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A Collection Of The Best Summer Pasta Salad Recipes

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A delicious classic or cold pasta salad is a quintessential BBQ and picnic side dish. Here is an amazing collection of summer pasta salad recipes that will keep you happy all season.

collage of pasta salad recipes with title in the middle
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Side dishes for a BBQ

There is more than one great side dish for summer. If your prepping for a BBQ or just a tasty summer dinner grab one of these pasta salad recipes and then try some of my others:

Best pasta salad ever

You're in the right place for the best pasta salad recipes. Why? Because I've collected them from all over and put them in one place for you.

You'll find recipes for classic pasta salad as well as others:

  • Creamy pasta salad recipes. There are cold pasta salads with mayo and others with no mayo.
  • Healthy summer pasta salad recipes loaded with veggies.
  • Pasta salad with cheese. Some grated cheddar and others with Parmesan.
  • Italian dressing pasta salads with those classic flavors you love.
  • Global flavors tossed on pasta for a fun side dish.
  • Meat-lovers pasta salad recipes with bacon and sausage.

Salads with veggies

You'll find some healthy summer pasta salad recipes here. But, mostly these are classics with veggies, and twists for you to try!

pistachio pesto pasta over head photo
Pistachio Pesto Pasta with Shredded Zucchini
Pistachio Pesto Pasta with shredded zucchini makes a great dinner, to-go picnic staple or the perfect packed lunch.
Recipe
herbed vegetable pasta with artichokes mixed in salad bowl
Herbed Vegetable And Artichoke Pasta
Savory artichokes and tangy vinaigrette really wake up your taste buds in this easy pasta salad.
Recipe
Garden Cucumber and Tomato Orzo Salad in a glass bowl on a cutting board
Garden Cucumber and Tomato Orzo Salad
This pasta salad is tangy and light — no mayo anywhere in sight. The fresh vegetables and dressing will make your taste buds sing.
Recipe
Pasta Salad in Red Bowl, aerial shot
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad + Tutorial
Quick and easy to make, this tangy pasta salad recipe is just the thing for serving at those backyard barbecues, summer picnics and taking to potlucks.
Recipe
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
This Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is super easy, delicious, and can be prepared under 15 minutes. Enjoy this with oven-baked bbq chicken and dinner rolls!
Recipe
Salad in a glass mixing bowl
Summer Pasta Salad
This easy recipe starts with garden fresh veggies and tender pasta, I create a very simple dressing to allow the summery flavors of the vegetables to shine through.
Recipe

Those classic Italian pasta salad favorites!

Whether it's a pasta salad with Italian dressing or simply one touting tomatoes or basil, this is where to find the best pasta salad ever (in some folks opinion)!

Sala
Lauren's Pasta Salad
It’s delicious and couldn’t be easier to throw together. Just chop some veggies and cheese, boil some pasta, and there you have it. It’s also easy to double or triple the recipe for feeding large crowds.
Recipe
italian pasta salad in white bowl
Italian Pasta
This pasta salad has it all. It’s both quick and delicious, takes less than 20 minutes to prepare and tastes even better as leftovers.
Recipe
Salad plated on a white plate
Vegan Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Vegan Italian pasta salad recipe from scratch with veggie La Bomba sauce. A spicy “Calabrian condimento or Bomba Calabrese”, made with marinated artichoke hearts, eggplant, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, green olives, garlic, onion and lots of herbs.
Recipe
Salad in a big mixing bowl
Italian Pasta Recipe
Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Italian Vinaigrette is a fan favorite for my family. This quick and easy recipe is flavorful with great texture.
Recipe
Salad in a yellow bowl
Easy Pasta Salad Recipe with Italian Dressing
This easy pasta salad recipe with italian dressing is perfect for your next backyard barbecue or to enjoy during the summer.
Recipe

Delicious Greek recipes

Fantastic flavor and delicious morsels of classic Greek ingredients are tossed into these salads. They make tasty side dishes or picnic bowls.

Greek salad in a blue mixing bowl
Easy Greek Orzo Salad
This easy Greek Orzo Salad is perfect for picnics, potlucks, BBQs and get togethers. Whenever you need an easy and healthy side dish, that is guaranteed to disappear first, make this gorgeous Greek orzo salad!
Recipe
Pasta salad in glass bowl
Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
This yummy Greek Pasta Salad recipe is a delicious cold pasta salad that’s so versatile. Serve it as a main dish, side dish, for summer parties or a healthy, light supper.
Recipe
Salad in white bowl
Healthier Greek Pasta Salad
This Greek Pasta Salad is super healthy and light. I use it as a side dish, but you could also add grilled or roasted chicken to it for a very simple meal! Serve it chilled.
Recipe
Salad in clear glass bowl
Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
Packed full of Mediterranean flavor, this easy summer salad features all of the best Greek veggies, orzo, and other fresh ingredients in a quick lemon Greek dressing.
Recipe

Meaty goodness and chicken pasta salad recipes

A little bacon, sausage or tasty chicken makes a pasta salad so delicious it's almost a meal. Try one of these and have everyone coming for seconds.

