All My Tips and Recipes for Making Great Pasta Salad

The weather is warming up, and that means we’ll all want some fun summertime recipes that are perfect for cookouts, BBQs, and parties at our fingertips. These pasta Salad Recipes are going to fit the bill.

Pasta salads are the ultimate in easy recipes

They’re simple to make and perfect for parties, lunches, meal prep, or an easy meal anytime.

And it’s always great to have an arsenal of pasta salad recipes on hand, especially recipes that are so delicious you’ll want to make them again and again!

From the most classic pasta salad… Macaroni Salad to new fun flavors you’re dying to try:

• Caprese Pasta Salad fun Italian pasta salad recipes
• Broccoli Pasta Salad get in your veggies in this yummy pasta salad
• Green Goddess Pasta Salad best pasta salad recipe ever!
• Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Salad a tasty recipe with the nutty roasted flavor
• Mexican Corn Pasta Salad like Mexican street corn made into a meal
• Creamy Lemon Pasta Salad always a favorite!

More than Salad

If you like things that sound like salad but aren’t full of leafy greens give some of these a try:

• Chicken Salad
• Potato Salad
• Seafood Salad
• Egg Salad
• Shrimp Salad or try this dressing for Shrimp Salad
• Avocado Caprese 

And if you want a fun salad option, make these salad dippers!

If you want a fun leafy green salad with a twist, make this Taco Salad

For all the pasta lovers:

Some really great flavor options come from the sauce…

• pesto
• balsamic
• lemon
• Greek
• green goddess
• Thai peanut sauce

And for the Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad for the pepperoni lovers…

This recipe has a delicious tomato dressing it’s a true winner!

Unconventional Pasta Salad, with Tuna and Zucchini.

And if you want a lower carb options use 1/2 roasted cauliflower, quinoa, or diced zucchini in place of some or all of the pasta.

Buy or make Pesto…

and give this fun pesto tomato pasta salad a go,

and if you like it spicy, try this Jalapeno Pesto Recipe.

Oh, the PASTABILITITES:

• BBQ chicken macaroni salad
• Caesar pasta salad
• Mexican Taco Pasta Salad
• BLT Pasta Salad perfect for when a bacon craving comes!
• Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad- super fun, kids love it, the tomato salad dressing tastes amazing.
• Zucchini Balsamic Pasta Salad
• Buttermilk BLT pasta salad 
• Shrimp macaroni Salad
• Buttermilk pesto

Have you found a recipe you want to make next?

• Feta Basil Balsamic Pasta Salad
• Pesto Zucchini Pasta Salad
• Roasted Cauliflower, Quinoa Pasta Salad
• Pesto Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad
• Greek Pasta Salad
• Lemon Feta Pasta Salad

 

Pasta salads have been around for decades. One we’ve all seen again and again at most BBQs and served on the side of sandwiches is macaroni salad.  And, I have many more! Shrimp Macaroni Salad for instance. Greek Pasta Salad Lemon Tuna Pasta Salad, Elote Pata Salad tastes like a fun meal that resembles Mexican Street Corn.

TIPS for Making Pasta Salad

Choose the pasta shape that suits your liking, smooth noodles are great for mayo-based dressings, and pasta with grooves and pinched parts are great for oil/vinegar based dressings 

Pesto is amazing for cold pasta salad make it or buy it in the refrigerated section.

There are so many options for pasta shapes when making pasta salad. A classic pasta salad is macaroni salad using large elbows, they cook up nicely and well and are soft and thin. Other elbow shapes can be thick and small and will result in a little chewier pasta salad.

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, and rinse the pasta in cold water. Soak the pasta in cold water to speed up the chilling process. Drain well and blot pasta with paper towels if needed to dry noodles so “sauce” does not slide off the noodles.

Toss the pasta with the sauce or salad dressing.

Add additional items or chill pasta while you finish peppering the remaining ingredients.

Large elbow noodles are smooth and make for great pasta salads. Making the pasta ahead of time allows you to get recipes ready easier, and dinner on the table faster, and cooked macaroni is always great to have extra of so you can make Macaroni and Cheese!

If you chill it overnight, the pasta can/will absorb extra sauce, especially if it’s not an oil-based salad dressing, so having a small portion reserved is ideal so you can add it and retoss the pasta.

Since the pasta is the item that absorbs most of the dressing, you can choose to layer or toss the items into the pasta and any sauce before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste.

If you’re making a pasta salad that uses Mayo, try making homemade mayo for a delicious sauce without the added sugar and preservatives.

What to eat with Classic Macaroni Salad?

This is the perfect pasta salad great for cookouts, and BBQs,  and to serve alongside hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, beef, pork… the possibilities are endless.

Thai Peanut Noodles – this recipe is delicious, add some chopped cooked chicken for added protein!

Looking for a pasta alternative for a hearty cold vegetable salad… give this Sweet Potato Thai Peanut Salad a try.

More fun Pasta Salad Recipes:

• Pepperoni Pizza Macaroni Salad – a pizza lover’s dream pasta salad
• Pesto Pasta Salad – a party favorite
• BLT Macaroni Salad – brighten up any day with this one
• Mexican Corn Macaroni Salad – SO fantastic you’ll be sure to make it often
• Feta Basil Balsamic Pasta Salad – one of my all-time favorites
• Lemon Dill Tuna Pasta Salad – a veggie-filled pasta salad
• Thai Peanut Noodles – my road trip favorite
• Lemon Pasta Salad with Asparagus – lemony and yummy
• BBQ Chicken Macaroni Salad – my kids love this one, and it’s just about the most perfect dish for a BBQ

In the mood for more pasta… check out these pasta sauce recipes

And when you want to keep it super simple toss some rinsed pasta with olive oil, salt, and pepper (add crushed red pepper flakes for a little spice) mix well, and add sliced grape tomatoes, fresh basil, and Romano or Parmesan cheese. 

How long does pasta salad stay in the fridge?

Pasta Salad is good for 3-5 days in the fridge.

What to eat with pasta salad?

A fork 🤣 nice crusty toasted bread is always a great option. Fun additions to pasta salads can be toppings, cheese, seeds, croutons, herbs, and spices. Add cooked, chopped chicken to add some protein.

Enjoy pasta salads year round they make a great lunch or item to bring to an invite.There are so many options you’re bound to find a new recipe that will fit the type of invite you’re going to next.

And if you’re looking for more summer recipe check out these summer recipes.