11 Best Pasta Salad Recipes for Summer

Pasta salad is a summer favorite that brings together fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and easy prep. Whether you are heading to a picnic, planning a backyard barbecue, or packing lunch for a hot day, there is a pasta salad that fits the mood. With the right mix of veggies, proteins, and dressing, it becomes more than just a side dish. These recipes are simple to put together and hold up well in warm weather. They are great for feeding a crowd or enjoying as leftovers. No matter the occasion, a chilled pasta salad is always a welcome addition to the table.

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Classic Italian Pasta Salad

This pasta salad includes rotini pasta, sliced salami, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped bell peppers, sliced black olives, and cubes of mozzarella. For the dressing, you will need olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.

Cook the rotini until tender, then rinse under cold water to cool it down. In a large bowl, mix the pasta with the salami, tomatoes, bell peppers, olives, and mozzarella. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then pour it over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated. Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors blend.

Greek Orzo Salad

This recipe uses orzo pasta, diced cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped red onion. The dressing is made with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.

Boil the orzo until just tender, then drain and rinse with cool water. In a large bowl, combine the orzo, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, red onion, and feta. In a separate small bowl, whisk the olive oil with lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything together. Chill before serving for the best flavor.

BLT Pasta Salad

This pasta salad includes bowtie pasta, crispy crumbled bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped romaine lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, and green onions. The dressing combines mayonnaise, a little ranch seasoning, and a splash of milk.

Cook the bowtie pasta, drain it, and rinse with cold water. In a bowl, mix the pasta with the bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, cheddar, and green onions. In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, ranch seasoning, and milk until smooth. Add the dressing to the salad and toss well to combine. Keep it chilled and serve fresh so the lettuce stays crisp.

Caprese Pasta Salad

For this salad, you will need penne or shell pasta, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, and fresh basil leaves. The dressing is made with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and black pepper.

Boil the pasta, drain it, and let it cool completely. In a large bowl, combine the pasta with tomatoes, mozzarella, and torn basil leaves. Mix olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Tuna Pasta Salad

You will need elbow macaroni, canned tuna, chopped celery, peas, diced red onion, and mayonnaise for this dish. You can also add a splash of pickle juice or lemon juice for extra flavor.

Cook the macaroni, drain, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine the pasta with drained tuna, celery, peas, and onion. Stir in the mayonnaise and add a little pickle or lemon juice if you like it tangy. Mix everything well and chill before serving. This one keeps well for a couple of days in the fridge.

Southwest Pasta Salad

This version uses rotini pasta, canned black beans, corn, diced red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, and chopped cilantro. The dressing includes olive oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, and chili powder.

Cook the rotini and cool it down with cold water. In a large bowl, mix the pasta with beans, corn, bell pepper, tomatoes, and cilantro. Whisk the olive oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, and chili powder in a separate bowl, then pour it over the salad. Stir everything together and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Pesto Tortellini Salad

For this rich salad, you need cheese-filled tortellini, store-bought or homemade pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, and grated Parmesan. A bit of olive oil helps loosen the pesto if needed.

Cook the tortellini according to the package, then rinse with cold water. In a large bowl, gently toss the tortellini with pesto until evenly coated. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, and Parmesan, then toss again. Chill before serving or enjoy slightly warm if preferred.

Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad

This dish includes cooked rotini, shredded grilled chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, and cooked corn. The dressing is a mix of ranch dressing and a spoonful of sour cream for extra creaminess.

After cooking the pasta and letting it cool, place it in a bowl with chicken, cheddar, corn, and green onions. In a separate bowl, stir together ranch dressing and sour cream. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Asian-Inspired Noodle Salad

This light salad uses spaghetti or rice noodles, shredded carrots, thinly sliced cucumbers, shredded red cabbage, and green onions. The dressing is made with soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and a little honey.

Cook the noodles and cool them under cold water. In a bowl, mix the noodles with carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, and green onions. In another bowl, whisk soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, and honey, then pour it over the salad. Toss well, sprinkle with crushed peanuts if desired, and chill before serving.

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

You will need elbow macaroni, chopped dill pickles, cubes of cheddar cheese, diced red onion, and fresh chopped dill. The dressing includes mayonnaise, pickle juice, and a bit of garlic powder.

Cook the macaroni and cool it down under cold water. Mix the pasta with pickles, cheese, onion, and dill. Stir together mayonnaise, pickle juice, and garlic powder until smooth, then pour over the salad. Toss to coat and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Avocado Bacon Pasta Salad

This recipe calls for rotini pasta, chopped crispy bacon, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, and sliced green onions. The dressing is made with mashed avocado, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Cook the pasta and rinse it with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine the pasta with bacon, avocado, tomatoes, and green onions. Mash an avocado with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper until smooth, then mix it into the salad. Serve soon after making, since avocado can brown quickly.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.