10+ Pasta Salad Recipes for Every Occasion

Pasta salads are a favorite for many because they are easy to make and full of flavor. You can create a delicious pasta salad that is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or just a light meal at home.

With a variety of ingredients and dressings, you can customize your dish to match your taste.

Whether you prefer a classic Italian style or a more modern twist, there is a pasta salad recipe for everyone. Pasta salads are not only tasty but also a great way to include fresh vegetables in your diet.

You’ll find that these recipes are quick to prepare, making them an excellent choice for busy schedules.

1) Classic Italian Pasta Salad

Classic Italian Pasta Salad is a tasty and refreshing dish. It combines rotini pasta with fresh vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers, and olives. The addition of mozzarella cheese makes it even better.

You can make this salad ahead of time for picnics or parties. Just toss everything in a zesty homemade Italian dressing for a burst of flavor.

Feel free to add pepperoni or salami for an extra kick. This dish is great as a side or light meal.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces rotini pasta
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup bell peppers, chopped
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
• 1/2 cup olives, sliced
• 1/4 cup Italian dressing
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and cool.
2. In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, bell peppers, mozzarella, and olives.
3. Pour in the Italian dressing. Toss gently to coat.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Chill in the refrigerator before serving.

2) Greek Pasta Salad with Feta

Greek pasta salad with feta is a delicious and refreshing dish. It combines pasta with fresh vegetables and tangy feta cheese, making it a great side or main dish.

Start by cooking your favorite pasta until it’s al dente. Once cooked, let it cool before mixing in colorful veggies.

Use tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and olives for that classic Greek flavor. Add crumbled feta cheese for creaminess and a burst of flavor.

Drizzle olive oil and a splash of lemon juice to tie everything together.

This salad is perfect for picnics or quick lunches. You can make it ahead of time and enjoy it cold.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces pasta (e.g., penne or rotini)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 cup olives, pitted and sliced
• 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions, then drain and cool.
2. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and olives.
3. Add crumbled feta cheese.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
5. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently.

3) Creamy Macaroni Salad

Creamy macaroni salad is a delicious and easy dish that everyone loves. It’s perfect for picnics, barbecues, or as a side dish for any meal. You can customize it with your favorite vegetables and seasonings.

To make this salad, you’ll need macaroni pasta, which becomes tender and chewy when cooked. The creamy dressing typically includes mayonnaise and sour cream for a rich flavor.

You can also add ingredients like diced celery, bell peppers, and onions for crunch. This adds color and nutrients to your dish.

Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup diced celery
• 1/4 cup diced bell pepper
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and let it cool.
2. In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise and sour cream.
3. Add the cooled macaroni and chopped vegetables, then stir well.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

4) Zesty Rotini Veggie Salad

This Zesty Rotini Veggie Salad is bright and colorful, perfect for a picnic or potluck. With fresh veggies and a tangy dressing, it is both tasty and light.

You will need tri-color rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, olives, and feta cheese. The combination brings flavor and fun to your meal.

Toss the pasta with Italian dressing for a zesty kick. You can adjust the dressing amount based on your taste. This salad is best when chilled, allowing the flavors to blend.

Ingredients

• 8 oz tri-color rotini pasta
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup diced cucumbers
• 1 cup diced bell peppers
• 1/2 cup sliced olives
• 1/2 cup feta cheese
• 1/2 cup Italian dressing

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
2. In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, olives, and feta cheese.
3. Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and mix well.
4. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

5) Pesto Tortellini Salad

Pesto tortellini salad is a quick and delicious option for lunch or dinner. It combines cheese tortellini with fresh ingredients for a tasty meal. You can enjoy it warm or chilled, making it perfect for any occasion.

To make this salad, you’ll need cheese tortellini, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and pesto. Optional add-ins like artichokes or sun-dried tomatoes work well too. It’s simple to whip up and full of flavor.

Ingredients:

• 10 ounces cheese tortellini
• ½ pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 6 ounces bocconcini mozzarella cheese balls, halved
• ½ cup pesto
• Optional: artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook the cheese tortellini according to package instructions.
2. Drain and rinse under cold water.
3. In a large bowl, combine the tortellini, tomatoes, mozzarella, and pesto.
4. Toss gently to mix everything well.
5. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator before serving.

6) Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Mediterranean Orzo Salad is a fresh and flavorful dish. It combines orzo pasta with crunchy vegetables, chickpeas, feta cheese, and olives. The light lemon dressing ties everything together.

This salad is perfect for meal prep and can be served as a side or a main dish. It’s quick to make and packs a punch of Greek flavors.

Ingredients

• 1 cup orzo pasta
• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup diced cucumbers
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup pitted olives, sliced
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook orzo according to package instructions; drain and rinse under cold water.
2. In a large bowl, combine orzo, chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, olives, and parsley.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
4. Pour dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
5. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!

7) Spicy Thai Pasta Salad

Spicy Thai Pasta Salad is a flavorful dish that combines pasta with fresh veggies and a zesty dressing. It’s perfect for warm days or a barbecue. The fun part is that you can adjust the spice level to suit your taste.

You will need bowtie pasta, which adds a nice shape. Mixing in veggies like bell peppers and carrots makes it colorful. A mix of crushed red pepper flakes adds heat for those who love spice.

To dress the salad, combine sesame oil, honey, and chili sauce. This gives it a unique Thai flavor that stands out. Enjoy it cold, and it even tastes better the next day!

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces bowtie pasta
• 1 to 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup sesame oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• Fresh veggies (bell peppers, carrots, etc.)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook the bowtie pasta according to package instructions.
2. Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water.
3. In a large bowl, mix the oils, honey, and pepper flakes.
4. Add the cooled pasta and veggies; toss everything together.
5. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

8) Caprese Pasta Salad

Caprese Pasta Salad is a refreshing dish that blends the classic flavors of a Caprese salad with pasta. You can easily make this salad for a quick meal or a side dish at gatherings.

Start by cooking your favorite pasta, such as rotini or penne. Once cooked, mix it with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fragrant basil.

Dress it with a good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar for extra flavor. This salad is great served chilled or at room temperature.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces pasta (rotini or penne)
• 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup fresh mozzarella, cubed
• 1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and cool.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
4. Toss gently to mix. Add salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve immediately or chill before serving.

9) Southwestern Black Bean Pasta Salad

Southwestern Black Bean Pasta Salad is a tasty and colorful dish. It combines pasta with black beans, fresh veggies, and a zesty dressing. This salad is perfect for parties or a light meal.

You will need rotini pasta, corn, black beans, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, and cilantro for a fresh touch. The dressing usually includes lime juice and chili powder for added flavor.

This dish is easy to prepare and can be made ahead of time. Serve it cold or at room temperature for the best taste. Everyone will love the mix of textures and flavors!

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces rotini pasta
• 1 cup corn
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions. Then, drain and cool it.
2. In a large bowl, combine pasta, corn, black beans, bell peppers, tomatoes, and cilantro.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, chili powder, and salt.
4. Then, pour the dressing over the salad and mix well.
5. Chill in the refrigerator before serving. Enjoy!

10) Lemon Herb Chicken Pasta Salad

Lemon Herb Chicken Pasta Salad is a refreshing dish perfect for any meal. It features tender chicken, vibrant lemon, fresh herbs, and your choice of pasta. This salad is not only tasty but also easy to prepare.

Start by cooking your favorite pasta until al dente. Then, grill or bake chicken breasts and slice them into bite-sized pieces. Combine the pasta and chicken in a large bowl.

For the dressing, mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs like basil and parsley. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss everything gently.

This dish is great for lunch, picnics, or dinners. You’ll enjoy the blend of flavors with every bite!

Ingredients:

• ½ pound of pasta (bowtie or rotini)
• 2 chicken breasts
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ⅓ cup lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• Fresh herbs (basil, parsley)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and cool.
2. Grill or bake chicken breasts until fully cooked.
3. Slice chicken into pieces.
4. In a bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, and minced garlic.
5. Combine pasta, chicken, and dressing. Toss to coat.