p>\n

But you can make this with the type of pasta you prefer! If you’re a fan of Palmini Pasta, I’ll include instructions to make this salad using that for a low-carb version. And you can also make it with regular spaghetti if you don’t care that much about the carbs!<\/p>\n

And for people who are fans of pepperoni, this would be a perfect pasta salad to take to a summer pot-luck or to make for a family dinner! I hope you’ll enjoy trying it, no matter what type of pasta you prefer!<\/p>\n

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?<\/h2>\n

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe with ingredient amounts.)<\/p>\n

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  • Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti<\/a> (affiliate link)<\/li>\n
  • water + salt for cooking spaghetti<\/li>\n
  • cherry tomatoes<\/li>\n
  • olives<\/li>\n
  • mini pepperoni<\/li>\n
  • green onions<\/li>\n
  • coarsely grated Parmesan<\/li>\n
  • chopped fresh basil<\/li>\n
  • Newman’s Own Classic Oil and Vinegar Dressing<\/a> (affiliate link)<\/li>\n
  • Italian Herb Seasoning<\/a> (affiliate link)<\/li>\n
  • Garlic Powder<\/a> (affiliate link)<\/li>\n
  • salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    What is Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta?<\/h2>\n

    These days Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta<\/a> (affiliate link) is definitely my favorite lower-carb pasta. This product is a high-fiber wheat pasta made in Italy and it comes in Penne, Rotini, Spaghetti, and Elbows. The Fiber Gourmet Pasta tastes just like regular pasta made with wheat, but it\u2019s higher in fiber, which decreases the net carbs. The only thing that\u2019s a downside to the Fiber Gourmet Pasta for some people will be the price. I haven\u2019t found it in stores, and when I order from Amazon I am careful to choose the pack with six boxes so it comes out to about $6.66 per box, or sometimes a bit less when it’s on sale. That’s pricey but worth it for me when I’m craving pasta and want a few less carbs. Both Kara<\/a> and I love this for a pasta option, just search \u201cFiber Gourmet\u201d on the website to find other recipes where we\u2019ve used it.<\/p>\n

    How high in carbs is Pepperoni Pasta Salad with Fiber Gourmet Pasta?<\/h2>\n

    If you make this salad with Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti<\/a> (affiliate link) it will have 18.3 net carbs per serving and 8 grams of protein when it’s eaten as a side dish serving.<\/p>\n

    More pasta options for Pepperoni Pasta Salad?<\/h2>\n

    If you want a low-carb option for this salad, use Palmini Low-Carb Linguini<\/a> (affiliate link) which will be less than 5 net carbs and 8 grams of protein for a side dish serving. Palmini Pasta is also gluten-free. And if you don’t care that much about the carbs, you can also make the tasty salad with regular spaghetti!<\/p>\n

    Can you use regular pepperoni for this pasta salad?<\/h2>\n

    Kara and I loved how the sliced cherry tomatoes matched the shape of the mini pepperoni in this salad. But if you don’t want to buy mini-pepperoni, just use the same of amount of regular pepperoni, cut in half or quarters.<\/p>\n

    \"Pepperoni<\/p>\n

    Tips for making Pepperoni Pasta Salad:<\/h2>\n

    (This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe. These tips are for Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti or regular spaghetti. See the end of the complete recipe below for instructions with Palmini Pasta.)<\/p>\n

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    1. The first photo shows the Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti<\/a> (affiliate link) I now prefer for this recipe.<\/li>\n
    2. Break spaghetti noodles in half or thirds to make it easier to mix the salad.<\/li>\n
    3. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add salt, and cook the Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti at a low simmer for 14 minutes. Then test to see if the pasta is as done as you prefer. (In Utah I need to cook it about 5 minutes more. For regular spaghetti, cook according to package directions.)<\/li>\n
    4. When the spaghetti is done to your liking, drain well in a colander.<\/li>\n
    5. While spaghetti cooks, slice cherry tomatoes crosswise, drain the sliced olives, slice green onions, and chop the fresh basil.<\/li>\n
    6. We used one cup of mini-pepperoni, so for regular pepperoni cut in half or quarters and use about that amount.<\/li>\n
    7. Grate or measure out Parmesan Cheese.<\/li>\n
    8. Whisk together dressing ingredients and then mix chopped basil into the dressing.<\/li>\n
    9. Transfer drained pasta to large mixing bowl; then mix dressing into the drained pasta, making sure spaghetti is coated with dressing.<\/li>\n
    10. Then gently mix in the sliced tomatoes, mini pepperoni, sliced olives, and green onions.<\/li>\n
    11. Mix 6 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese into the salad.<\/li>\n
    12. Season salad to taste with salt and fresh-ground black pepper. Then sprinkle the rest of the Parmesan cheese over the top.<\/li>\n
    13. Pepperoni Pasta Salad can be served at room temperature or chilled, with more Parmesan to be added at the table if desired.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Make it as part of a Low-Carb Summer Meal:<\/h2>\n

      Pepperoni Pasta Salad would be a great side dish to serve with one of these low-carb summer main dishes:<\/p>\n

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      • Rosemary-Mustard Grilled Chicken<\/a><\/li>\n
      • Maple Glazed Salmon<\/a><\/li>\n
      • Grilled Cod with Garlic, Basil, and Lemon<\/a><\/li>\n
      • Lemon Pesto Chicken Kabobs<\/a><\/li>\n
      • Greek Pork Chops<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \"Pepperoni<\/p>\n

        More Tasty Salads for Summer Dinners:<\/h2>\n

        Check out Favorite Keto Summer Salads<\/a> for more ideas for salads to make for dinner when it’s hot outside!<\/p>\n