Amazing Pasta Salad Recipes to try this year
Okay, so let’s be honest: pasta salad doesn’t sound exciting. Like, when someone says, “Oh, I brought pasta salad,” you’re probably expecting something beige, mayo-heavy, and kind of… meh. But hear me out—pasta salad doesn’t have to be the sad side dish that gets ignored at the BBQ. It can actually be the main event. Bold, colorful, full of texture, and actually delicious.
And the best part? Most of these pasta salad recipes are low-effort and easy to prepare, So whether you’re trying to impress your in-laws, feed your roommates without turning on the oven, or just meal prep like the domestic adult you occasionally pretend to be, these recipes are going to be your new go-to.
I’ve pulled together 23 ridiculously good pasta salad recipes, shuffled them up, and brought the flavor. Let’s dive into some delicious recipes.
1. Ranch Pasta Salad
Ranch lovers, this one’s for you. Imagine a creamy, tangy, herby dressing clinging to every twist of rotini, with chunks of cheddar cheese, crunchy veggies, and maybe some bacon bits if you’re feeling wild. It’s like your favorite ranch dip and pasta had a glorious baby.
2. BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado
This is basically a deconstructed sandwich in salad form, and I’m not mad about it. You’ve got the crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and creamy avocado all cozied up with pasta and a light mayo-based dressing. It’s fresh, filling, and lowkey addictive.
3. Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Think olives, cucumbers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and crumbled feta—all doing a little dance with perfectly cooked pasta and a tangy vinaigrette. It’s salty, savory, and summer in a bowl. You’ll feel fancy just eating it.
4. Pesto Pasta Salad
If you’ve never tossed pasta in pesto and called it a meal, now’s your moment. Add some mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, maybe even some grilled chicken or pine nuts, and boom. A five-star salad that looks green and healthy but tastes like cheesy, herby comfort.
5. Italian Summer Pasta Salad
This one brings all the deli-counter vibes with pepperoni, salami, cubes of cheese, and sliced black olives. Mix in some red onion and Italian dressing and you’ve basically got a cold cut platter in salad form. Add banana peppers for that extra kick.
6. Taco Pasta Salad
Taco night, but make it cold and portable. This genius combo includes seasoned ground beef (or turkey), black beans, corn, diced peppers, and shredded cheddar all tossed with pasta and a creamy salsa-ranch dressing. Pro tip: add crushed tortilla chips on top for crunch.
7. Chicken Pasta Salad
A simple but satisfying classic. Chopped grilled chicken, cooked pasta, and whatever veggies you’ve got lying around—think bell peppers, peas, red onion—tossed with a light creamy dressing. It’s the “I meal prepped” energy we all want without too much effort.
8. Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
If you love deviled eggs and you love pasta (which, honestly, who doesn’t?), this combo will blow your mind. The yolky, mustardy, paprika-spiked flavor of deviled eggs is spread all throughout the pasta with chopped hard-boiled eggs mixed in. It’s creamy, rich, and surprisingly satisfying.
9. Pistachio Pesto Pasta Salad
This isn’t your average pesto. Pistachios give it a slightly sweet, nutty twist that makes the whole dish feel gourmet. Add in roasted veggies or sun-dried tomatoes and you’ve got a next-level pasta salad that looks like it came from a fancy café.
10. Ham & Pineapple Pasta Salad
This one’s controversial—but trust me. If you’re into Hawaiian pizza, you’re gonna vibe with this. Sweet pineapple chunks, salty ham cubes, and a creamy dressing come together for a sweet-savory situation that might surprise you in the best way.
11. Greek Chicken Pasta Salad
Take everything great about a Greek salad—cucumber, feta, tomato, olives—and then throw in some grilled chicken and pasta. Drizzle it with lemon-herb vinaigrette and you’ve got a high-protein, high-flavor salad that works for dinner, lunch, or straight out of the fridge at 1 a.m.
12. Cubbed ham Pasta Salad
Light, protein-packed, and super customizable. You can use whole wheat pasta if you’re feeling healthy, toss in your prepared cubbed ham, tons of crunchy veggies, and a vinaigrette or yogurt-based dressing. It’s perfect for post-gym meals or pretending you’re thriving.
