Tri-Color Pasta Salad {My Favorite Pasta Salad}
Simple to prepare, this tri-color pasta salad is the best ever! The creamy dressing, with a hint of pesto, is so flavorful and delicious!
Of all the pasta salads I’ve loved in my life (hint: I’ve loved a lot), this tri-color pasta salad is at the tippy tippy top of the ones I can’t live without.
I’ve been making it for years, after my Aunt Marilyn passed it on to me over years and years ago, and it is still a huge family favorite.
In fact, I can easily say this pasta salad has appeared at more potlucks, BBQ’s, easy Friday night dinners, and family gatherings than I can even count.
It is a little bit classic, a little bit unique, and a lot yummy.
If you’ve made it, you know the fresh basil and little kick of pesto take it from average to extraordinary. And don’t even get me started on the pine nuts.
They are everything. (But don’t worry, I’ve offered a substitution in the notes of the recipe if you are allergic or opposed to paying an arm or a leg for them.)
I am also a little proud of myself for not spending the entirety of the post just on the looks of this pasta salad (I didn’t want to appear shallow).
It is pretty, no doubt about it, and we all know looks definitely get you part of the way there in terms of rock star points.
But the real clincher is how wonderfully delicious it is. And the fact that it comes together quickly and painlessly is simply just another pasta salad bonus.
I don’t know about you but I kind of like pasta salad bonuses.
If you’re looking for the perfect pasta salad for your Labor Day shenanigans, this is the one.
I guarantee this tried-and-true tri-color pasta salad recipe will be the hit wherever you take it (even if you just stick around home and dig right into the bowl with a fork).
Have you perused my list of Best Recipes yet? A recipe has to be pretty darn amazing to make the cut.
Think of the Best Recipes section as a a one-stop guide to the best of the best recipes so you don’t have to spend hours searching for the perfect “insert recipe you want here.”
This salad easily makes it onto the Best Side Dishes list. Easily.
FAQs for Tri-Color Pasta Salad
I like Breanne’s or Newman’s Own.
If you make it the day before, I would reserve some dressing or have extra to mix before serving as it tends to be a bit dry on the 2nd day.
Tri-Color Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12-ounce package tri-color rotini pasta, cooked and drained
- ⅔ cup creamy Caesar dressing
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 (6-ounce) can black olives, drained and chopped
- ¼ cup finely diced red onion, or green onions
- ¾ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 6-10 fresh basil leaves, cut into strips or torn into pieces, plus more for garnish, if desired
- ¼ cup basil pesto
- ½ to 1 cup toasted pine nuts, optional – see note for substitutions
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water according to package directions. Drain and coat with the Caesar dressing while still warm.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the pine nuts and extra basil. Toss well to combine. Add additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve (4-8 hours). If the pasta salad seems dry after refrigerating, add a little more Caesar dressing and stir to combine. Before serving, top with pine nuts and fresh basil, if desired.
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: from my Aunt Marilyn
159 Comments on “Tri-Color Pasta Salad {My Favorite Pasta Salad}”
How many people does this salad serve? I am thinking of making it for a party, but want to make sure I make enough. Thanks!
Hey everybody,
Im using alot of these side recipes for my wedding, can some be made the day before?? please let me know.
I made this for a potluck and everyone loved it! I forgot to buy pine nuts but it was still really good. I can’t wait to make it again with pine nuts. Thanks!
I’ve made this at least half a dozen times before now, but I just have to tell you that it’s my absolute favorite pasta salad! Instead of pine nuts, I sub sunflower seeds. It still gives it a good flavor and crunch. Actually, I thought about buying some this weekend, and didn’t. Now I wish I had, since I decided to make this for our lunch with the missionaries at the last minute.
This was delicious! Thanks Mel!
AWESOME. Our new favorite pasta salad. I don’t think I’ll ever make the plain old pasta salad with italian dressing after making this. It’s incredible. I forgot to add the cheese and it was still awesome!
This is fantastic! I just made it for my BBQ tomorrow and I just want to eat it now! I used Ken’s lite creamy Caesar and reduced fat pesto to save a few calories and it is still delicious! I also substituted toasted blanched almonds for the pine nuts to save s few dollars. Thanks again for a great recipe!
also Mel – I noticed when you were describing the salad you mentioned the dressing was made of ranch and pesto, but in the ingredients creamy ceasar is listed? which one should i use?
