Make One of These 20 Pasta Salad Recipes and Just Watch the Crowd Go Wild

If you want a dish that disappears fast and gets everyone asking for the recipe, make one of these pasta salad recipes. They’re the kind of crowd-pleasers that somehow go with everything—from grilled mains to potluck spreads. You’ll find a mix of bold flavors, fresh veggies, and just the right amount of creamy or zesty dressing. Trust me, once you bring one of these, you’re on pasta salad duty from here on out.

Zucchini Pasta Salad With Balsamic Vinegar

Zucchini noodles with cherry tomatoes on a white platter with a wooden spoon — Zucchini Pasta Salad With Balsamic Vinegar. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Pull out the spiralizer and make a refreshing Zucchini Salad with Balsamic Vinegar with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and zoodles.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Pasta Salad With Balsamic Vinegar

Summer Pasta Salad With Fresh Peaches

A bowl of peach pasta salad with dressing in a pticher on the side. — Summer Pasta Salad With Fresh Peaches. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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This refreshing summer salad is made with fresh peach slices, sweet corn, juicy grape tomatoes, pine nuts, and your favorite pasta. It’s one of my go-to cold pasta dishes to beat the heat.
Get the Recipe: Summer Pasta Salad With Fresh Peaches

Parsley Pesto Pasta Salad With Walnuts

A side dish of pesto pasta next to fresh parsley. — Parsley Pesto Pasta Salad With Walnuts. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This easy parsley pesto pasta salad with walnuts is a great summertime salad and incredibly simple to make for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Parsley Pesto Pasta Salad With Walnuts

Creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad

Ranch pasta salad in a bowl with a wooden spoon. — Creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

With all the classic flavors of creamy ranch dressing, salty bacon, and cheddar cheese, this ranch pasta salad is a refreshing crowd pleaser, the perfect summer potluck food.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad

Classic Southern Macaroni Salad

Classic Southern Macaroni Salad is a summertime comfort food, which is great if you’re craving Southern flavors this summer.
Get the Recipe: Classic Southern Macaroni Salad

Cold Lemon Orzo Salad With Shrimp

A large bowl of shrimp orzo salad. — Cold Lemon Orzo Salad With Shrimp. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This cold lemon orzo salad recipe effortlessly marries shrimp, citrus, garlic, and fragrant basil for a quick and easy summer dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cold Lemon Orzo Salad With Shrimp

Cold Antipasto Pasta Salad With Pepperoncini Peppers

A serving bowl of antipasto salad. — Cold Antipasto Pasta Salad With Pepperoncini Peppers. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This irresistible antipasto pasta salad is EASY to make with a simple homemade dressing, an Italian inspired pasta that’s great for summertime.
Get the Recipe: Cold Antipasto Pasta Salad With Pepperoncini Peppers

Bow Tie Pasta Salad With Basil Pesto

Mouthwatering pesto pasta salad recipe with vibrant colors on a spoon. — Bow Tie Pasta Salad With Basil Pesto. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Easy to make basil pesto pasta salad with bow tie pasta is a flavorful, colorful side that’s great for summer picnics or cookouts. It’s one of my favorite easy pasta salad recipes.
Get the Recipe: Bow Tie Pasta Salad With Basil Pesto

Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad

A close-up of a bowl filled with tortellini pasta salad, featuring cheese tortellini, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, salami slices, black olives, red onion, and fresh herbs. A spoon is partially visible on the right side. — Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

Looking for your next picnic or potluck dish? This Italian tortellini pasta salad is hearty enough to serve on its own or as a side dish.
Get the Recipe: Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad

Double Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad with Basil

A close-up of a bowl of rotini pasta topped with tomato sauce, cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, and fresh basil, with a fork resting in the dish. — Double Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad with Basil. Photo credit: Josie and Nina.

