3 Color Pasta Salad
I had this dish years ago at a local Greek restaurant.
I loved all the crisp fresh flavor of all the veggies it contained.
I made it a few times but never wrote down the recipe and forgot about it.
I hate when I put a recipe on the back burner and miss the chance to prepare it for a perfect occasion.
I promised myself that would never happen again. Have you done this too?
Then I saw the recipe again on another restaurant menu and came home and wrote down my notes. This one is a keeper!
Try it today and let me know what you think!
This pasta salad is not only eye catching but has so many flavors and textures your palate can’t decide which is best.
It is a great summer salad to serve as well as take to a BBQ or pot luck.
The cheese add a bit of aged flavor. The broccoli and olives add even more texture and flavors.
When I served this 3 Color Pasta Salad at my last card party It was gone in less than an hour.
I was asked for the recipe a few times.
This recipe has only 6 ingredients. Making the salad is as easy as 1 2 3!
How ever you decide to serve this 3 Color Pasta Salad, your guests and family will finish the bowl.
All you need is the following ingredients
- 2 pounds uncooked tri-color spiral pasta
- 10 ounces diced processed American cheese or Feta
- 1 large head broccoli cut into florets
- 1 16 ounce bottle Italian-style salad dressing
- 1 can extra large pitted black olives drained
- 3 tomatoes cut in wedges
Preparing this 3 Color Pasta Salad
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- Toss cooled pasta with cheese, broccoli, olives, tomatoes and Italian-style dressing to taste. Serve immediately
Enjoy.
3 Color Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pounds uncooked tri-color spiral pasta
- 10 ounces diced processed American cheese or Feta
- 1 large head broccoli cut into florets
- 1 16 ounce bottle Italian-style salad dressing
- 1 can extra large pitted black olives drained
- 3 tomatoes cut in wedges
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- Toss cooled pasta with cheese, broccoli, olives, tomatoes and Italian-style dressing to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.
Conversion Information We get a lot of requests to help with conversions especially between various countries like Canada, the U.K. and Australia. These tables should help you make those conversions. For your convenience we have included a Conversion Chart.
Disclaimer Unless indicated recipes influenced by cookbooks, magazines or family traditions.
I am Marilyn Lesniak. Writer, Photographer and Chief Bottle Washer behind the scenes at Marilyn's Treats. Follow me to my kitchen. 
We love pasta salad at my house, this sounds like a good one.
Thank you Sylvia. This pasta salad is so easy, delicious and colorful too! Enjoy your week.
I love a good pasta salad and this one sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s!
You are welcome Ann. Thank you for enjoying the pasta salad. Love Party in your pj’s!
I love Tri-Color Pasta and often add tuna to mine which would be perfect on a day like today. Thanks for sharing #TrafficJamWeekend
I never thought about adding tuna for more protein. Thanks for the tip Antionette. I am glad you like the pasta salad. Enjoy oyur week!
Looks delicious Marilyn! This will be one of my features tomorrow at the Snickerdoodle link party!
Thank you so much Roseann. And thank you for the feature!! I am so tickled you found the Pasta Salad worthy of the honor. Enjoy your weekend!
Always love a great pasta salad. I’m Pinning this one for future use – thanks so much for sharing!
I love how colorful this pasta salad i! And with the addition of the veggie noodles it can’t be beat!enjoy!
I love a good pasta salad for dinner in the summer. Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party. Have a fabulous week.
You are welcome Helen. Summer eating is the best. Enjoy your week.
This salad sound slike something I could eat every single day of the week Marilyn. Beautiful fresh veggies and pasta, what more could a girl ask for.
Thank you Michelle. It is my favorite summer salad. Have a great week!
I’m not Italian but I guess my Mediterranean roots make me love pasta no matter how it’s cooked. This salad looks delicious and healthy, raw vegetables are a must at home and those olives are my favorites!
I pick this as my feature at this week’s party, congratulations Marilyn!
Thank you Pili for the kind words and the feature! Much appreciated. Have a wonderful weekend.
Marilyn I make these types of salads all the time. Everything is always better with feta I say!!
I love this combination of colors and flaors. I am glad you agree. Have a wonderful weekend.
Marilyn, this looks like a delicious Pasta Salad. Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
It is a great pot luck dish and it looks so colorful on the table. Have a lovely week!
Hi Marilyn,
Great to see you at Blogger’s Pit Stop last week.
Thanks for sharing your post.
Janice, Pit Stop Crew
Good to see you again Janice. Have a lovely week!
This is one of those perfect salads you can make and put in the fridge, nibbling until its all gone. Yummy.
You are so right. It doesn’t wilt or turn brown either! Have a lovely week!
Yum! I love a good pasta salad anytime!
Chippy White Cottage Blessings,
Rebecca
Me too, Rebecca! It is my kind of comfort dish. Have a wonderful week.
This looks so yummy! I am looking forward to putting it on our menu plan for next week! Lot’s of deliciousness going on here.
Thank you for sharing your scrummy recipe with us over at Waste Not Wednesday this week.
You are too kind Sam. I love this dish for a nice pot luck. Being eay, colorful and PASTA it fits into any menu. Have a great week!
Thank you Marilyn for sharing at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty #LinkUp #BlogParty. I shared on social media.
Thank you Dee! I love your blog!
I love a good pasta salad! Can’t wait for warm summer nights, and BBQing in the backyard. This would be a perfect side. Thanks for sharing at My Busy Beehives #beeparty!
