Easy Tri Color Pasta Salad
Bright, colorful, and bursting with fresh flavors, this Easy Tri Color Pasta Salad is the perfect side dish for any occasion! Featuring al dente tri-color rotini pasta tossed with crisp cucumbers, sweet cherry tomatoes, crunchy red bell peppers, and savory black olives, this recipe is a feast for both the eyes and the palate. A generous sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese and optional pepperoni slices add a delightful touch of indulgence, while a zesty Italian dressing ties everything together with tangy, herby goodness. Ready in just 25 minutes and best served chilled, this make-ahead pasta salad is an ideal choice for summer barbecues, potlucks, or quick weeknight dinners. Whether you're looking for a crowd-pleaser or a vibrant twist on a classic pasta salad, this easy recipe checks all the boxes!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Tri-color rotini pasta
- 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium Cucumber
- 1 Red bell pepper
- 0.5 Red onion
- 0.5 cups Black olives (sliced)
- 1 cup Shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cup Pepperoni slices (optional)
- 0.75 cups Italian dressing
- 0.25 teaspoons Salt
- 0.25 teaspoons Black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the tri-color rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions (usually around 8-10 minutes) until al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to cool it down. Set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Slice the cherry tomatoes in halves, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta with the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, sliced black olives, shredded mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni slices (if using).
Pour the Italian dressing over the pasta salad and toss everything together until evenly coated. Add salt and black pepper, adjusting to taste.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld together.
Before serving, give the salad another toss to redistribute the dressing, and serve chilled. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
477 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 23.2 g | 30% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.4 g | 37% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 31 mg | 10% | |
| Sodium | 979 mg | 43% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 50.6 g | 18% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.6 g | 13% | |
| Total Sugars | 7.2 g | ||
| Protein | 16.0 g | 32% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 182 mg | 14% | |
| Iron | 2.1 mg | 12% | |
| Potassium | 326 mg | 7% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
