20 Pasta Salad Recipes

Pasta salads are an expected side dish at warm-weather gatherings. Holidays, picnics, and BBQs are the perfect place to share your chilled noodle salads with friends and family. Here, you’ll find 20 delicious pasta salad recipes that will earn you rave reviews.

You’ll find pasta salads that range from veggie-based to meat or seafood-based, zesty and tangy pasta salads, as well as sweet and savory pasta salads; all chilled and ready to be devoured. Pasta salads are great because you can basically add fresh veggies of any kind, maybe some meat for protein, if you want to make it a main dish instead of a side dish, drizzle on some dressing and you’re done! In case you missed my post on 20 Tasty Sandwich Recipes

20 Pasta Salad Recipes

These pasta salad recipes will certainly give you inspiration the next time you need to make a main dish!

The Best Italian Pasta Salad Recipe by A Spicy Perspective

With fusilli pasta, salami, black olives, tomatoes, and soft mozzarella cheese, this pasta salad is full of Italian zest. The homemade vinaigrette gives the salad a punch with fresh garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and herbed seasoning. Delicioso!

Cobb Pasta Salad by Spend With Pennies

Penne pasta gets loaded with bacon, diced chicken, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and blue cheese in this classic Cobb salad flavor explosion. Dress it with ranch or blue cheese dressing and chill well before serving this full meal salad.

Bruschetta Pasta Salad by Peas And Crayons

Beautiful vibrant colors make this salad almost too pretty to eat! Bowtie and cheese tortellini pasta gets mixed with halved cherry tomatoes, fresh greens like spinach and arugula, chopped basil, and parmesan cheese. Dress it with the homemade Italian dressing for a tasty finish.

Pizza Pasta Salad by Budget Bytes

It’s like eating pizza, except without the crust! Pizza lovers will enjoy this new take in the form of a pasta salad with familiar flavors like peppers, olives, salami, pepperoni, feta cheese, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Anything that you like on a pizza can go in here! Dress it with a homemade Italian dressing and Parmesan cheese.

Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad by Salt And Lavender

This pasta salad is comfort food for hot summer days. To cooked macaroni add tuna, chopped red onion, celery, cucumber, bell pepper, and dress it with creamy mayo and sour cream dressing. Best served chilled.

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad by Lemon Blossoms

When corn is in season, grill it and then cut it off the cob to create this tasty pasta salad. Add in bacon, green onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and Cotija cheese for a hearty meal. Drizzle with a creamy chili and lime dressing.

Coleslaw Orzo Salad by Babaganosh

Tiny orzo pasta combines with coleslaw for a delightful crunchy salad that’s perfect for summer cookouts. The flavor that brings it all together is the orange dressing which uses orange juice, rice vinegar, olive oil, and seasonings. Garnish with toasted slivered almonds, dried cranberries, and fresh scallions. Awesome!

Green Goddess Pasta Salad by Bowl Of Delicious

You’ll swoon over this penne pasta salad that incorporates broccoli, spinach, and avocado with a delicious lemon and garlic dressing. Garnish with pumpkin seeds and enjoy!

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad by I Heart Naptime

Get the spicy flavors of Buffalo chicken in your cold pasta salad by using ranch, blue cheese, and buffalo sauce over rotini pasta. Add celery and shredded carrots, too, and don’t forget the shredded chicken. Your friends and family will love this!

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad by House Of Nash Eats

Serve this crowd-pleasing creamy macaroni salad at your next BBQ and watch the bowl empty out quickly. The mayonnaise-based dressing is the secret sauce, literally, that makes this so yummy. Grated carrots, onions, and celery also add to the tastiness of this Hawaiian macaroni salad.

Broccoli Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad by Maria’s Mixing Bowl

Full of fresh garden goodness, cooked pasta shells are joined by broccoli, peas, bacon, and tomatoes. You could stop right there, but you’d be missing out on the ranch dressing that brings it all together. So good!

Taco Pasta Salad by Homemade Hooplah

Use rotini pasta in this zesty salad so that it can catch all those delicious spices and flavors in every bite! Ground beef, taco seasoning, cheese, lettuce, and tomato go into the bowl along with the cooked pasta. Drizzle with Catalina dressing for the ultimate boost of taco goodness!

California Pasta Salad by Life In The Loft House

Bowtie pasta and colorful veggies make this salad a pretty visual offering to behold. Red, black, green, and purple from tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, and onion create a scrumptious salad that’s just perfect for summer meals.

Greek Chicken Pasta Salad by Five Heart Home

All the flavors that you love from Greek cuisine are found right here in this pasta salad recipe. Tomatoes, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, cucumbers, and feta cheese are joined by corkscrew pasta plus sliced chicken. Take it over the top with the homemade tangy dressing. Chill well before serving.

Vegan Pesto Pasta Salad by Eating Bird Food

Use gluten-free pasta for this delicious pesto salad that’s also vegan. Make a dairy-free walnut-based pesto to dress this salad and add in peas, tomatoes, and arugula. Beautiful, healthy, and perfect for a cookout!

Pineapple Salsa Pasta Salad by Life Love And Sugar

Your taste buds will appreciate this sweet and spicy pasta salad. The bowtie pasta is joined by chopped red pepper, red onion, pineapple, cilantro, and jalapeños. The tangy sweet and spicy dressing compliments the flavors. It’s an easy salad that everyone will love!

Asparagus And Bacon Pasta Salad by Cinnamon Spice And Everything Nice

Fresh asparagus gets a home along with bacon in this bowtie pasta dish. Add a little red onion, shaved Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts, and drizzle with lemony dressing for a refreshing and cooling salad.

Shrimp Pasta Salad by Well Plated

Summery flavors and colors look inviting in this chilled shrimp pasta salad. Baby shrimp, along with celery, peas, red bell pepper, and green onion get added to elbow macaroni. Dress it all with a brightened up Greek yogurt dressing. Make this ahead of time and let it chill overnight.

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad by Recipes From A Pantry

Dill pickle lovers will delight in this pasta salad that contains diced dill pickles, cubed cheddar cheese, fresh dill, and green onions with your favorite pasta noodle. Add a creamy mayo and sour cream-based dressing that includes pickle juice and vinegar for the ultimate punch of tangy flavor.

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad by Life Made Simple Bakes

Make this salad a showstopper by using tri-color bowtie pasta. Add in cherry tomatoes, black olives, mini mozzarella balls, diced salami, bell peppers, and artichokes for an Italian pasta salad extravaganza. Dress with a vinaigrette and enjoy!

Final Word

If you’re like me I can always use new recipes. There is something calming to me when I can cook from scratch in my own kitchen, do you feel the same way? Please keep prepping, we must. May God bless this world, Linda