A pasta salad with amazing flavor from sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan. The pasta salad dressing makes it the perfect tailgate dish your guests will love.
Get the Recipe: Double Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad with Basil

Cold Rice Noodle Salad With Chicken

Refreshing and flavorful, an Asian cold noodle salad tossed with veggies, cold noodles, and lime dressing—perfect for lunch or summer dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cold Rice Noodle Salad With Chicken

Mexican Corn Pasta Salad With Tomatoes

A bowl of creamy pasta salad with penne, corn, diced tomatoes, green herbs, and a creamy dressing, garnished with parsley. A fork rests in the bowl on a light-colored surface. — Mexican Corn Pasta Salad With Tomatoes. Photo credit: Talking Meals.

This Creamy Mexican Corn Pasta Salad is a comforting, creamy and smoky recipe that’s bursting with flavor and texture! Make ahead and enjoy!
Get the Recipe: Mexican Corn Pasta Salad With Tomatoes

Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad

Pesto caprese pasta salad is a huge hit at parties! Serve this delicious dish as a side, salad or appetizer. Fresh and done in 20 min!
Get the Recipe: Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad

Ham Pasta Salad With Ranch Dressing

A plate of creamy pasta salad with bowtie noodles, cherry tomatoes, peas, and cubes of ham, served on a blue-green plate with a light blue cloth underneath. — Ham Pasta Salad With Ranch Dressing. Photo credit: Southern Plate.

This creamy and cheesy ham pasta salad recipe is the perfect summer supper, with tender smoked ham, fresh veggies, and ranch dressing.
Get the Recipe: Ham Pasta Salad With Ranch Dressing

Easy Pesto Pasta Salad

A bowl of pasta salad with rotini and shell pasta, mozzarella balls, halved cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and pesto sauce, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese. — Easy Pesto Pasta Salad. Photo credit: On My Kids Plate.

This pesto pasta salad recipe is an easy cold salad perfect as a side or a main dish and is full of tomatoes, mozzarella and basil pesto. Yum!
Get the Recipe: Easy Pesto Pasta Salad

Asian Pasta Salad

A close-up of colorful pasta salad with spiral noodles, sliced bell peppers, snap peas, shredded carrots, cilantro, and sesame seeds. — Asian Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Spicy Southern Kitchen.

Asian Pasta Salad is coated in a wonderful sesame/soy dressing with a little peanut butter. Full of carrots, red bell pepper, sugar snap peas, cilantro.
Get the Recipe: Asian Pasta Salad

Greek Orzo Salad With Feta

A bowl of orzo pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, spinach, red onion, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese, mixed together and served with a fork. — Greek Orzo Salad With Feta. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Easy Greek orzo salad with feta, veggies, olives, and Greek dressing—fresh, colorful, and perfect for meal prep or summer gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Greek Orzo Salad With Feta

Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

A close-up of a creamy pasta salad with cavatappi noodles, cherry tomatoes, green onions, cheddar cheese cubes, lettuce, and crispy bacon bits on a plate. — Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad. Photo credit: On My Kids Plate.

Creamy bacon ranch pasta salad is packed full of delicious dressing, tender pasta, juicy tomatoes, cheese and vegetables. The perfect side!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Easy Italian Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with ham, tomatoes, and olives — Easy Italian Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Semi Homemade Kitchen.

Our easy Italian Pasta Salad features a quick blend of rotini, salami, veggies, and mozzarella. The perfect side dish for gatherings and summer potluck food.
Get the Recipe: Easy Italian Pasta Salad

Tangy Shrimp Pasta Salad

A close-up of creamy pasta salad with shrimp, small shell pasta, chopped green onions, and a wooden spoon in a blue bowl. — Tangy Shrimp Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Spicy Southern Kitchen.

Tangy Shrimp Pasta Salad is wonderfully creamy and flavorful. Makes a great side for burgers, grilled chicken or pulled pork.
Get the Recipe: Tangy Shrimp Pasta Salad

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