Discover quick and Easy Pasta Salad Recipes perfect for any occasion! Fresh, flavorful, and ready in minutes—ideal for potlucks, picnics, or healthy meal prep.

We have 25 Easy Pasta Salad Recipes that are frugal, simple and so tasty. These summer pasta salad recipes are perfect for potlucks, barbecues and more. 

Looking for easy pasta salad recipes that are quick, easy, and full of flavor? Whether you’re preparing a side dish for a summer BBQ, a potluck, or a healthy lunch idea, pasta salad is a go-to favorite.

From classic Italian pasta salad with zesty vinaigrette and red wine vinegar to creamy ranch or Greek-style versions loaded with fresh veggies and cheese, there’s a recipe for every taste.

Learn how How to Season Brown Rice for another easy side dish.

Why We Love These

These easy pasta salad recipes are perfect for meal prep, picnics, or family dinners. Ready in under 30 minutes and made with simple, wholesome ingredients.

You can easily season pasta salad with salt, black pepper, oregano, garlic and more.

1. Easy Pasta Salad

There isn’t anything like fresh veggies in the Summer. This simple pasta salad recipe is loaded with veggies, pepperonis, red onion, Italian salad dressing, and more. Simply toss together in a large bowl and allow to soak into the nooks and crannies of the pasta. Don’t forget to drain the black olives first.

Easy Pasta Salad
The ingredients are simple, and it is easy to use what we have on hand.
Easy Pasta Salad

2. Easy Macaroni Salad

Every good BBQ needs the perfect side dish, and this tasty pasta salad can feed a crowd. This Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe will be your go-to recipe to bring to potlucks, BBQs, parties, and more.

Easy Macaroni Salad
The veggies combined with the cheese make this simple side dish hearty and tasty. We have even sprinkled in a teaspoon of sweet paprika.
Easy Macaroni Salad

3. Caprese Pasta Salad

Everything you love about Caprese Salad gets turned into the best pasta salad. Loaded with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and more for a pasta salad bursting with flavor. It’s great with other types of pasta including penne if you prefer not to use farfalle.

Caprese Pasta Salad
It has all the amazing flavors that you’d expect in a caprese salad, but it’s a lot easier to throw together and transport to a friend’s house!
Caprese Pasta Salad

4. Taco Pasta Salad

Green onions, corn, bell peppers, and more come together for the best pasta salad. Add in a generous portion of Mexican shredded cheese and creamy dressing, and this Taco Pasta Salad is amazing.

Taco Pasta Salad
Seasoned with taco seasonings, this Taco Pasta Salad is the perfect summertime side dish. It’s filled with green onions, bell peppers, corn, Mexican shredded cheese, and is completely delicious!
Taco Pasta Salad

5. Easy Greek Salad

Everyone will love this easy pasta salad full of veggies, feta, and more. This creamy salad recipe is the perfect side dish or quick lunch sure to please the entire family.

Easy Greek Salad
There is just something so delicious and refreshing about the tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and more blended with lots of olives and feta cheese. Yum!
Easy Greek Salad

6. Coleslaw Pasta Salad

This pasta salad combines everything you love about slaw and pasta salad into one fabulous dish. Packed with amazing crunch and flavor, for a great recipe.

Coleslaw Pasta Salad
Ditalini pasta, crunchy coleslaw mix, hard-boiled eggs, and other mix-ins combine with a sweet & creamy mayonnaise-based dressing.
Coleslaw Pasta Salad

7. Classic Italian Pasta Salad

This Italian pasta salad will become a family favorite.  It’s loaded with yummy veggies, pasta, Italian dressing, and more for a budget-friendly recipe.

Classic Italian Pasta Salad
This pasta salad with Italian dressing is a delicious combination of pasta, pepperoni, vegetables, and then tossed in an Italian Dressing
Classic Italian Pasta Salad

8. Grandma’s Macaroni Pasta Salad

This classic macaroni salad recipe is packed with relish, tasty dressing, pasta, and more for the best recipe. This will be the perfect hit at any BBQ this summer.