You are welcome Julie. I enjoy your party and look forward to next week.
One of my favorite summer time salads to make for BBQ and potlucks. Thanks for linking up with Blogging Grandmothers.
You are welcome Candy! I love your blog. Thank you and have a great week!
Yummy! Can’t wait for BBQ season to start. I miss pasta salads!
I think my most favorite is Summer BBQ’s. This one is a must. Thank you and have a great week!
This is a classic summer pasta salad and always a hit! Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Thank you Leslie for your thoughts. I love fast, easy, and delicious recipes. Have a wonderful week.
I love the 3 color pasta but never had it with broccoli or tomatoes. Will have to try it that way. I’ll be leaving out the black olives though 🙂 Thank you Marilyn for sharing this post at Wednesday AIM Link Party at Grammy’s Grid. I shared it on social media. Hope you get lots of traffic!
My family and kids go crazy for the black olives. The boys used to grab them from the dish and put them on all their fingers like rings. I find them too salty and only rarely eat them. Have a great week!
There is a super vegetarian restaurant we eat at a lot and they do dishes like yours. So simple but oh so tasty. Thanks for sharing.
Lynn in Lancashire, ???????? UK
You are welcome Lynn. I love a good pasta dish and this one delivers. Have a great day.
I make this, or something very similar a lot in the summer. I also use a liberal dose of Mc Cormicks Salad Supreme spice. It really gives it a great boost of flavor!
Oh that sounds good! And I even have that on hand. I am defintely going to give that a try! Have a great day.
My daughter used to make this all the time when she was living at home and we loved it. This is also a great dish for a potluck. Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story, have a great week.
I never remember to pull this one out for pot lucks or BBQ’s. It is a good one! Glad your daughter enjoys making it!
MMmmmm – Dinner!! I love pasta salad! Oh my oh my oh my – I want this!! Had to pin this dish! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up!
Thanks Helen! A summer salad and pot luck favorite! Have a great day!
I’d forgotten how yummy a good pasta salad can be – thanks for sharing at To Grandmas House We Go! xx
You are welcome Kate! Thanks for stopping by. Have a good day!
I love pasta salad! Great recipe to be shared with friends! It makes me think of BBQ and pool parties! Looking forward to spring and summer and family parties! Pinned.
Ah yes! It is a great summer cold salad! Have a great day!
J
Thanks for stopping Jes!
I make a similar salad, love it. I sometimes use small grape tomatoes too.
Grape tomatoes are my most favorite! The burst of flavor it would add somes yummy! I will try those next time. Thanks Carole!
I love a colorful pasta salad! Thank you for sharing with us on the Art of Home-Making Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth! 🙂
Thank you so much Jes. It was my first visit but you have so many great links! Have a great week.
I have to make that. For some reason today seems like a good pasta day!
Here too! It is cold and snowing. I had to put away my shorts! Pasta is my comfort food. Have a great day!
Your salad looks delicious! I like that it is so colorful which adds a visual appeal also. 🙂
Thank you so much! It means a lot that you commented. Have a great day!
I’m loving this! I’m always so impressed by your masterpieces. Pinned and tweeted. We appreciate you taking the time to party with us. I hope to see you on tonight at 7. Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Thanks Kim, I will be there.
I love tricolor pasta. I’ll have to try this.
Thanks for commenting Stephanie! Glad I am not the inly one that can taste the subtle differences in the pasta.
Danielle, thanks so much for coming to visit from the linkup! I am glad you liked the salad. Please come again soon and stay for coffee!
Oh my…so delicious! I’m always get so excited to see what you have brought to the party! Pinned and tweeted. Thank you for being part of our party. I hope to see you on tonight at 7. Lou Lou Girls
Thx Kim! I always look forward to your cheerful comments!
What a yummy recipe! I love how easy it is to prepare, perfect for an easy lunch or dinner. Thanks for linking up with us for Fabulous Foodie Fridays, I hope you have a great weekend!
Thank you Lauren! I just love your party. Come and visit and share a nice cup of coffee anytime. My door is always open!
I love these kind of pasta salads. Glad I found you on Showcase Your Talent Thursdays. 🙂
Thanks Kim for visiting and especially for the kind comment! I love them too but for some reason I only think about making them in the warmer weather! These are nice to take for a work lunch.
Ooooo! I am so making this for my Lunch!
Nicole Lauren ♥
I am so glad you like it Nicole! It is even healthy! Thx for commenting and stopping over. The Welcome mat is always here!
Lovely looking salad!
Thank you April for the much appreciated compliment! I just love your party.
I’ve always been a huge fan of pasta salad. I’ve never tried one with feta though and I think that would be amazing! Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!
Thanks Amanda for commenting. I love Merry Monday!
This recipe makes me think of summer picnics and potlucks. I didn’t realize it was so easy to make! Thanks! 🙂
Thank you so much for enjoying the recipe! I appreciate your visit and taking the time to comment. Have a great day!
I use three color pasta in a roasted vegetable salad but I\’ve never put it in salad like this. Silly me because I\’d love this.
Thanks Maureen for commenting! I bet your roasted vegetable salad is mar elous! Next to raw, roasted vegetables are my favorite. I will come visit to see if the recipe is on your blog! I have to try it!
This is one of my favorite go-to salads! Thank you for sharing, Marilyn, at Snickerdoodle. Always a pleasure!
Thx Elizabeth for the comment and visit! I love this recipe because it is so versatile. And I love Snickerdoodle Sunday!