Easy classic pasta salads are the trademark of summer BBQs, picnics, pool parties, and potlucks. This list of 20 pasta salads will keep your picnic table full all summer long.
Summer just wouldn’t be the same without a variety of pasta salads making the recipe rotation for summer party donations. Sure, it’s easy to pick up a pint-to-go from the deli counter, but pasta salads like this list of recipes are so much better and healthier than the pre-made glop.
After taking a look at my salads and sides recipe archives to see if it was true, I realized that hot damn! I do have a lot of pasta salads shared here on the blog.
So what are you waiting for? Put a stock pot of water on to boil (don’t forget to generously season with salt), and let’s pasta some salad.
1. Easy Italian Spaghetti Pasta Salad
Always a BBQ and potluck favorite, this Italian pasta salad puts the deli-case versions to shame. Loaded with pepperoni, cucumbers and olive, it’s all dressed with an easy homemade Italian dressing destined to become a classic.
2. Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
This 5-ingredient pasta salad mash-up has all of the flavors of traditional Caesar salad with the addition of kale and sweet roasted cherry tomatoes for an easy and healthy potluck pasta salad everyone goes ga-ga for.
3. Peanut Noodles with Chicken
Loaded with fresh, crunchy veggies, this healthy Asian-flavored pasta salad is one of my most popular all-in-one meals, and it’s also a great side dish for potlucks and picnics.
4. BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado
Loaded with healthy tomatoes, arugula, and avocado, plus crispy bacon, this BLT pasta salad is topped with a super simple-to-make Ranch-style dressing made with mayo and Greek yogurt. Healthier AND good!
5. Classic Shrimp Macaroni Salad Recipe
This is my mom’s recipe—and my husband’s favorite—for classic macaroni salad that’s been elevated with bay shrimp then dressed in a pickle-juice spiked mayo dressing.
6. Greek Pasta Salad with Cucumbers and Artichoke Hearts
If I were to make only one pasta salad, this one might be it. Oh who am I kidding? I can’t choose just one. But this Mediterranean flavor combo is definitely on my top 10, and because I usually have all the ingredients on hand, it’s like my right hand potluck man.
7. Mexican Corn Pasta Salad
This creamy Mexican corn pasta salad is inspired by the popular Mexican grilled corn street food and one of my favorite dips. It’s the perfect side dish to enjoy for a cookout or outdoor lunch and can be enjoyed warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
8. Caprese Pasta Salad with Garlic Marinated Tomatoes
The epitome of summer, this caprese salad gets a kick with tomatoes marinated in a quick garlic and olive oil brine. This one is a definite fan favorite.
9. Asian Ramen Noodle Salad
Ramen ya! Crunchy ramen noodles and cabbage make this easy Asian-inspired salad with an addictive dressing an instant picnic and pot luck favorite.
10. Strawberry Caprese Pasta Salad
If there’s one pasta salad you’ll be making on repeat all summer long, it’s this caprese pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. It’s fast, it’s simple, and it’s cravingly good.
11. Macaroni Salad with Smoked Mozzarella and Prosciutto
This easy, tangy pasta salad mixes traditional macaroni salad with mozzarella cheese, prosciutto and zing pepperoncini peppers and capers to create a new family favorite potluck salad.
12. Creamy Avocado Pesto Pasta Salad with Roasted Vegetables
This creamy pasta salad recipe skips the mayonnaise for a lush sauce made with almond milk and mashed avocado to make an easy grilled vegetable pasta salad you’ll happily eat guilt-free.
13. Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing
This Chinese Chicken Salad takes the lighter road than the heavier versions I always see at those popular food chains that everyone loves. It’s made with crunchy romaine, wontons, and an almond crunch, and is topped with protein-packed chicken breast, pasta noodles, and a flavor-flav sesame dressing.
14. Creamy Tuscan Pasta Salad
Mama mia! This Tuscan pasta salad hits the mother load with three different salamis, provolone cheese and classic Italian white beans, with black olives, tomatoes, spinach, onion, and egg noodles, all tossed up with a creamy-style dressing. Twirl on.
15. Classic Macaroni Salad
Nothing says summertime eating like a serving of the best, classic, old-fashioned, creamy macaroni salad with eggs and crisp vegetables dressed in a simple and creamy but still light mayonnaise dressing for any picnic, potluck, or barbecue.
16. Sesame Soba Noodles
This Japanese sesame soba noodles recipe makes a simple Asian side dish or easy main meal served hot or cold and on the table in 20 minutes or less.
17. Caprese Pasta Salad
If there’s one pasta salad you’ll be making on repeat all summer long, it’s this caprese pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. It’s fast, it’s simple, and it’s cravingly good.
18. Nicoise Pasta Salad
Made with chicken instead of tuna, this Nicoise pasta salad is a fun spin on a classic Nicoise salad. It’s light, fresh, colorful, and the perfect dish to make easy spring or summer lunches or brunch.
19. Whole Wheat Greek Pasta Salad
With the addition of whole wheat noodles, this classic Mediterranean Greek pasta salad with artichokes and olives just got a healthy upgrade.
20. Fresh And Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad
There’s a reason this tangy Vietnamese rice noodle salad is one of the most popular recipes on the blog, because it packs a two for one punch: it’s EASY and DELICIOUS.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
20 Pasta Salad Recipes to Make All Summer Long | BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado
Ingredients
Pasta Salad:
- 1 pound short pasta noodles , (such as shells, farfalle, cavatappi)
- 1 pound bacon
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes , sliced in half
- 2 cups arugula leaves
- 1 avocado , chopped
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
Dressing:
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt , (low-fat or full-fat)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh minced chives
- 1 tablespoon fresh minced flat leaf parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions just until al denté and still a bit firm. Rinse under cool water and drain well. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the bacon into ½" pieces and cook in a large skillet over medium heat until desired crispness. Transfer the cooked bacon to a plate topped with a paper towel to drain well.
- Add the bacon, tomato, arugula, avocado and red onion to the pasta.
- In a small bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar, chives, garlic powder, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Thin with milk, water or buttermilk if desired.
- Drizzle the dressing over the pasta and gently toss. Taste for seasoning. Serve chilled.
Notes
- Note: If you're out of ingredients or out of time to make the easy homemade dressing, feel free to use a quality bottled Ranch dressing instead.
Nutrition
More Summer Recipe Round-Ups to Check Out Now
- 30 Healthy Summer Potluck Salads to Make in June
- 30 Days of Easy Grilling Recipes to Make in June
- 31 Days of Healthy Snack Recipes to Make Now
- 31 Days of Summer Produce Recipes to Make in August
- 31 Summer Slow Cooker Recipes to Make in July
- 31 Plant-Based Recipes That Aren’t Salads
- 33 Boozy Frozen Treats to Get You Through the Rest of Summer
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OMG — which recipes should I chose first: pasta salads or caprese ??? I want them all. Thank you and I am glad there is still summer time to make all.
BOTH! Enjoy. Thanks Phyllis!
Thank you so much for including my tortellini pasta salad!! I’ve gotten so many good ideas from this awesome list, going to go make a few different ones this weekend (it’s a great way for my son to get some veggies in)!