Taste the Rainbow Pasta Salad
Summertime means the desire for less heat in the kitchen and even in the food we eat. When it comes time to toss some meat on the grill, I am sometimes at a loss for side dishes for the whole family to enjoy. One super easy dish that has gotten thumbs up from all the boys (and can be customized for what I have on hand) is my ‘Taste the Rainbow’ Pasta Salad.
Why do I call it taste the rainbow? Well, because there are so many great colors in it!!
Making Taste the Rainbow Pasta Salad
While a large pot of water is on to boil, I gather up and prep all the ingredients. Below is my primary ingredients ready for a recent batch of this pasta salad.
This is literally a prep, toss, and chill recipe. Super easy to make and quite yummy to eat. Below is one of our recent dinners featuring grilled chicken and mixed vegetable with the pasta salad. Delicious and quite balanced.
Taste the Rainbow Pasta Salad
Taste the Rainbow Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb. of garden rotini (or any other 3 colored pasta)
- 1 cup + salad dressing
- 2 carrots, grated
- 1 cup diced sugar snap peas
- 1/2 to 1 cup sliced peppers
- 1 cup + of diced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced pepperoni, optional
- parmesan cheese to sprinkle as desired or 1/2 to 1 cup of diced or shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- While water is on to boil for the pasta, start dicing up vegetables.
- Cook pasta based on package directions, drain and put into a large mixing bowl.
- Coat cooked pasta with 1/2 cup of salad dressing.
- Add diced vegetables along with another 1/2 cup of salad dressing and mix well.
- Cover the bowl and chill for at least 2 to 3 hours before serving.
Notes
We adore this recipe using Olive Garden's Italian Salad Dressing which is available at Sam's Club and some Costco stores. Other Italian Salad Dressings can be used in its place.
Pepperoni is optional, but my boys love when I add it. Same goes for the cheese!
Do you enjoy eating pasta salad during the summer?
How often do you need to bring a dish to pass in the summer?
More Family Friendly Pasta Dishes
Here are a few more of our family favorites that include pasta.
Cajun Pasta
Super Easy Baked Pasta
Baked Cheese and Spinach Tortellini
Chicken Cacciatore
Tuna and Spaghetti
Homemade Mac and Cheese
I will have lots of turkey around here next week and will need some new ideas on how to use it. Can’t wait to try this.
This actually looks really good. I love the Olive Garden Italian Dressing. This is nice and quick to make as well.
My whole family loves that salad dressing. And, it is super easy to use for this. My eldest son, however, thinks I need to use MORE salad dressing than I do.