By Becky Hardin
Updated Jun 26, 2025
This Tri-Color Pasta Salad with fresh mozzarella is my go to for BBQ’s, game days, family gatherings and pretty much any time I need to quickly whip up something satisfying and delicious! Fresh veggies, cheese, and rotini—covered with your favorite zesty Italian dressing. It’ll please vegetarians and omnivores alike!
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5-Star Review
“Absolutely loved it!! so good.” – Milica
Easy Tricolor Pasta Salad
With only 6 ingredients, this salad comes together in just 10 minutes and is super satisfying! It’s amazing to see how a handful of simple ingredients create something so yummy.
I’m not exaggerating when I say this pasta salad with Italian dressing is the best combination and makes a delicious quick meal. Tender rotini pasta is tossed with tomatoes and bell peppers, then loaded with diced mozzarella. Coat it all with your favorite Italian dressing and it is so good!
Add any of your favorite veggies—nuts, seeds, corn, artichokes, garbanzo beans, meats, and more.
Tips for Beginners
- I recommend rinsing pasta after cooking it. This helps rinse off any excess starch, and it stops the pasta from overcooking, allowing it to cool much faster.
- Pasta easily absorbs liquids, so it’s best to toss the warm pasta with only ⅔ of the dressing, as if too much is absorbed, the pasta will be dry. Toss the cooled pasta salad with the remaining ⅓ of the dressing just before serving.
- Start seasoning early and often. Boil the pasta in generously salted water and taste as you go to make sure the pasta isn’t being over or under seasoned.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 16 oz. tricolor pasta 1 box, cooked according to instructions, penne, farfalle, fusilli, cavatappi, and rotini are also work
- ▢ 16 oz. Italian dressing 1 bottle
- ▢ 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- ▢ 16 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese 1 container, diced
- ▢ 1 red bell pepper diced
- ▢ 1 green bell pepper diced
- ▢ ½ tsp kosher salt
- ▢ ½ tsp ground black pepper
Video
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a large bowl. 16 oz. tricolor pasta, 16 oz. Italian dressing, 2 cups cherry tomatoes, 16 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, 1 red bell pepper, 1 green bell pepper, ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper
- Toss until well combined.
- Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Stir, serve cold, and enjoy.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Tricolor Pasta Salad Step by Step
Gather your ingredients : Gather everything together and boil 16 oz. of tricolor pasta per package instructions. Cook until al dente. Drain the water and transfer the pasta to a large bowl.
Combine & chill: Into the same bowl add 16 oz. of Italian dressing, 2 cups of cherry tomatoes, 16 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, 1 diced red bell pepper, 1 diced green bell pepper, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Combine well and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
Serve and enjoy : Enjoy straight from the fridge and enjoy.
How to Store
This is a wonderful vegetable pasta salad to make ahead of time. I actually prefer it the next day when the salad dressing has had time to mingle with the other ingredients. If you’re worried about the salad becoming dry, reserve a little of the dressing to toss with it the next day, just before serving.
Any leftover pasta salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just transfer into an airtight container and store.
Serving Suggestions
This hearty veggie pasta salad makes a great side or even main dish. Though, I’ll often add protein to make it a more filling meal. My favorite options are crockpot honey garlic chicken or oven fried chicken breast . Though sometimes I’ll toss in baked BBQ chicken or crockpot Hawaiian ribs .
more salad recipes to enjoy
Caprese Salad Recipe
Asian Cucumber Salad
Peruvian Chopped Salad Recipe
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Tricolor Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz. tricolor pasta 1 box, cooked according to instructions, penne, farfalle, fusilli, cavatappi, and rotini are also work
- 16 oz. Italian dressing 1 bottle
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 16 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese 1 container, diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a large bowl. 16 oz. tricolor pasta, 16 oz. Italian dressing, 2 cups cherry tomatoes, 16 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, 1 red bell pepper, 1 green bell pepper, ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper
- Toss until well combined.
- Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Stir, serve cold, and enjoy.
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