Hi Tiffany – I usually serve this at room temperature or cold. I pour the dressing over the pasta warm and let it cool. I think ranch could be substituted – I used the term “creamy ranch” to describe the bottled dressing I usually buy (the Newman’s brand of Creamy Caesar tastes a little ranch-like).
mel – do you serve this warm, or cold? i was slightly confused when you said to pour the dressing over the pasta while it was warm, I thought this was a cold salad? By the way…I LOVE your website…everything I have tried I have loved!
Ok, this is amazing! I made it with your Green Goddess dressing that I had leftover because I didn’t feel like making a Caesar dressing and didn’t want to go to the grocery. Anyway, it turned out awesome. I also subbed a salad cucumber for the olives since we’re not olive fans.
I think I have made half the recipes on your site since I discovered it a couple months ago. Moo Shu noodles were amazing last night and pretty much everything else we have loved as well. I refer to you as “my new friend Mel” when my husband asks where the recipe came from. 🙂 Thank you!!!!
Sara – what a great idea to use the green goddess dressing for the pasta salad. I’m definitely going to try it! I’m thrilled that you have been happy with the recipes you have tried! I’ll take your claim to be friends – you tell your husband it’s legit!
So I have 2 things to say
1-Your blog has become my go to site for all my recipe needs. I needed some BBQ side dishes and came here and was not disappointed. Seriously, every recipe I have ever tried here become my new favorite (fill in the blank) Keep these awesome recipes coming.
2-I messed this salad up and it was still waaaay better then any version I have ever had. I saw the 2 tsp. of equal parts of garlic, salt & pepper. I was a tad hungover and couldnt handle the math so I figured I would do 1/2 tsps of all 3 and leave it at that. I grabbed the 1/2 TABLESPOON, instead and didnt realize it until I had already poured it all in and mixed it. oopsie!!!!! I thought all hope was lost but I put some extra dressing in, and some more cheese and it came out AWESOME. The flavor was strong, but not strong enough that my 19 month old daughter couldnt inhale it. I also just realized I forgot to even put in the really expensive pine nuts I bought……maybe next time! Because I will be making this again and again and again. Your Aunt is a genius, thanks for such a great recipe for such a what is normally a blah side dish
Juliann – thanks so much for your comment! I’m thrilled you have loved the recipes you have tried before and I’m especially glad that despite the over-seasoning, this salad still tasted great! Thanks for letting me know.
Hi – This sounds yummy – how many servings would you say this recipe makes?
Thanks and can’t wait to try it!
Hi Krysta – this serves probably 6-8 as a side dish.
I just made this for our Father’s Day get-together as well. It was a hit! So yummy and full of flavor. We loved it. Thank you Mel.
Hi Linda – thanks for checking in to let me know this salad worked out well!
I just made this for our Father’s Day barbecue. Thanks for the great recipe! I did sub green onions for the red because my hubby is picky about onions. I used the fresh pesto from sam’s club. I am really picky about my pasta salad, but this recipe is a keeper!
Alycia – thanks for checking in on this recipe. I’m glad that it was a hit for Father’s Day!
Beth – I find the pesto above the spaghetti sauce in the grocery store.
We loved this recipe! I dropped the red onions and pine nuts and replaced them with sliced Italian sausage and replaced the garlic powder with a touch of fresh pressed garlic. It was a big hit with our dinner guests and my family loved it! I am SOOO loving this site!
Amy – love your changes, thanks for letting me know!
This recipe sounds so good. I want to make it for a BBQ’D tomorrow night. Wwhere do you find the pesto? I have not ever bought pesto before and I don’t know where to find it.
We had this the other night with your lemon garlic chicken. YUMMY! I am usually lukewarm when it comes to pasta salad. It’s not that I don’t like it, but I find most are a bit lacking in the flavor category. This, however, was full of flavor. I LOVED the pesto and fresh basil-really, can you ever go wrong with fresh basil? It had just the right amount of dressing. You and Aunt Marilyn have done it again!
Danielle – it’s nice to hear all these somewhat anti-pasta-salad fans have liked this! Thanks for letting me know this was a hit!
Hi Mel,
This is sooooo good!! I am generally not a fan of pasta salad. I was given the assignment to make pasta salad for a BBQ I went to and it was a hit! I can’t imagine the salad without the pesto and fresh basil. It adds so much, and totally made the salad for me. Will be making again tonight…just for myself.
Hi Sophie – thanks for checking in on this recipe! I’m so glad you like this salad, especially since you aren’t normally a fan of pasta salad. I agree that the pesto and fresh basil are absolutely necessary!
Another FANTASGREAT recipe! 🙂 I added some cubed Pepperjack cheese to it too and it made it all that more tasty. Can’t have enough cheese in things in this family.