Grandma’s Macaroni Pasta Salad
Best Macaroni Salad is a classic summer pasta salad loaded with noodles, egg, dill pickle relish, and a flavorful dressing! It’s always a crowd fave!
Grandma’s Macaroni Pasta Salad

9. Avocado Pasta Salad

Rich and creamy, this salad is sure to be a hit with fresh tomatoes, bacon, and lots of avocados. This salad uses avocados in place of mayo for a creamy salad that everyone will go crazy over.

Avocado Pasta Salad
Juicy ripe tomatoes, crisp smoky bacon, fresh cilantro, a hint of green onion, and deliciously creamy diced avocados! The best part is the luscious avocado dressing, which is full of flavor and silky smooth!
Avocado Pasta Salad

10. Mediterranean Pasta Salad 

Lots of zesty lemon herb vinaigrette gives this pasta salad such a light and tangy flavor. Olives, cheese, onion, and more taste amazing with the pasta and delicious dressing.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad 
This Mediterranean Pasta Salad recipe is easy to make and tossed with a yummy lemon-herb vinaigrette.
Mediterranean Pasta Salad 

11. Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

Orzo pasta salad is so easy and versatile. Kalamata olives, feta, and cucumbers blend perfectly with the dressing and wheat orzo in this recipe.

Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
It’s fresh and flavorful, easy to put together, and, like any good picnic salad, perfect for making ahead. Toss it together a few hours to a day before a summer gathering, and it’ll still taste great when you’re ready to eat.
Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

12. Asian Pasta Salad

Lots of crunchy texture and a delicious soy sesame-soy dressing make this pasta salad a crowd pleaser.

Asian Pasta Salad
I'm utilizing the handy-dandy rotisserie chicken to make it super quick and easy to put together. It’s the dressing that sets it apart from other pasta salads and gives it that special Asian flavor.
Asian Pasta Salad

13. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Quick and easy and loaded with chicken, pasta, and more, this hearty and filling pasta salad. The Caesar dressing makes this a wonderful and creamy pasta salad recipe.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad combines your favorite salad with a little bit of pasta to make a family dinner or side dish that’s quick, easy, and so darn tasty.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

14. Lemon, Cucumber, Herb Pasta Salad

Fresh herbs, vibrant lemon, and crisp cucumbers make this pasta salad perfect for Summer cookouts. It is so easy and budget-friendly, as well.

Lemon, Cucumber, Herb Pasta Salad
This lemony pasta salad—packed with fresh cilantro and mint leaves—isn't your everyday side dish.
Lemon, Cucumber, Herb Pasta Salad

15. Bruschetta Pasta Salad

Everything you love about bruschetta is in this delicious pasta salad recipe.  Spinach, tomatoes, and cheese come together with the best dressing, sure to make this a hit.

Bruschetta Pasta Salad
The perfect blend of fresh spinach, basil, and tomatoes tossed with pasta and some vinaigrette comes together to make a tasty salad that you will want to make again and again.
Bruschetta Pasta Salad

16. Cowboy Pasta Salad

If you are looking for a pasta salad that is hearty with a little bit of heat, this is the recipe to try. Lots of bacon, ground beef, cheese, and more will be a hit!

Cowboy Pasta Salad
Bacon, ground beef, cheese, and hot sauce make this Cowboy Pasta Salad recipe a definite crowd pleaser! Perfect for an easy dinner, side dish, backyard BBQs, game day, or any time!
Cowboy Pasta Salad

17. BLT Pasta Salad

Tons of crispy bacon, lettuce, and tomato come together with pasta and the best dressing. You can enjoy your favorite BLT in salad form!

BLT Pasta Salad
Crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato, and rotini pasta are tossed in a creamy homemade dressing to create a flavor combo that you will not be able to get enough of.
BLT Pasta Salad

18. Cracked Out Pea Salad

There is something so classic about green peas in summer pasta salad recipes. Lots of mayo, cheese, bacon, and ranch make the macaroni and green peas taste so flavorful.

