The perfect summer day requires good food, good company, and a lot of sunshine. Finding a meal that's healthy, filling, and cold enough to enjoy on a hot afternoon is much easier when you have a treasure trove of pasta salad recipes to choose from. And because these colorful salads go hand in hand with warm weather, iced tea, and a relaxing day, what could be better? Easy to make and even easier to eat, pasta salad is a great go-to meal when you want something quick and delicious.
This summer, complement your pool day with a tasty pasta salad. Complete with seasonal veggies, exciting dressings, and noodles that'll keep you full, these recipes have all the best flavors of summer. Whether you want a cold side salad to pair with the main dish or you're looking to make enough food to feed you for days, there won't be a dish on this list that won't make you drool. Keep reading to see the best summer-themed pasta salad recipes, ahead.
This summer salad is colorful, fresh, and full of seasonal flavors. Complete with sharp cheddar cheese, cucumbers, and an Italian salad dressing, this pasta is the ideal picnic pairing.
If you like corn, this salad will be your new favorite creation. It's the perfect barbecue dish since it's light and fresh, and it pairs exceptionally well with a burger or grilled chicken. Just grab a fork!
If you want a meal that'll fill you up, try this chickpea pasta salad. Made complete with rich feta, crunchy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, salty olives, and a tangy lemon dressing, this salad is too good to be true. Serve it cold for best results.
Made with a homemade sauce that ties all the flavors together, this pasta salad will be your new favorite go-to. Marinate it in the sauce long enough so each bite is packed with flavor. Top it off with your favorite veggies, and you'll be good to go.
Stay full long after you finish off the last bite of this meal. Made with cucumbers, tomatoes, and radishes, this dish is complete with great flavors. Topped off with a citrusy lime juice, crisp cilantro, and salty Cotija cheese, we suggest making an extra batch of this just in case.
Refreshing and flavorful, this Asian salad has notes of sesame and soy dressing that make it almost too good to be true. If you want to take this recipe to the next level, pair it with freshly grilled chicken breast or roasted tofu.
Light, refreshing, and full of flavor, this spin on the traditional salad is as good as it gets. Complete with hardboiled eggs, creamy avocados, ripe cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, chives, crispy bacon, and blue cheese, this pasta salad is as tasty as it sounds. Topped off with a super light red wine vinaigrette, be sure to whip this up before your next picnic.
Goat cheese and basil vinaigrette, what could be better? This delicious green salad is made with roasted beets, zucchini, watercress, summer squash, and corn, and the flavors are as fresh as summer itself. Pair it with a cold cup of sweet tea or a light cocktail for best results.
Whisk your taste buds away to the islands of Greece when you make this divine dish. You'll need ripe tomatoes, garlic, dry rosé or white wine, green peppers, red onions, pasta, and feta cheese. Add a dash of olive oil, and you'll be drooling before the noodles are even done cooking.
Avocado pesto is the new and improved pasta sauce, and wow, is it good. This salad includes the classic pesto favorites like basil, garlic, and parmesan cheese — just with a lighter avocado twist. Pair it with your favorite summer veggies to make it complete.
Get the best of both words when you whip up this sweet and sour dish. It has a creamy homemade sauce that has just the right amount of tang to enlighten your taste buds along with crunchy veggies that'll give you your daily dose of nutrients.
Bursting with sweet strawberry flavors, this pasta salad tastes like a sunny summer day. We suggest adding bits of mint and goat cheese if you really want to elevate this dish.
This Japanese macaroni salad is coated in a creamy, zesty, and sweet dressing that will make your taste buds swoon. Eggs, cucumbers, and ham work together to make this recipe taste unlike any other macaroni salad you've had. Enjoy!
This strawberry avocado pasta salad is an inventive take on the traditional pasta salad that's usually served at summer barbecues. A balance of avocado, feta, strawberries, and poppyseed dressing create this light dish that'll have you coming back for seconds.
