Easy pasta salad recipes just might make the ultimate summertime food. It’s fast, flexible, and gets more delicious by the day. Find eight of the BEST pasta salad recipes right here – and don’t forget to pin and save for later so you don’t miss any of these delicious combos!
Learning how to make pasta salad might just be your ticket to getting invited to the best summer parties. In fact, when you find one you like, it can be a recipe that goes immediately into the “keeper” files… the kind of recipe that party guests will beg you to share!
A cold pasta salad recipe is an iconic tradition of American summer. It’s a side dish, it’s a meal, it’s a crowd pleaser, it’s all the things.
They are full of vibrant flavors, they travel well, and they get better in the fridge by the minute – marinating in a delicious dressing. What’s not to love?
It’s true, I love pasta in every format. I’ve shown you how to make fresh pasta from scratch, egg noodles, and reader-fave recipes like this white wine pasta sauce, lemon basil pasta, pesto pasta, a traditional fettuccine alfredo and so many more.
While I could drone on and on about pasta salad recipes almost as often as I can eat them (and that would be brunch, lunch, snacks, dinner, picnics, potlucks and more…) today I wanted to round up all of my favorites for you.
This post is a great one to save and refer to down the road, whenever you need inspiration! Let’s dig right into some cold pasta salad, shall we?
First, we’ll discuss some of the basics of making the BEST pasta salad recipes, and towards the end of this post you’ll find all the printable recipe links!
Making an Easy Pasta Salad Recipe Starts with a Great Homemade Dressing
Yes, of course you can make a great pasta salad with a bottle of store bought dressing. But once you see how easy it is to make your own homemade Italian dressing or the like, you’ll never go back!
You might love your grandma’s old-fashioned Italian pasta salad recipe, but I think we can make it even better with a homemade dressing.
All of this to say, a great pasta salad definitively starts with a fresh, flavorful homemade dressing. It’s the beginning and the end of this iconic dish – it matters so much!
I love homemade salad dressings (in fact, I have a complete vinaigrette guide) and I’ve shared many with you in the past – be sure to check out all those delicious dressing options!
With the addition of a homemade dressing, you’re creating a customized, colorful salad experience with an explosion of flavor! Not only does it taste better, but you get to control the ingredients. No more strange preservatives and added sodium. Fresh is always best!
Two Types of Dressing for Cold Pasta Salad Recipes
Pasta salad dressing typically is made with either an oil and vinegar dressing or with a creamier base like mayonnaise.
I tend to go with oil and vinegar because it is so easy to change up the flavor combinations with different oils and vinegar. It also stays fresh for longer, either in your fridge or at room temperature when serving. Bonus? It is also a lighter dressing with less calories.
If you prefer creamy Pasta Salad dressings though, you can always add mayo, sour cream or greek yogurt to the recipe, usually substituting it for the oil in the recipe.
If you’re looking for more in-depth detail about the varieties of homemade pasta salad dressings, please head to this post where I discuss at length! It will really help you understand the basis for a scratch dressing and you’ll quickly be an expert.
Tools You Need to Make an Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
I can practically taste that homemade pasta salad right now! I love it when they are bursting with veggies… cherry tomatoes, black olives, bell peppers and MORE.
Regardless of which recipe you make, I find the following items to be helpful for shaking, stirring, serving and storing. I choose pieces that are both practical and pretty so they can go directly from the fridge to the table!
- A glass cruet with stopper for storing dressing or your olive oils and red wine vinegar, etc.
- Weck storage jars with lids
- White enameled colander
- Oil and vinegar dispenser with gold lid
- Clear glass storage bottles with lids
- A large bowl with the prettiest wood lid – ideal for serving AND storing!
How to Make Pasta Salad
Regardless of specific ingredients, additions and directions in each of my recipes, the steps and fundamentals remain the same.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta.
- Strain pasta and rinse in cold water.
- Return pasta to serving bowl.
- Add any veggies, cheeses, deli meats, and the like.