Cracked Out Pea Salad
Macaroni and green peas tossed in mayonnaise, cheddar, bacon, and ranch. Seriously delicious!
Cracked Out Pea Salad

19. Broccoli Pasta Salad

This healthy pasta salad is full of crispy broccoli and cheese with just a handful of pasta. It is a great way to get in more veggies!

Broccoli Pasta Salad
I used sweet red bell peppers. sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and a creamy light dressing to finish.
Broccoli Pasta Salad

20. Antipasto Tortellini Pasta Salad

Various cheeses, hearty meat, veggies, and tortellini give this pasta salad such a hearty Italian flavor. This one is sure to be a hit!

Antipasto Tortellini Pasta Salad
This loaded pasta salad recipe features multiple cheeses, meats, olives, peppers, and more to create a hearty summer side dish.
Antipasto Tortellini Pasta Salad

21. Deviled Egg Macaroni Pasta Salad

If you love deviled eggs, give this delicious pasta salad a try.  It is a great way to use leftover hard-boiled eggs.

Deviled Egg Macaroni Pasta Salad
Deviled egg pasta salad with macaroni noodles. Light on the mayo and big on flavor, this dish is a hit at cookouts or summer gatherings!
Deviled Egg Macaroni Pasta Salad

22. Spinach Artichoke Pasta Salad

Creamy spinach and artichoke make a delicious pasta salad. It’s like combining spinach dip with pasta salad for the best side dish.

Spinach Artichoke Pasta Salad
It has all of the same flavors of the beloved dip, but in pasta salad form. The pasta salad is creamy with spinach, artichokes, and Parmesan cheese.
Spinach Artichoke Pasta Salad

23. Chicken Pasta Salad

Sweet and savory, this salad is light but hearty. Lots of chicken and more make this the perfect salad for your next BBQ.

Chicken Pasta Salad
Swapping in a tangy mustard vinaigrette for the usual mayo-based dressing lightens things up a bit, and a healthy serving of seared chicken and crispy bacon makes it satisfying enough to be a meal all on its own.
Chicken Pasta Salad

24. Garden Vegetable Pasta Salad

This is the best salad to use up all those Summer veggies that are so plentiful. Healthy and delicious, this pasta salad is easy and tasty.

Garden Vegetable Pasta Salad
The garden vegetable pasta salad is filled with fresh veggies and citrus vinaigrette. It’s easy to prepare, gets ready in 20 minutes, and is ideal for a nutritious breakfast or lunch.
Garden Vegetable Pasta Salad

25. Thai Pasta Salad

Filling and delicious, this salad packs in 18 grams of protein and a ton of veggies. The recipe here can be thrown together in minutes, and it is so flavorful.

Thai Pasta Salad
Protein-packed Thai Pasta Salad is a healthy 20-minute dinner recipe. It packs in over 18 grams of protein and is full of veggies!
Thai Pasta Salad

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make Pasta Salad in Advance?

Yes, you can absolutely make pasta salad in advance—and it’s often even better that way! Making pasta salad ahead of time allows the flavors to meld together, resulting in a more flavorful dish.

Most pasta salads can be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If you’re using a vinaigrette dressing, you might want to reserve a little extra to add just before serving, as the pasta can absorb some of it overnight. For creamy dressings, stir well before serving to maintain the right consistency.

What Goes With Cold Pasta Salad?

Pasta salad pairs easily with many different dishes. Some of our favorite recipes to serve with pasta salad include Easy Grilled Chicken recipes and Easy Grill Recipes.

Can you freeze pasta salad?

I don’t recommend freezing the pasta salad mixed together.
However, you can freeze the dressing separately and the pasta separately.
This way, you can quickly mix it together.

How long will Pasta Salad keep in the refrigerator?

Typically, pasta salad with mayonnaise lasts 3-5 days in the fridge. Non-based mayonnaise salad lasts about 5-7 days.

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