Tri Color Rotini Pasta Salad

Tri-Color Rotini Pasta Salad

This delicious pasta salad is made with Italian dressing instead of a heavy, creamy sauce. It combines tri-color rotini, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and black olives with the dressing I just mentioned to create a light pasta salad that’s big on Italian flavor but not on work and that will leave you feeling like you’ve got just a little more room for that other delicious dish you saw on the potluck table. Don’t stop at potlucks, though. I’ve been known to make this pasta salad simply to go with family dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Rotini Pasta Salad Recipe

• It’s the perfect summer salad, and it only takes a few simple ingredients.
• It has a wide variety of flavors, and it’s so light and delicious.
• It’s super easy to make and pairs well with so many of your favorite recipes.

Rotini Pasta Salad Tips and Variations

This recipe is so incredibly easy to make that I don’t have many tips at all for it. In fact, I only have one. It’s an important one, though. I have some variations that I think you’ll love, though.

Tips

• Always cook your pasta to al dente and no longer. You want that firm but tender texture so you have a great bite with the pasta salad. It also prevents the pasta from turning to mush when you mix it with the other ingredients.

Variations

• Try using Italian sausage in place of pepperoni.
• Smoked sausage works very well in this dish.
• Use your favorite short noodle for this recipe. Any variety or flavor will work well like farfalle or penne..
• Add additional veggies like broccoli, red onion, shredded carrots, diced zucchini, diced bell peppers and pepperoncinis. 

What to Serve with Rotini Pasta Salad

Pasta salad goes well with pretty much all of our favorite foods. It tastes delicious with:

• Hamburgers
• Hot dogs
• Fried chicken
• BBQ chicken
• Pulled pork
• BBQ ribs and beef
• Sandwiches

Rotini Pasta Salad FAQ

If you have questions about this recipe, then read on. The following FAQ answers the most commonly asked questions about pasta salad.

Where did pasta salad originate?

No one knows exactly who invented pasta salad, but we do know that it’s an American dish. The first known recipe for pasta salad appeared in a Washington Post recipe published in 1930 and was called “mock potato salad”, using macaroni instead of potatoes.

How do you keep pasta salad from soaking up dressing?

If you’re using a creamy base for your pasta salad, toss the noodles with a little olive oil to coat them in a water-repellent barrier. Pasta salads like this one that use Italian dressing don’t require this because the dressing itself contains oil.

Can you freeze leftover pasta?

You can freeze pasta leftovers for up to a month provided you freeze only the noodles. Never freeze your pasta in sauce, as it will affect the texture when thawed.

Should I let pasta cool before adding mayo?

There’s no reason to let the pasta cool first. In fact, adding the mayo to the warm pasta makes it easier to mix the salad, allowing the ingredients to combine more readily.

How long will pasta salad last in the refrigerator?

It will last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.

How to Store Leftover Pasta Salad

Place the leftover pasta salad in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 5 days.

Tri-Color Rotini Pasta Salad Ingredients

It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. You’ll find them all easily at your local grocery store.

• Tri-color rotini
• Mini pepperonis
• Mozzarella cheese, cubes
• Cucumber, diced
• Grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
• Sliced black olives
• Italian dressing, can use more

How to Make Tri-Color Rotini Pasta Salad

Making this recipe is just as easy as getting the ingredients together. It only takes 2 steps!

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Drain the pasta, rinse it with cold water, and transfer it to a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Combine the Ingredients

Add all the remaining ingredients to the pasta in the bowl and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Try This Easy Pasta Salad Recipe Today

This tri-color rotini pasta salad is absolutely overflowing with great Italian flavors. It’s not, however, overflowing with work! The most labor-intensive part of this super-easy recipe is simply boiling water. It doesn’t get easier than that! Whip up this pasta salad for a weeknight dinner, backyard BBQ, potluck, or any gathering. There’s never a wrong time for this easy recipe. Give it a try, and I know you’ll love it as much as I do.