The Ultimate Guide to 15 Flavorful Pasta Salads for Any Occasion

Pasta salad is one of the most beloved dishes of an American summer, perfect for picnics, potlucks, and family dinners. While it may seem simple, a well-balanced pasta salad combines textures, flavors, and freshness. Not all pasta salads are created equal—but these 15 recipes will give you perfectly balanced, crowd-pleasing results.

Three Rules for Great Pasta Salad 👇

1. Cook pasta past al dente. Cold pasta firms up in the fridge but remains tender.

2. Play with textures and flavors. Mix crunchy, soft, creamy, tangy, and salty ingredients.

3. Save some dressing for serving. A fresh drizzle revitalizes leftovers and keeps flavors bright.

1. Green Goddess Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 12 oz pasta (rotini or shells)

• 1 ripe avocado

• 1 cup Greek yogurt

• 1 cup fresh herbs (parsley, basil, cilantro)

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 garlic clove

• 1 cup diced cucumber

• 1 cup peas

• 3 green onions, sliced

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta until tender, rinse with cold water, and drain.

2. Blend avocado, Greek yogurt, herbs, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.

3. Toss pasta with cucumbers, peas, and green onions.

4. Add dressing and mix until well coated.

5. Chill 1 hour before serving.

2. Grinder Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 12 oz pasta (penne or rotini)

• 1 cup salami, sliced

• 1 cup ham, diced

• 1 cup provolone, cubed

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ red onion, thinly sliced

• 1 cup shredded lettuce

• ½ cup banana peppers, sliced

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta, rinse with cold water, and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine meats, cheese, vegetables, and banana peppers.

3. Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to make dressing.

4. Toss pasta with mixture and dressing.

5. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

3. Cowboy Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 12 oz farfalle pasta

• 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 cup corn (fresh or frozen)

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ cup diced red bell pepper

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 2 tbsp barbecue sauce

• 1 tsp taco seasoning

• 1 tsp spicy brown mustard

• 1 tsp hot sauce

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta until soft, rinse, and drain.

2. Combine black beans, corn, tomatoes, and bell pepper in a bowl.

3. Mix mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, taco seasoning, mustard, and hot sauce.

4. Toss pasta with vegetables and dressing.

5. Chill 1 hour before serving.

4. Greek Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 12 oz pasta (penne or fusilli)

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1 cup cucumber, diced

• 1 red bell pepper, diced

• ½ cup Kalamata olives, halved

• ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta, rinse, and drain.

2. Combine pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, olives, and feta.

3. Whisk vinegar, olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper.

4. Pour dressing over salad and toss.

5. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

5. Tortellini Salad

Ingredients:

• 12 oz cheese- or spinach-filled tortellini

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ cup diced cucumber

• ½ cup diced red bell pepper

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Fresh basil for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook tortellini according to package instructions, rinse, and drain.

2. Combine pasta, vegetables, and basil.

3. Whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon, salt, and pepper.

4. Toss salad with dressing.

5. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

6. Tuna Macaroni Salad

Ingredients:

• 12 oz elbow macaroni

• 1 can tuna, drained

• ½ cup celery, diced

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook macaroni, rinse, and drain.

2. Mix pasta, tuna, and celery.

3. Combine mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

4. Toss salad with dressing.

5. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

7. Tahini Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 12 oz pasta (rotini or penne)

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ cup diced cucumber

• ½ cup shredded carrots

• ¼ cup tahini

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta, rinse, and drain.

2. Mix pasta with vegetables.

3. Whisk tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.

4. Toss pasta with dressing.

5. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

8. Pasta Salad with Corn, Bacon, and Buttermilk Ranch

Ingredients:

• 12 oz pasta (rotini or shells)

• 1 cup corn kernels

• ½ cup cooked bacon, crumbled

• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ cup shredded cheddar

• ½ cup buttermilk ranch dressing

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta, rinse, and drain.

2. Mix pasta, corn, bacon, tomatoes, and cheddar.

3. Add ranch dressing and toss.

4. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

9. Spinach and Orzo Salad

• 12 oz orzo pasta

• 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped

• ½ cup Kalamata olives, sliced

• ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook orzo, rinse, and drain.

2. Combine pasta, spinach, olives, and feta.

3. Whisk olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.

4. Toss salad with dressing.

5. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

10. Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

• 12 oz elbow macaroni

• ½ cup grated carrot

• ½ cup sweet onion, finely chopped

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• ¼ cup milk

• 1 tsp sugar

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook macaroni until soft, rinse, and drain.

2. Mix pasta, carrot, and onion.

3. Combine mayonnaise, milk, sugar, salt, and pepper.

4. Toss salad with dressing.

5. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

11. Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

• 12 oz pasta (fusilli or penne)

• 4 oz smoked salmon, chopped

• ½ cup celery, diced

• ½ cup bell pepper, diced

• ¼ cup mayonnaise

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta, rinse, and drain.

2. Combine pasta, salmon, celery, and bell pepper.

3. Mix mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

4. Toss salad with dressing.

5. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

12. 5-Ingredient Italian Pasta Salad

• 12 oz pasta (rotini)

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1 cup mozzarella cubes

• ½ cup basil leaves, chopped

• ¼ cup Italian dressing

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta, rinse, and drain.

2. Combine pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.

3. Toss with Italian dressing.

4. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

13. Halloumi Pasta Salad

• 12 oz pasta (penne or fusilli)

• 6 oz halloumi, cubed and seared

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ cup cucumber, diced

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta, rinse, and drain.

2. Sear halloumi cubes until golden.

3. Combine pasta, halloumi, tomatoes, and cucumber.

4. Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

5. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

14. Shrimp, Bacon, and Avocado Pasta Salad

• 12 oz pasta (rotini or shells)

• 8 oz cooked shrimp

• ½ cup cooked bacon, crumbled

• 1 avocado, diced

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta, rinse, and drain.

2. Combine pasta, shrimp, bacon, and avocado.

3. Whisk olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.

4. Toss salad with dressing.

5. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

15. Pesto Pasta Salad

• 12 oz pasta (fusilli or penne)

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ cup peas

• ¼ cup pesto

• 2 tbsp olive tapenade

• ¼ cup toasted nuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta, rinse, and drain.

2. Combine pasta, tomatoes, peas, nuts, and tapenade.

3. Toss with pesto until evenly coated.

4. Chill 30 minutes before serving.