Summer is here which means bring on the pasta salad! Pasta salad can be enjoyed all year round and is the perfect dish to bring to a potluck, picnic, or party. Or, if you are like me, make a big batch on Sunday and eat it for lunch throughout the week.
Whether you use bowtie, penne, or elbow macaronis, pasta salads are the perfect addition to any menu! They are so many varieties to try.
I have gathered up some of the best pasta salads ever! I dare you not to drool.
But before you dive into the best pasta salad recipes, there’s a few things you need to know about making your pasta salad.
There are many different pastas to choose from. If you start off with the wrong pasta, your pasta salad won’t be the hit of the party! I go in depth on what pastas are perfect for the ultimate pasta salads!
The Best Pasta Salads Ever!
These summer recipes are not only easy to make, but they’re a fun way to shake up your usual meal plan! There are snacks, dinners, and more to complete your summer meal plan.
Creamy Pasta Salad
When it comes to pasta salad, you usually have two choices: creamy or oily. Whether it gets it cream from mayo, greek yogurt, or salad dressing, there’s just something traditional about a creamy pasta salad!
— Creamy Italian Pasta Salad from An Italian in My Kitchen
— Caesar Pasta Salad from Spend with Pennies
— 30 Minute Pasta Salad from Adventures of Mel
— Creamy Asparagus Pasta Salad from Tidy Mom
— Poppy Seed Chicken and Grape Pasta Salad from Cooking Classy
— Creamy Curried Chicken Pasta Salad from Simply Stacie
— Classic Macaroni Salad from Cooking Classy
— Creamy Cucumber Pasta Salad from Spend with Pennies
Oil Based Pasta Salad
For an even lighter dish, these pasta salads use oils like olive oil and balsamic vinegar to hold the salad together.
— Southwestern Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette Dressing from Kylee Cooks
— Italian Pasta Salad with Zesty Dressing from The Salty Side Dish
— Tri Colored Pasta Salad from Courtney’s Sweets
— Tuscan Pasta Salad from The Recipe Critic
— Lemon Balsamic Summer Pasta Salad from Kitchen Cat
— Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad from Mostly Homemade Mom
Pasta Salad with Bacon
Everything’s better with bacon….including pasta salad! Don’t skimp on the bacon. Bring it on!
— Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad from The Novice Chef
— Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with Bacon and Egg from The Wheary Chef
— Easy Bacon Pea Pasta Salad from Simply Stacie
— Bacon Bowtie Pasta Salad from Thrify Jinxy
— Creamy Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad from Daily Dish Recipes
Pesto Pasta Salads
Another one of my favorite ways to dress pasta salad is with pesto! It’s super simple to make at home and it will taste so fresh.
You can learn how to make your own homemade basil pesto sauce HERE.
— Pesto Pea Pasta Salad from Today’s Creative Life
— Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad from Serena Bakes Simply from Scratch
— Pesto Pasta Salad from The Bewitchin’ Kitchen
— Pesto Pasta Salad with Artichokes, Prosciutto, and Mozzarella from All She Cooks
— Gluten and Dairy Free Pesto Pasta Salad with Shrimp from Every Day Maven
