My Tri Color Pasta Salad Recipe is a perfect side dish or full meal that is full of vegetables and bright flavors! Follow our easy recipe for a perfect dish.
I’m a sucker for any kind of pasta salad, that’s why my couscous arugula salad recipe is my next favorite to this pasta salad!
This recipe was originally posted March 19, 2015, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
Tri Color Pasta Salad Recipe
A good pasta salad is a must for summer months. Especially when you are grilling lots of chicken on the barbecue. This Tri-Color Pasta Salad is one of my favorites because it is both simple and full of flavor. A ready-made salad dressing gives it robust flavor without making you slave in the kitchen for any longer. Keeping all of these ingredients on hand means I can whip this up in minutes for any meal.
How to make Tri Color Pasta Salad
For the complete list of ingredients and directions, find the printable option at the end of this blog post.
Ingredients:
- tri-color rotini
- red bell pepper
- red onion
- cherry tomatoes
- mushrooms
- black olives
- Italian dressing
Instructions for the Tri Color Pasta Salad
- Prepare your pasta according to package directions
- Prep any vegetables you wish to add to the pasta salad
- Mix all ingredients together and chill before serving
If you prefer, you can saute the onions and mushrooms before mixing with your cooked pasta. This adds more flavor and is a great option if you want to serve as a warm salad.
More Yummy Pasta Dishes
I love the Tri Color Pasta Salad for lunch, or as a side dish. However, sometimes I want something a bit richer. So, the recipes I listed below are some great pasta dishes you too might like for a more complete meal option to satisfy your cravings.
- Blackened Chicken Alfredo
- Creamy Chicken Mushrooms Pasta
- Spaghetti with Zucchini
- Potato Gnocchi Recipe with Parmesan Sauce
Tri Color Pasta Salad Recipe is a perfect side dish or full meal that is full of vegetables and bright flavors! Follow our easy recipe for a perfect dish.
- 1 12 oz package tri-color rotini
- 2/3 cup red bell pepper chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced in halves
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced
- 1 cup black olives sliced
- 2 2/3 cup Italian dressing
- Cook the pasta according to the package making sure to salt the water well. Once the pasta is cooked, pour it into a colander and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop it from cooking any anymore. After all the water is strained, place the pasta into a large bowl.
- Chop the bell pepper and red onion, then slice the tomatoes, and mushrooms.
- Add the vegetables to the pasta and mix just to combine
- Pour the Italian dressing over the pasta and stir well. It might seem like a lot of dressing at first, but the pasta will absorb a lot of it.
- serve chilled.
Never thought of adding mushrooms to pasta salad but I love mushrooms. Will be trying that next time. 🙂
Thank you Val, mushrooms are such a delicious addition to pasta salads!
As we are moving into warmer weather I can’t imagine a better pasta salad than this one. I love how simple it is to throw together!
Thank you Julia! This is my go-to summer pasta salad. So easy and quick!
The colorful pasta salad is so bomb, even my boys will love it. I am excited to have them eat veggies! They have been so picky!
Thank you, ND! Tri-color pasta salad is such a pretty way to get kids to eat more veggies!
Oohhh I love how simple this pasta salad is and that you used tri-color noodles. Quick question…do you think I can use tri-color whole wheat pasta noodles?
Thank you Katie, I have never used whole wheat pasta for this pasta salad, but I think it should still taste great with the whole wheat noodles 🙂
I omit the mushrooms and add mini pepperonis, cheese cubes, cucumbers, and broccoli florets. Always a huge hit whenever I take it to a barbecue or pot luck! Definitely my favorite go-to side recipe.
Kelcee I’m so happy you love this Tri color pasta salad! Thank you for leaving feedback 🙂
Will it get soggy if I make it a night before a bday party?
Sounds delish!
If you make it the day before, try undercooking the pasta a little bit. That way as it sits the dressing will absorb into the pasta. If the pasta is fully cooked, it will absorb even more and become soggy. Hope that helps Jennifer.
Im going to try making it this weekend! Will it still be good if kept in fridge for couple of days?
Hi Anna, if you plan to make it a few days in advance, try to undercook the pasta. That way as it sits in the fridge for a few days the liquid from the Italian dressing will absorb and balance out. If you fully cook the pasta, it may get a little soggy after a few days. Hope that helps 🙂
Good Pasta Salad. I omitted the mushrooms and added some celery. I also like to add 1/2 – 3/4 cup parmesan cheese with either fresh basil or parsley. Mmm Mmm good. I’ve tried different dressings, but I find Ken’s Olive Oil w/Vinegar dressing works best.for me.
Thank you Robin, I’ll have to try that 🙂
I love to add red onions, carrots, red or orange or yellow bell pepper, broccoli, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.
That sounds delicious Judy 🙂
Love your blog ….please send me updates via email……Blessings dolores…..the pasta salad…..DELISH !!!!!
Thank you Dolores! If you go to my homepage, there will be an email subscription box that pops up. Type your email in the subscription box. Once you receive the confirmation email, make sure to confirm it. You will receive an update every time I post a new recipe.
I’ve done one almost exactly like this except for the raw mushrooms…& added chopped ham……
Excellent……
I Love Pasta Salad
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for posting this. My husband likes taking a side in his lunch and I didn’t like buying ready made but I wanted something simple. The addition of chicken seems like a good idea.
Thank you! That’s definitely a great addition for a fuller meal.
I added chicken this i sooooo good and healthy
Great idea Brandy!
Just the recipe I was looking for, but I think I’ll add some small pieces of blanched broccoli florets.
I hope you enjoy it Sandra!
Can you eat those mushrooms raw?
Yes Dena, you can eat them raw.
Try adding some green onion !!!
Oh good idea Gina!