- In a jar, combine dressing ingredients and shake until combined. Pour over pasta salad.
- Toss.
The Best Pasta Salad Recipe Tips
- Use a large pot for your noodles. You want to give them plenty of room to cook, separated, in the lightly salted water.
- Cook your noodles al dente. I repeat: do not overcook your pasta! Especially when the cooked pasta will spend extra time soaking in a dressing, you don’t need to cook it too long.
- Rinse noodles in cold water before combining them with your pasta salad dressing.
- Use a high quality olive oil. When you’re making such a simple dressing, the individual ingredients will shine!
- How to Store Pasta Salad – If you are making it ahead, you can store in a covered bowl, in the refrigerator, for up to a week.
- Same goes for your pasta salad dressings! In fact, if it is just an oil and vinegar dressing then it will keep for up to two weeks!
- Refresh Pasta Salad – If the pasta seems dry after marinating, add more pasta salad dressing and stir! You can also leave a little water when draining the pasta to keep it moist and use less dressing.
- Adding cheese? Grate it fresh. You’ll never regret this extra step! Fresh grated Parmesan cheese or mozzarella cheese are the hallmarks of any great pasta dish in my eyes!
Learn How to Make Pasta Salad
There are so many delicious ways to create an incredible cold pasta salad recipe! This list is filled with inspiration and printable recipe links.
Find an easy pasta salad recipe for every occasion right here! There are crowd-pleasing flavors to suit every taste. Which one will you make first?
Easy 20 minute Mexican Pasta Salad – a light, and delicious pasta salad recipe makes the perfect side dish or stand alone dinner.
I turned my favorite Cilantro Lime Dressing into a Mexican Pasta Salad recipe that is light, refreshing and has just enough kick!
This Italian Pasta Salad recipe is quick and easy, with just 15 minutes hands on time.
Easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe – the perfect summer side dish that takes very little time and effort and is light and refreshing!
A light and refreshing Seafood Pasta Salad recipe for a lunch you can enjoy all week or side dish for get togethers!
This Shrimp Pasta Salad is so easy and uses just a few ingredients. It’s the ultimate summer pasta salad!
Fine, this last one isn't a recipe for a salad, it's just the ultimate recipe for a flexible DRESSING! Don't skip this one because it allows you to get creative with your favorite ingredients.
Learn how to make your own versatile pasta salad dressing in just a couple minutes. You can mix up this easily adaptable recipe with your favorite oils, vinegars, and spices and herbs!
Lemon Basil Pasta Salad is a light and refreshing alternative to classic pasta salads. It’s full of fresh flavor and is made in minutes with a few simple ingredients.
Lemon basil recipes are perfect for spring and summer get togethers or for a light and refreshing lunch or dinner. This lemon pasta salad is no exception! It’s perfect for picnics and parties.
A light, refreshing pasta salad recipe, perfect for summer picnics and outings.
This bow tie pasta salad has the most amazing pasta salad dressing made with lemon and basil. It’s always a crowd pleaser!
This veggie pasta salad recipe is bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors!
Overflowing with nutrients thanks to an array of fresh sauteed veggies, it’s a vegetarian pasta salad side dish you can feel good about!
Spaghetti salad is an incredibly flexible, fast pasta salad recipe that is such a crowd pleaser!
Tossed in a savory homemade Italian dressing, this cold spaghetti salad recipe is a keeper. It’s a recipe your friends and family will ask you to bring again and again.
I can’t wait to hear from you! Which recipe is your favorite? If you’ve made one of my pasta salad recipes, please be sure to leave a comment or a review with my five star rating system!
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These all look great – I can’t wait to give each one a try. Thanks so much for sharing!
This is the perfect list to have for summer! I love pasta salad!! Will be making all of these on the list but starting with spaghetti salad.
Enjoy!
I am so happy I found this. I feel like I am always looking for a pasta salad recipe last minute. Thank you!
Looking forward to working my way through this collection of pasta salads. My favorite during summertime!