Basil and mint are already a dynamic duo, and when you pair these two ingredients with strawberries, it's even better. This pasta features a rich pesto base that ties together all the flavors with ease so enjoy!
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Traditional caprese calls for tomatoes, but switch things up with juicy strawberries if you're feeling adventurous. Topped off with bits of basil, every bite of this is a treat.
Made with a zesty homemade Italian dressing, this pasta salad will wake up your taste buds. It takes less than 20 minutes to make, and can be made in big batches. Enjoy it with burgers, sandwiches, and more.
Healthy and easy to make, this recipe is hard not to love. Filled with asparagus, peas, chickpeas, pine nuts, and a green goddess dressing that's made with rich pesto, this recipe will wow you with every bite.
This pasta salad is particularly good warm, and has the freshest hints of olive oil and lemon juice. The best part about this salad is that you can adjustment the recipe based on your preferences (try feta instead of mozzarella, swap out veggies or add mre, etc.), so you can put a new spin on it every time you make it.
Light and fresh, this drool-worthy salad is the perfect summer dish. It has the perfect amount of cheese, ripe tomatoes, and creamy avocados that make it easy to enjoy for days on end.
This rich pasta captures the best Mediterranean flavors, and wow, is it good. You can whip it up in minutes meaning it makes for a great easy dinner idea. With crisp eggplant and fresh basil, you can serve this hot or cold depending on your preference.
Summer is made for barbecues, refreshing cocktails, and macaroni salad. This Hawaiian dish is made without tuna, but feel free to add it if you want some extra protein. Bring this to your next outting, and be ready for everyone to dig right in.
Turn the classic BLT sandwich into a drool-worthy pasta salad when you whip up this dish. Complete with crunchy bacon, ripe tomatoes, creamy avocados, and hearty noodles, this side dish goes well with summer barbecues and outdoor events.
If you want to impress your guests, cook up this delicious pasta. It has a handful of amazing ingredients like red bell peppers, leafy kale, kalamata olives, pine nuts, and fresh basil, meaning it's big enough to enjoy for days. Dig in!
Need something both healthy and filling? Throw together this pasta salad which features a hint of cheddar cheese that gives it an extra kick. We suggest adding extra corn if you're a fan of the veggie because it adds a ton of flavor.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
No, that's not rice — it's orzo, an Italian pasta that resembles rice. It cooks up quickly and absorbs vinaigrette and sauce while keeping its shape like no other, making it ideal for outdoor parties and picnics. This recipe calls for a variety of Mediterranean-influenced ingredients like fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, and olives. Take one bite, and it's almost like you're vacationing on a Grecian isle. Almost.
Portable, easy to make in large batches, not terribly temperature sensitive, and, most importantly, tasty, this dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. What sets this salad apart from the rest is its zesty sun-dried-tomato dressing; made in a blender or food processor, it's a mixture of tomatoes, capers, and garlic, thinned with olive oil and red wine vinegar. A generous handful of parmesan cheese and fresh basil finish off this satisfying salad that only tastes better the next day.
This easy-to-make pasta salad is full of flavor, and damn, is it good. It's quick to throw together, and the ingredients can be tweaked to include anything you'd like. Feel free to toss in different cheeses, seasonal veggies, fruit, and more.
It's a fact: there's nothing better than pesto. This easy pesto pasta can be served warm or cold depending on your mood. You can add as many antipasto elements you want like olives, tangy cheese, and marinated vegetables, all of which are wonderful. Fresh veggies — spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, and zucchini — also work well as does a protein such as tofu, grilled chicken, or salami. The options are endless!
It's a fact, picnics and cold pasta go hand-in-hand. This lunch-ready meal is full of sweet peas, grape tomatoes, shredded carrots, sharp cheddar cheese, and delicious spices that work together to maximize the flavor. If you want to put a ranch-flavored spin on this recipe, add a dash of light ranch dressing to make it complete.
