Recipes Salad Pasta Salad Pasta Salad 4.7 (312) 224 Reviews 84 Photos This pasta salad is nice and colorful, easy to make, and great for summer picnics or parties. The recipe was given to me by a dear friend many years ago, and I've been making it ever since! Submitted by Cyndie Updated on August 6, 2024 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share Add Photo 84 84 84 84 Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 10 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 6 Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe This easy pasta salad recipe comes together quickly with convenient ingredients and colorful vegetables. How to Make Pasta Salad You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics: Pasta Salad Ingredients Wondering what goes in pasta salad? These are the ingredients you’ll need: Pasta: This colorful, top-rated pasta salad starts with one pound of tri-colored spiral pasta. Dressing: Use a bottle of store-bought Italian-style dressing or, if you want to go the extra mile, make your own at home. Seasoning mix: Salad seasoning mix lends tons of savory flavor. Vegetables: You’ll need cherry tomatoes, three bell peppers (green, yellow, and red), and a can of black olives. How to Make Homemade Pasta Salad Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make pasta salad at home: Cook and drain the pasta. Whisk the dressing with the seasoning mix. Combine the pasta with the vegetables, then toss in the seasoned dressing. What Goes With Pasta Salad This pasta salad recipe will be right at home among other potluck and picnic favorites. In need of some more inspiration? Explore our collection of 15 Best Potluck Side Dishes Are So Good Everyone Will Be Begging You for the Recipes. Here are a few of the crowd-pleasing recipes you’ll find: Classic Macaroni Salad Authentic German Potato Salad Perfect Summer Fruit Salad Can You Make Pasta Salad Ahead of Time? Yes, pasta salad makes a great make-ahead dish! Since the flavors need time to meld in the refrigerator, it might actually be better to make it a day or two in advance. How Long Is Pasta Salad Good For In the Fridge? Store this pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Can You Freeze Pasta Salad? The texture of the cooked pasta may change during the freezing and thawing process. However, you can freeze this pasta salad for up to three months if you have leftovers. Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise “Adding the seasoning packet really kicks up the flavor,” according to Jean. “I also add chopped broccoli which I steam for just a few seconds to enhance the color.” “I made this for 18 servings for a potluck at work and everyone loved it,” says Laura Leal. “I followed the recipe and simply added some broccoli. It was easy to make.” “This pasta salad is awesome!” raves katherinebond. “I added sliced boiled eggs around the bowl as a topping. Got many compliments!” Editorial contributions by Corey Williams Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1x 2x 4x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings 1 pound tri-colored spiral pasta 1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian-style salad dressing 6 tablespoons salad seasoning mix 2 cups cherry tomatoes, diced 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 red bell pepper, diced ½ yellow bell pepper, chopped 1 (2.25 ounce) can black olives, chopped Directions Gather all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 to 12 minutes; rinse under cold water and drain. Whisk Italian dressing and salad spice mix together until smooth. Combine pasta, tomatoes, bell peppers, and olives in a salad bowl. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios For the best flavor, refrigerate the pasta salad for 8 hours to overnight. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Enjoy! DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS I Made It Print 1,184 home cooks made it! Nutrition Facts (per serving) 400 Calories 25g Fat 39g Carbs 8g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 6 Calories 400 % Daily Value * Total Fat 25g 32% Saturated Fat 4g 22% Cholesterol 3mg 1% Sodium 1904mg 83% Total Carbohydrate 39g 14% Dietary Fiber 4g 13% Total Sugars 8g Protein 8g 16% Vitamin C 79mg 88% Calcium 54mg 4% Iron 3mg 14% Potassium 298mg 6% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.