Easy recipe for the best Tri Color Italian Pasta Salad. This fresh tasting meal only takes 20 minutes to put together from start to finish.
The Best Italian Pasta Salad
We absolutely love this Italian Pasta Salad. It’s perfect for quick weeknight meals, but also a favorite for Summer picnics in the park. Unlike some pasta salads that call for meat, this is vegetarian as we prefer the simplicity with just vegetables and pasta.
This pasta salad only takes 20 minutes worth of prep and then you chill it. Looking for more recipes to complete your Summer picnic spread? Check out my Red Pickled Onions and Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs next!
This is one of my favorite recipes to make for park picnics around the city. My tip for keeping it cold is to make it a few hours ahead (or overnight) and chill it thoroughly in the fridge. For transporting I use a soft insulated bag with ice packs or frozen water bottles to keep it cool.
Which pasta is best for pasta salad?
You want to use a pasta shape that has lots of nooks and crannies to make sure the Italian dressing and herbs get into every little bit. Pasta like rotini, penne, fusilli, and farfalle are perfect for pasta salad.
Can I make pasta salad the night before?
Absolutely! I actually think pasta salad tastes better when prepared the night before. Tip: right before serving it add a tablespoon (or 2) of salad dressing to freshen it up
How to Make Italian Pasta Salad
Prep: Cook pasta according to box. Drain and place in large serving bowl. Chop up celery and half tomatoes.
Mix: Add salad dressing, celery, tomatoes, olives, basil and oregano to the bowl and mix. Add shredded cheese and mix again.
And because I know some people don’t like olives, you can totally skip them if you want.
Chill and Serve: Cover bowl and chill in the refrigerator, for at least 1 hour. Serve and enjoy!
How long does pasta salad last for?
Keep any leftover pasta salad in a covered container in the fridge. Leftovers will last 5 days, making perfect lunch and dinner meals!
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Tri Color Italian Pasta Salad
PrintIngredients
- 12 oz box tri color rotini pasta
- 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
- 3 stalks of celery finely chopped
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Prepare your pasta as directed on box. Drain and place pasta in a big serving bowl.
- Add salad dressing, celery, tomatoes, olives, basil and oregano. Stir to fully combine. Add mozzarella cheese on top and mix again.
- Cover bowl with lid or plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to chill (at least an hour, can be overnight).
- Remove from refrigerator and stir to freshen up. If salad looks a little dry (especially if you let it sit overnight), add a tablespoon (or 2) of salad dressing and stir. Serve and enjoy!
Joe Barranco says
I would use a combination of cheeses as mozzarella doesn’t have much taste alone.
Pamela Reed says
I’m a big fan of mozzarella in this pasta salad – its mildness is exactly what I love about it! But that’s the beauty of cooking: you get to make it your way. I appreciate you sharing your spin!
christine Gardner says
would you consider including the amount the recipe makes, i.e., serves 6, serves 8, etc., thank you for your recipes.
Pamela Reed says
Hey Christine, serving size is already listed in all the recipe cards! This one is 8 servings. Hope that helps!
Aim says
Hi there, looking forward in making this soon. Thank you so much for sharing. Quick question….do you think cube mozzarella cheese would work in this too or stick to shredded? Thank you so much for your time and help towards this matter!!
Respectfully yours,
Aim
Pamela Reed says
Hey Aim, you can absolutely use cubed mozzarella cheese instead! Hope this helps!
Sue. McKnight says
This is so much better than potato salad (my opinion only). And, for me this is a great way use garden produce… I added a little green & red peppers, a little red onion & some crunchy cucumber in addition to the tomatoes & celery. Yum. Soooo good..
Lynda Ford says
This is one of my grandson’s favorite, anytime salad. I love it also!
Pat P says
I love making this , but I add mini seedless cucumbers , mini sweet multi color peppers & I use McCormicks Salad Supreme Seasoning Mix instead of the seasoning you use , gives it a great flavor !
Linda says
I love pasta salads, but I can be picky too. With this salad I don’t like olives so I omitted them. I added sliced mini cucumbers, a few extra tomatoes, Olive Garden Italian salad dressing and rather than feta cheese. It was so good!
Felicua says
Can I add Cucumber to this great Pasta Salad?
Pamela says
You sure can! Enjoy the salad! 🙂
Rachel Page says
Just made this for lunch, so yummy!
Pamela says
High 5 Rachel!
M-T says
Just wanted you to know that I linked your delicious pasta recipe to my latest blog post on “The Perfect Picnic” http://thefrenchtouch-m-t.blogspot.com/2014/06/my-perfect-picnic.html
Can’t wait to try the recipe.
Cheers, M-T
Pamela says
Thanks so much M-T!
Julia \ says
I love pasta salads–they are easy to make and such a great option for busy days or to bring to a picnic! Love it!
Pamela says
Love how quick and easy it is to make!
JW_Umbrella Treasury says
I love pasta salad! It’s always felt like a special occasion food to me. Even though it’s super simple to make, it wasn’t in my mom’s recipe rotation when I was growing up. The only time I had pasta salad as a child was at someone else’s house (ie, barbeques, etc), so I thought of it as a treat.
Pamela says
That’s a great special way to think of it! It brings back alot of family memories for me at summer gatherings.
ashley - baker by nature says
I JUST made pasta salad last night, but it’s all gone now, and this post has me wanting MORE!!! Looks so fresh and tasty.
Pamela says
MMMM, I think I will be making more this weekend!
miss messy says
Looks delicious. The weather here is dull to. I would love some of this comforting food! 🙂
Pamela says
It went from dull to too hot… this still makes a great food for those sunny summer afternoons!
Sarah@The View From the Table says
Blimey I forgot how great pasta salad is. I like it with all the above and some sweetcorn kernels too. Raining here too by the way..
Pamela says
Oh my, love the crunch of the kernels. What a great idea, thanks!
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says
What a pretty pasta salad! And packed with flavors too I imagine. Great dish for those nights when you don’t want to put too much heat in the house. Lovely post Pamela.
Pamela says
Thanks Anne! It’s such a easy meal for a large group of people and packs such a delicious punch!
Pam says
It looks wonderful! I may have to make this for lunch with my leftover pasta.
Pamela says
That would be a yummy lunch!
Kristi @ lifesprinkles says
Pasta salad reminds me of vet school! My roommate and I would always make a tortellini pasta salad the night before a big test – we called it our ‘good luck tortellini salad.’ 🙂
I would totally set weather alerts if the weather in Arizona actually changed often enough. I’ll send some warmth and sunny thoughts your way!
Pamela says
I love that, hope it brought you both good luck! Thanks for the sunny thoughts! 🙂
Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen says
Your pasta salad looks totally delicious, I love that it has mozzarella and black olives in too. I always end up eating other people’s left over olives as well, they definitely seem to be a love or hate food and I fall into the love category!
Pamela says
Hahaha, I know the feeling. Bring all the leftover olives to me! 🙂
Sophie33 says
It is the same weather over here, in Mechelen, Belgium! 🙁
I love making easy yet tasty pasta salads like this one, on weekdays, with whatever is lying in the fridge & pantry. We make a similar recipe like this when it is BBQ time over here! Yours looks very appetizing too!
I prefer to use fresh Buffalo mozerella for added creaminess & flavour! 😉
Pamela says
MMMMM – that sounds delicious!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
Pasta salad is my favorite summer dinner! Your photos are absolutely gorgeous!
Pamela says
Thanks Dorothy! I love it too!