Pasta salad basically counts as its own food group during the summer. It’s the perfect thing to turn to when you need an easy side dish to bring to a gathering, a no-heat lunch you can take into the office, or a simple dinner that won’t heat up your house. Pasta salad recipes are so versatile, and there are so many different variations that you could eat it all summer long without getting sick of it (I know I do). Plus, the only actual cooking you typically need to do is boiling some pasta, and the rest comes together by simply chopping some ingredients and tossing them in a bowl. If you load it up with enough mix-ins, pasta salad can totally qualify as a meal by itself, but you could also add in some grilled chicken, salami, chickpeas, or even hard-boiled eggs for some extra protein.
To the girlies who are fully on board with the idea of a salad that’s mostly just carbs, this recipe roundup is for you. Keep scrolling for our best tips for making pasta salad that tastes as good as it looks, plus some delicious pasta salad recipes that are guaranteed to be a hit at your next gathering.
How to make the best pasta salad
Repeat after me: Pasta salad does not have to be bland. If your recipes never quite turn out as delicious as you were hoping, these pasta salad tips can help. First, make sure to generously salt the water when cooking the pasta. Once the water reaches a boil, add about 1-1.5 tablespoons of salt for every 4 quarts of water (generally the amount you need to boil a pound of pasta). This ensures your pasta starts out well-seasoned and flavorful, instead of relying on the dressing and add-ins to do all the heavy lifting.
Next, be careful not to overcook the pasta. Mushy, overdone noodles are a sure-fire way to ruin an otherwise good pasta salad recipe. Aim to cook the pasta until it’s al dente, AKA tender but still slightly firm when you bite into it. After it’s cooked to your liking, remove the pasta from the heat and rinse it under cold water to quickly stop the cooking process. This also helps prevent the noodles from sticking together in one big clump.
My secret for the best-tasting pasta salad? Reserve some extra dressing to add in right before serving. If you make your pasta salad ahead of time, the pasta will soak up the dressing as it sits in the fridge, which means it could be dry and lacking in flavor by the time you’re ready to serve it. Keep some extra dressing on hand so you can add more as needed to bring it back to life. If you’re making your own homemade dressing, you may even want to double the recipe so you can be sure you’ll have enough.
And finally, if you plan on incorporating mix-ins like fresh herbs or soft cheeses, wait to add those until right before serving. These delicate ingredients can turn soggy if left sitting in the dressing for too long, so it’s best to hold off on mixing them in until the very end.
20 pasta salad recipes to try this summer
These pasta salad recipes are tasty enough to make on repeat all summer long:
1. Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
This chicken bacon ranch pasta salad is basically a Midwesterner’s dream come true (speaking from experience here). It’s loaded up with grilled chicken, crumbled bacon, fresh summer produce, and a yummy Greek yogurt ranch, which is made with your favorite store-bought dressing to save time.
2. Peach, Tomato & Corn Arugula Pasta Salad
Pick up all the ingredients for this summery pasta salad recipe the next time you head to the farmers market. Made with fresh peaches, cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, and arugula, it’s a tasty way to enjoy all of this season’s best produce.
3. Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
If you love the creamy, smoky flavors of Mexican street corn, you need to try this pasta salad recipe. It’s surprisingly easy to throw together and mostly requires ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.
4. Easy Italian Pasta Salad
This Italian-inspired pasta salad recipe is the perfect mix of bright, zesty, and savory flavors. Pro tip: Make a double batch of the dressing if you’re prepping this recipe ahead. The pasta will soak up the dressing as it sits in the fridge, so you’ll want extra to drizzle on later.
5. 30 Minute BLT Pasta Salad
This recipe takes all the fresh, summery flavors of a BLT sandwich and turns it into a yummy pasta salad that’s perfect for serving at a summer cookout. If you want to make it ahead of time, wait to add the bacon and croutons until right before serving.
6. Caprese Pasta Salad
Adding pasta might just be the only way to improve upon a classic caprese salad. These fresh flavors work so well in a pasta salad, and the recipe couldn’t be simpler to throw together. Add a drizzle of balsamic glaze at the end for the perfect cherry on top.
7. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
A chicken Caesar salad but with extra carbs? Yes please. This Caesar pasta salad recipe works best when you throw everything together right before serving. That way, the lettuce and croutons won’t get soggy before you’re ready to eat.
8. Antipasto Salad
This antipasto salad is the perfect way to clear out your fridge and pantry. The recipe suggests using classic Italian ingredients like provolone cheese, olives, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, pepperoncini, salami, and prosciutto. But if you’d rather skip an ingredient or two and add in something else, the results will still be delicious.
9. Creamy Vegan Pasta Salad
Made with broccoli, tomatoes, red pepper, black olives, and pickled red onions, this pasta salad is full of flavor. While the recipe offers instructions for a vegan and gluten-free version, you could also make it with regular mayo and pasta with similarly delicious results.
10. Lemon Herb Pasta Salad
This pasta salad recipe is made with simple ingredients but packs in tons of bright, fresh flavor. For the best results, let the chickpeas marinate overnight before you toss everything together so the flavors have a chance to really soak in.
11. Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
This tortellini pasta salad recipe requires just five ingredients that you can easily find at the grocery store. Simply cook your pasta and toss it with the remaining ingredients for a crowd-pleasing dish that’s ready in just 10 minutes.
12. Creamy Italian Pasta Salad
This creamy pasta salad is full of classic Italian flavors and makes a delicious side for grilling. It keeps well in the fridge for up to 2-3 days, so it’s a great dish to make ahead.
13. Greek Pasta Salad
The combination of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, Kalamata olives, and feta is perfect on its own, but the addition of pasta makes it even more hearty and filling. It makes a beautifully colorful side dish that’s bursting with flavor.
14. Artichoke Basil and Corn Pasta Salad
Made with artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, and a basil vinaigrette, this pasta salad recipe is a slightly more elevated option that would be perfect to serve at a summer dinner party.
15. Tuna Pasta Salad
For an easy, no-heat lunch idea, try this tuna pasta salad. Made with canned tuna, Mediterranean-inspired veggies, and a Greek yogurt dressing, it’s packed with both protein and flavor.
16. Balsamic Strawberry Pasta Salad
Something about the combination of strawberries, balsamic vinegar, and spinach just works, especially when topped with crumbled feta and walnuts. If I just described your favorite summer salad recipe (same), you need to try this pasta salad version next.
17. Creamy Avocado Pasta Salad
This pasta salad achieves its creamy texture with the help of avocado instead of mayo, making it a lighter, more nutritious option that doesn’t compromise on taste.
18. Vegan Pesto Pasta Salad
Pasta salad recipes are often loaded up with ingredients like mayo and cheese that don’t work with a vegan diet. For a plant-based alternative, try this vegan pasta salad, made with cherry tomatoes, peas, arugula, and a dairy-free walnut pesto sauce.
19. Mexican Pasta Salad
This Mexican pasta salad recipe might just steal the show at your next barbecue. The creamy chipotle lime dressing will have everyone asking for the recipe.
20. Pesto Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is truly one of those recipes where you can just dump everything into a bowl and stir. While you can make your own pesto if you’re feeling fancy, store-bought works too (and saves time).
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.
The post 20 Easy Pasta Salad Recipes That Are Anything But Bland appeared first on The Everygirl.
