Best Pasta Salads – 4 Ways – these recipes are perfect for taking along to summer potlucks, picnics and parties. Great for Sunday Meal Prep as well. Plus video.
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Summer is just around the corner and that means it’s high time for the season of picnics, barbecues and patio parties.
Pasta salads are always the perfect side dish to bring along. They are simple to make, travel well and are so easy to customize.
Plus you can make them ahead of time and they are usually one of the first things to disappear at a party or potluck.
I love that any leftovers are great to pack along in school lunchboxes or work lunch bowls for the week too. This is the lunch container I use.
Or you can even make them for Sunday meal prep!
It’s such a great way to use up any leftover meat, cheese and vegetables and tossing them together with some cold pasta and dressing.
So if you’re looking at what to bring to your next grill out, these 4 classic Pasta Salads are sure to be a hit!
(And another favorite is this Italian Pasta Salad)
Caprese Pasta Salad (RECIPE HERE) – an older recipe (that was just updated) and shared on my site a few years ago and is perfect for Caprese fans.
- Small pasta shells (Ditalini or Orecchiette)
- Grape/Cherry tomatoes
- Fresh Mozzarella cheese
- Basil
- Homemade or your favorite Balsamic Dressing
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad (Recipe HERE) – this is my husband’s all time favorite and is another older recipe from a few years ago.
- Medium pasta shells (Farfalle, rotini or penne)
- Romaine lettuce
- Grape/Cherry tomatoes
- Green onions
- Basil
- Cooked chicken (grilled or rotisserie would work great)
- Parmesan cheese
- Croutons
- Homemade or your favorite Caesar Dressing
Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad (Recipe HERE or scroll to the BOTTOM)
- Tortellini
- Grape/Cherry tomatoes
- Sliced radishes
- Black olives
- Feta
- Basil
- Homemade or your favorite Greek Dressing
Broccoli Pasta Salad (Recipe HERE or at the BOTTOM)
- Medium pasta shells (Farfalle, rotini or penne)
- Red onions
- Cucumber
- Radishes
- Feta
- Pecans
- Dried Cranberries
- Homemade or your favorite Poppyseed or Ranch dressing
4 ways to make the best pasta salad ever! These recipes are perfect for taking along to summer potlucks, picnics, and parties. Great for Sunday Meal Prep as well.
Recipe Video
More side dishes:
Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Caesar Salad
Asian Sesame Steak Fajita Salad
Monica -
When I think summer, I do think of things like pasta salads and lemonade (ice cream, too, of course…). What great variety here. You got me wanting to sit out and have a picnic or something. Then I’d be so happy to have some of this pasta salad just stashed away in the fridge for snacking or dinner. : ) Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend!!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice -
Pasta salads are my favorite all year long, but especially in the summer! These four recipes look just perfect, Kelly! I love your video, too! Sounds like the best summer food!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen -
I LOVE a good pasta salad and your caprese version looks incredible. That’s definitely going to happen this summer!
Eva @ Eva Bakes -
We love pasta salads in the summertime. They are perfect to bring to work for lunch the next day! Thanks for sharing these awesome recipes, Kelly!
Angie@Angie's Recipes -
Love these light yet packed full of flavour pasta salads! They make a very satisfying lunch.