November 11, 2014
updated
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This convenient lunch idea has everything kids love! Keep reading to learn all the time-saving and lunch-packing tips!
Easy Cold School Lunch Idea: Pizza Pasta Salad
This Cold Pizza Pasta Salad for school lunch comes together in minutes, and if you plan ahead, it can be entirely made using leftovers from pizza night and cooked pasta!
Storing leftovers and reusing them in other delicious recipes creates an entirely new meal that helps you to save time and minimize waste. It’s also a meal that’s a winner with picky eaters!
This recipe doesn’t require reheating, which is a plus if your child is going on a field trip or the school cafeteria doesn’t have a microwave. I have several cold lunch ideas like more pasta salads, wraps, and bento lunches that are great for both cases.
What is in Pizza Pasta Salad
Using ingredients your kids enjoy on their pizza can become the toppings on pasta too!
This Cold Pizza Pasta Salad includes:
- Cooked pasta: in this lunch, I added whole-wheat pasta. Use your favorite one.
- Mozzarella cheese: or any other sliced or cubed cheese.
- Broccoli florets: this pizza salad is a great vessel to sneak some extra greens!
- Pepperoni: a classic pizza topping! Salami is another tasty option.
- Olives: black, greens, your favorites. If your kid doesn’t like it, omit them.
- Cherry tomatoes: fresh, colorful, and a kid-favorite veggie.
- Italian dressing: a simple vinaigrette, marinara sauce or plain olive oil works too!
- Salt & black pepper: for seasoning.
You’ll find the measurements in the recipe card below.
How To Make Cold Pizza Pasta Salad for School Lunch
Making a healthy and tasty lunch has never been so easy! Add your cooked pasta to a bowl, toss in your favorite pizza toppings, a drizzle of vinaigrette or olive oil, toss to combine, and it’s ready!
Quick step-by-step:
- Mix ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the pasta, cheese, broccoli, pepperoni, black olives, tomatoes, dressing, salt, and black pepper. Toss to combine. - Refrigerate
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days or pack inside a lunch container.
How easy is that? Check out this video to see how it’s made:
This Cold Pizza Pasta Salad can also be found in my collection of school lunch ideas for picky eaters. Each lunch idea is a version of kid-friendly meals that have a variety of foods, from whole grains to lean proteins and veggies.
How to Pack Cold Pizza Pasta Salad for School Lunch
Saving time while keeping this Pizza Pasta Salad tasty and intact until lunchtime is possible if you follow these tips:
Cooked pasta storage tip
Toss plain cooked pasta with olive oil to prevent it from becoming sticky. Once coated in olive oil, refrigerate it for up to 5 days.
Make it flavorful
Take the pasta salad from good to great by tossing it with Ranch, Italian dressing, or your favorite vinaigrette.
Make ahead
Once you add the other ingredients to the pasta, most pasta salads can be made up to 3 days ahead. This is convenient and also allows the pasta to have more flavor.
Storage
Pasta salads can be stored inside a traditional lunch container, with compartments or without, or inside a thermos if you want to keep it chilled.
Hungry for more lunches kids will love? I have 100 more ideas in my ebook, 101 Packed Lunches!
101 Packed Lunches eBook
All my best kid-friendly lunches from over a decade of creating meal plans. Add some variety to your child’s lunchbox with these epic lunches, plus receive my Pack Meals Like a Pro ebook, free with purchase!
More Pasta Salad Ideas for Kids
Pizza pasta salad is just one of my kids’ favorite cold school lunches, and I love that it can be prepped ahead. Here are some more ideas you’re family is going to love!
- Cobb Pasta Salad– a favorite!
- Jambalaya Pasta Salad
- Summer Pasta Salad
Related: Top 5 Lunchboxes We’ve Tested
Pizza Pasta Salad for Kids
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked pasta
- 2- ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced
- ½ cup broccoli florets, chopped
- 8 slices nitrate-free pepperoni, quartered
- ¼ cup black olives, sliced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 tablespoons Italian dressing, or plain olive oil
- Salt & black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the pasta, cheese, broccoli, pepperoni, black olives, tomatoes, dressing, salt, and black pepper. Toss to combine.
- Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days or pack inside a lunch container.
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