Pasta Salad Recipes You’ll Crave All Summer—These 17 Are the Real Deal

You know those pasta salad recipes you will crave all summer—the ones that somehow hit the perfect balance of fresh, filling, and flavor-packed? These are exactly that. Whether you’re headed to a BBQ, planning a picnic, or just need something chill for dinner, these recipes totally deliver. Trust me, your fridge will be stocked with at least one of these all season long.

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

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.

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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

Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd

A bowl of creamy macaroni salad with green peas, diced vegetables, and topped with shredded cheddar cheese—perfect for fans of delicious pasta salad recipes. — Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd is a refreshing comfort food, which is great for dinners, picnics or to take to pot lucks.
Get the Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad With Cheese For A Crowd

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

Seafood Pasta Salad

Seafood Pasta Salad is always such a hit at any summer cookout. It’s a perfect combination of creamy, crunchy, onion-y & sweet from the imitation crab.
Get the Recipe: Seafood 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

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

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 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

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

Creamy Italian Pasta Salad

This four ingredient Creamy Italian Pasta Salad is one quick summer pasta salad recipe. An easy creamy Italian dressing is a fast Alfredo pasta.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Pasta Salad

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

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

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

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

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

Summer Pasta Salad With Fresh Peaches

A pasta salad with peaches, corn and tomatoes in a serving bowl. — Summer Pasta Salad With Fresh Peaches. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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

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