13. Summer Veggie Pasta Salad
Fresh, colorful, and full of everything good from the farmers market. Think zucchini, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, corn, and maybe some shredded carrots. A light Italian dressing pulls it all together. This is the kind of salad you want to bring to a picnic and humblebrag about.
14. Lemon Herb Pasta Salad with Marinated Chickpeas
Let’s take a moment to appreciate chickpeas. These little guys soak up flavor like champs. Toss them with lemon juice, fresh herbs, a splash of olive oil, and pasta, and you’ve got a light but super flavorful salad that’s vegan and protein-rich. Also tastes amazing cold.
15. Antipasto Pasta Salad
Picture this: you raid the antipasto bar at the grocery store—artichoke hearts, marinated mushrooms, roasted red peppers, salami—and toss all of it with pasta and a zesty dressing. It’s briny, bold, and perfect if you like your food with a little attitude.
16. Deviled Egg Macaroni Pasta Salad
This is deviled egg pasta salad’s creamier, sassier cousin. Same vibes, but made with elbow macaroni and just a touch more indulgence. Add a dash of hot sauce if you want to spice things up.
17. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Exactly what it sounds like, and honestly, why haven’t we been making this forever? Combine Caesar salad with pasta and grilled chicken. Add croutons just before serving so they don’t get soggy. Boom—salad that actually fills you up.
18. Antipasto Tortellini Pasta Salad
Tortellini is the rich aunt of regular pasta. Stuffed, chewy, and so good cold. Toss it with chopped pepperoni, olives, cheese cubes, and Italian vinaigrette for a hearty, flavor-packed salad you’ll want to eat for lunch and dinner.
19. Italian Pasta Salad
The classic. Like, if pasta salad had a blueprint, this would be it. Pasta, chopped veggies (think cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion), cheese, pepperoni, and Italian dressing. It’s the one everyone loves, and for good reason—it never fails.
20. Creamy Avocado Pasta Salad
This one’s smooth, creamy, and a little luxurious. Mashed avocado gives the dressing a rich base, while lime juice keeps things fresh. Add black beans, corn, and cherry tomatoes, and you’ve got a Tex-Mex inspired salad that feels indulgent but totally isn’t.
21. Orzo Salad with Vegetables and Feta
Tiny pasta, big flavor. Orzo cooks quickly and is perfect for absorbing dressing. Mix in chopped cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and crumbled feta. It’s simple, Greek-ish, and super refreshing. Also looks cute in a bowl, which matters.
22. Pasta Salad for a Crowd
This one’s all about volume. It’s a no-fuss, crowd-pleasing combo of pasta, diced veggies, shredded cheese, and creamy dressing. Perfect for potlucks, parties, or that time your extended family invites themselves over with zero warning.
23. Tuscan Tortellini Salad
This is the tortellini salad of your dreams. Sun-dried tomatoes, olives, spinach, and parmesan all tossed with cheesy tortellini and a balsamic dressing. It’s rich, tangy, and very much something you’d see at a bougie lunch spot.
A Few Pro Tips to consider if this is new to you
- Use short pasta with texture – Bowtie, rotini, and penne are your friends. They hold onto dressing and look good doing it.
- Salt your water, always. Bland pasta = bland salad. Don’t skip this step.
- Let it chill. Pasta salad gets better as it sits, so let those flavors mingle.
- Dress in layers. Add half your dressing while the pasta is still warm so it soaks in, then toss in more before serving.
- Don’t be afraid to freestyle. These recipes are forgiving. Swap in what you’ve got and make it yours.
Final Thoughts (And a Friendly Nudge)
Listen, you’ve got 23 pasta salad recipes at your fingertips now. That’s nearly a month of flavor-packed lunches, picnic-ready sides, or lazy weeknight dinners that require minimal effort and zero reheating. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just feeding your future self, there’s something on this list that’ll hit the spot.
So boil that pasta, raid your fridge, and get creative. You never know—your new favorite meal might just be one mixing bowl away.
And if you try any of these? Tag me or send a pic. I wanna see your pasta salad masterpiece.
check out these amazing salad recipes for hot summer days🥵