Anissa – oh, pepperjack sounds delicious in this salad! I agree, we can’t get enough of cheese, either.
I’m anxious to try this yum pasta, but just curious!? What brand of ceasar dressing did you use? I get confused with all the different types out there. Is there a certain brand you recommend?
Hi Linda – I’ve bought several brands over the years while making this salad. One that I like a lot is the Newman’s brand.
made the salad tonight and snuck a taste- its fab 🙂 even without the pine nuts. Thanks Mel, another good recipe from you!
Thanks, Katie – glad it was ok without the pine nuts!
where is everyone buying pine nuts?? Because I’m doubling this recipe for a work luncheon, and to get 3 cups of pinenuts at our local grocery store would have cost over $20??!! Couldn’t believe that… I was a bit bummed, because I’m very much a girl who likes to follow recipes exactly how they are… ended up ditching the pine nuts.
Katie – you know, I actually noticed the other day that pine nuts have nearly quadrupled in cost over the last year. I don’t know why, but they were definitely a lot cheaper when I made this dish since I wouldn’t have spent 20 dollars either. Yikes! I hope it still tasted ok without them (and I bet it did).
Ah ha! I’ve found it! I was on the prowl for a great pasta salad recipe…and i’m partial to black olives…well and basil, pesto, parmesan…all of it really. Thanks for being a great source of inspiration. The salad was a hit at our company Christmas party. I will be making it again and again.
Hey, what else you got on this blog? I have some investigating for my freezable meal planning makeover.
mini-mcgoo – so glad this pasta salad was a hit! Thanks for letting me know and I hope you find some other great recipes to try on the blog. Your comment made me smile, thanks!
confession: tricolor pasta salad made the exact same way as regular pasta salad tastes better to me. i guess i’m partial to color. 🙂
I’ve had this with Italian dressing but I think the Caesar would be so much better. Can’t wait to try it!
I just printed this off. Can’t wait.>Now I’m off to eaT MORE chowder. Thank the Lord for one more bowl !! Yipppeeee !!
I love pasta salads! This one has it all!
Anonymous – glad this was a hit! It is a perfect pasta salad for a BBQ. Thanks for letting me know it turned out well.
Anonymous – you can definitely prepare this the night before. When you take it out to serve it, you may need to add a little extra dressing to moisten everything up. Also, on the pesto, it is a delicious flavor in the salad but I know some have tried it without and have liked it, too.
Bonnie – thanks for trying it so soon and letting me know you liked it! I agree that the pine nuts add a special touch.
I love pasta salad and the addition of ceasar dressing and pesto sounds so good!
This sounds great. My husband loves pasta salad and I am always looking for new ways to make it.
I made this today but without the whole basil leaves & basil pesto…I could not find either in the grocery store, but I think it turned out fine. I didn’t have time to go to the “fancy” store!
I just found your blog and I’m so happy because I was in need of a new food blog for recipes. Everything looks so good. I’ll definitely be trying a lot of your yummy stuff out.>Thank! http://www.sadieskitchen.blogspot.com
I love pasta salads, and this looks great. I love the addition of the pine nuts.
The salad look great I can’t wait to try.
ooh, I bet that pesto with caesar is so yummy together. This looks like a yummy, simple meal. I’m gonna put it on my to-try list!
I love the idea of the creamy dressing along with the pine nuts, pesto, and fresh basil. Thta definitely takes it up from your traditional italian past salad.
I love pasta salads! They’re great at picnics in the summertime, which will be right around the corner before you know it!
Melody – thanks for letting me know that this worked out and you liked it, without the basil leaves and pesto even! It is a pretty forgiving pasta salad. Glad you liked it!
Liz – thanks for trying this and letting me know what you think (I’ve loved getting all the comments today). I’ll let my aunt know you liked it!
It is beautiful and sounds super delicious! I so love this site!
This salad is just perfect! It has really great flavor and is really fast to put together too. I took a double batch to a neighborhood party and had many compliments! -Liz K.
Another question…how much flavor will be compromised if I leave out the pasto? or is there anyting you think I can sub it for?
Thanks!
Hi Melanie,
I understand you are in the middle of your move but just wanted to post this now. This salad should be OK to prepare the night before right?
Thanks!
Hi Melanie,
This was a hit at our July 4th BBQ. I couldn’t find pesto at the supermarket, so I left it out but it was still delish!
Thanks for sharing.
Love this pasta dish!! Easy too!
This was so yummy!! I think that the pine nuts really add to the salad. My 19 month old daughter especially loved it. Thanks for all of the great recipes!!