Need the perfect pasta salad for a picnic, pot luck or backyard barbecue? Pasta salads make the best summer side dish that can be served with all your summer meals.
This delicious pasta salad recipe is made with fresh broccoli, tomatoes, bell peppers and tri colored pasta.
The salad dressing gets its tangy flavor by adding a touch of vinegar to the Miracle Whip pasta salad dressing.
Ingredients to make the recipe
- pasta: Tri-Colored pasta
- vegetables: fresh broccoli florets, a combination of sweet bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes.
- pasta salad dressing: Miracle Whip salad dressing, white vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.
- seasoning: salt and ground pepper.
Step by Step Directions
Step 1: Mix the sugar and vinegar together in a small bowl. The sugar needs to dissolve before mixing the dressing ingredients.
Step 2: Boil the pasta following the directions on the package. Once done drain the hot pasta well and then rinse under cold running water to cool off the pasta noodles. Allow the pasta to drain very well.
Step 3: Combine the cool pasta, broccoli florets, cherry tomato halves and diced bell peppers in a large mixing bowl.
Step 4: Add the Miracle Whip to the bowl with the vinegar and sugar. Mix with a spoon until creamy and combined well.
Pour the salad dressing over the ingredients in the mixing bowl and toss until the dressing coats all of the pasta evenly.
Step 5: Add the salt and pepper to the bowl. Mix again.
Step 6: Cover the bowl and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
Serve this broccoli and tomato pasta salad at your next, barbecue, pot luck or family dinner.
Recipe Expert Tips
- The colorful tri colored pasta makes this a festive pasta salad. You could use other pasta shapes to make this dish.
- This pasta salad tastes best when it has time to chill before serving. I prefer to chill it overnight but you can serve it after 1 to 2 hours.
- The tangy salad dressing compliments the flavors of fresh broccoli and ripe cherry tomatoes. The tangy flavor comes from the vinegar. I've used white vinegar but you could also use apple cider vinegar instead.
More pasta salad recipes
Pasta salad are the prefect side dish for so many meals.
Perfect Pot Luck Recipes
Check out more Summer Pot Luck recipes below. The food editors at Recipe Lion have gathered together 20 of the best summer post luck recipe. Check them out!
How to share, Pin or save the recipe
Broccoli and Tomato Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12 oz. box Tri-Color pasta
- ¾ cup fresh broccoli florets that have been cut into bite size pieces
- 1 cup combination of bell peppers ((yellow, green and red peppers, finely diced))
- 1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup miracle whip
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Mix the vinegar and sugar in a small bowl and set aside until the sugar dissolves.
- Boil the pasta per manufacturer’s directions.
- Drain and rinse in cold water.
- Combine the pasta, broccoli, peppers, and tomatoes in a large bowl.
- Mix the Miracle Whip into the vinegar and sugar until combined.
- Pour salad dressing over pasta and stir well.
- Add salt and pepper to the salad.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Recipe Expert Tips
- This Broccoli & Tomato Pasta Salad recipe is best made the night before to allow the flavors to come together but can be served within 2-3 hours if needed.
- The colorful tri colored pasta makes this a festive pasta salad. You could use other pasta shapes to make this dish.
- The tangy salad dressing compliments the flavors of fresh broccoli and ripe cherry tomatoes. The tangy flavor comes from the vinegar. I've used white vinegar but you could also use apple side vinegar.
Beth R
This salad is similar to one my mother used to make and I loved it! I modified it to be closer to what I remembered (she passed away recently so I can’t ask her, sadly). I added cubed cheddar and walnut pieces. And used Mayo instead of miracle whip because that’s what I had on hand. But a previous comment is correct - be sure to adjust the vinegar to get that tangy flavor. Thank you for sharing! It was so nice to stumble upon this recipe and enjoy memories of my mom’s southern cooking!
Arlene Mobley
Beth sorry to hear you lost your mother recently! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Heather
This is totally my kind of salad!! The fresh veggies and the miracle whip hooked me right in! Definitely a must make for me. Thanks!
Arlene Mobley
Heather
I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook
I love cold pasta salad with broccoli! But I'd have to switch out the Miracle Whip for Mayo. 😉
Arlene Mobley
Lauren
I am not a Miracle Whip fan myself. I use mayo usually but there are a few recipes that the tangy flavor of Miracle Whip is a must. If you make this recipe and use mayo I would up the amount of vinegar by one or two tablespoons.
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm
Welcome back to Sunday Supper and thank you for sharing such a beautifuil salad.
Arlene Mobley
Wendy thank you so much!
Sarah
Glad to see another MW fan for pasta salad! I love broccoli in mine too 🙂
David @ CookingChat
Looks like a pasta salad I would enjoy!
Arlene Mobley
David thank you!
Mary Ellen
I love pasta salad for a picnic. Your's looks perfect!
Arlene Mobley
Mary Ellen
I have to have a pasta salad!
Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
What a fabulous pasta salad recipe! Love the flavors!
Arlene Mobley
Serena
Thank you!
Vicki Finn
This looks so yummy! I was looking for a garden recipe to feature in my weekly healthy meal plan post for Earth Week but I actually think I am going to make this tonight! Yum.
Vicki Finn
I found your site through the Learn to Blog Search Engine!
Arlene Mobley
Vicki
I hope you enjoy it! Love Learn to Blog
Arlene Mobley
Vicki
I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Bobbi from Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
I love all of the pretty colors in this salad 🙂 you are definitely eating the rainbow with this one!!
Arlene Mobley
Bobbi
Thank you. It is a pretty salad isn't it.
Christie
I love all the gorgeous colors in this pasta salad.
Arlene Mobley
Thank you Christie
Cindys Recipes and Writings
Great twist on a classic!
Arlene Mobley
Cindy thanks for stopping by!
Liz
Thank you for the nice recipe. Have a great day!
Arlene Mobley
You are very welcome Liz!
Tara
That whole meal looks amazing, love your pasta salad!
Arlene Mobley
Thank you Tara!
Nichole
YUM! I love a good pasta salad, and yours is very picnic perfect!
Arlene Mobley
Thank you Nichole