Pasta with tomatoes, bacon and yellow squash in white bowl
Gemelli With Bacon, Tomato And Yellow Squash
Gemelli combined with fresh vegetables and bacon makes a perfect and easy summer pasta with yellow squash.
Recipe
Close up of Squash and Pancetta pasta in white serving bowl
Squash and Pancetta Pasta
Use baby squash and smokey Italian bacon for a sophisticated take on pasta salad.
Recipe
Salad in a white serving dish
Reuben Pasta Salad
Reuben Pasta Salad has all of the amazing flavors of your favorite Reuben Sandwich! Corned beef, swiss, sauerkraut and pickles are tossed with a simple thousand islands dressing for one the best potluck salads you’ve ever had!
Recipe
Salad on a white dish plate
East Coast Lobster Pasta Salad
This lobster pasta salad takes everything wonderful about a Maritime lobster roll and turns it into a cold salad perfect for entertaining.
Recipe
Meat Lovers Pasta Salad
Meat Lovers Pasta Salad ~ yes, real men DO eat pasta, and it’s this hearty pasta salad! Real women love it too 😉 This meaty pasta salad will be the hit of your next barbecue, potluck, or backyard shindig.
Recipe
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
So many people have straight lost their minds for bacon, this bacon ranch pasta salad recipe should be a hit at summer parties. Plus, it’s colorful and looks pretty on the table.
Recipe
Salad in a white dish
BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
BBQ chicken pasta salad is a crowd pleasing favorite with mozzarella cheese, olives, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, and artichoke hearts.
Recipe
Pasta Salad in dark blue bowl
Creamy Pasta Salad with Summer Sausage
This delicious Creamy Pasta Salad is packed with vegetables, sausage, and topped with a creamy three-ingredient dressing! Serve it cold as the perfect side dish on a warm summer day!
Recipe
Salad in a trifle glass dish
Grandmas 7 Layer Salad: With Chopped Ham and Peas
It’s a delicious blend of fresh layers with a creamy dressing on top.
Recipe
Cold Chicken Spinach Pasta Salad
This Cold Chicken Spinach Pasta Salad is the perfect easy cold meal prep idea or a dish for a potluck!
Recipe

Find my serving bowl recommendations for pasta salad here.

Awesome Side Dish Recipes!

Tara in kitchen making salad

About Tara Teaspoon

I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.

Find out more!

Compiled by Meg Palmer

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  1. julie

    Oh the meats! Lobster, bacon and BBQ Chicken pasta salad recipes all in one place - yummy! These are going into the rotation asap.

    Reply

  2. Natalie

    Pasta salad is the perfect side dish for summer because it's refreshing yet still filling. I can't wait to try the lobster pasta salad. What a delight!

    Reply

  3. Megan Palmer

    I love the variety of Pasta Salads you found, those Greek ones look so yummy!

    Reply

  4. Britney Fronk

    Pasta salad is always my favorite dish at any BBQ, so I'm PUMPED to try some of these! Thanks for finding them all!

    Reply

  5. Moriah

    I highly recommend the Gemelli With Bacon, Tomato And Yellow Squash pasta salad. It was a huge hit even with the kids.

    Reply

  6. Mia

    Pasta Salads are my faves! Must try these! Thank you!

    Reply

  7. Emily Liao

    This list is perfect for all my summer festivities! Especially looking forward to making the dill pickled version 🙂

    Reply

    • Tara Teaspoon

      Oh that's a crowd favorite!

      Reply

  8. Elizabeth

    I love pasta salad and this is the best round up I’ve seen! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  9. Lauren Michael Harris

    I love a good pasta salad in the summer. There are SO many to try on this list - great compilation!

    Reply

    • Tara Teaspoon

      Oh good! Thanks!

      Reply

  10. Beth

    These look so tasty and full of flavor! My family and I can't wait to make some of these! Excited to give some of these a try!

    Reply

  11. Caroline

    I'll admit, pasta salads are not usually my go-to but I love all the variety of flavors in these - definitely a few I'm looking forward to giving a try.

    Reply

    • Tara Teaspoon

      With all the variety I'm sure you can find one you may like!

      Reply