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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    12 Creative Pasta Salads You’ll Be Making All Summer Long

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on July 2, 2025, updated May 27, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Pasta salads are the perfect dish for summer gatherings, offering a refreshing and satisfying option that everyone can enjoy. With a variety of ingredients and flavors, these 12 creative recipes will keep your meals exciting and delicious all season long. From classic combinations to unique twists, there's a pasta salad here for every occasion.

    Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

    Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad.
    Photo Credit: Salads for Lunch.

    Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad is a simple and healthy meal option. It's loaded with delicious Asian flavors and has plenty of chicken to keep you satisfied. This dish is great for a quick lunch or dinner, especially on warm days. The combination of pasta and fresh ingredients makes it refreshing and enjoyable. It's a perfect choice for anyone looking for a tasty and nutritious salad.

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    Red Pesto Pasta Salad with Veggies

    Red pesto pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This red pesto pasta is quick to prepare, taking less than 30 minutes from start to finish. With only 15 minutes of actual prep and cooking time, it’s a simple dish that’s full of vegetables and flavor. You can use either homemade or store-bought pesto, making it flexible for your needs. It’s just as tasty served cold as it is warm, making it a versatile option. This is a great choice for a summer meal.

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    Antipasto Pasta Salad

    Antipasto Pasta Salad.
    Photo Credit: Sense and Edibility.

    Antipasto Pasta Salad combines perfectly cooked pasta with a tangy red wine vinaigrette. It features a mix of cured meats, cheeses, and fresh, crunchy vegetables. Pickled condiments add an extra layer of flavor to this dish. This salad is filling enough to be a meal on its own. It's a great option for summer gatherings or quick weeknight dinners.

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    Crab Pasta Salad

    Crab Pasta Salad.

    This Crab Pasta Salad recipe is the perfect salad for a budget friendly meal with luxury taste. It’s quick, easy and full of summer seafood flavor.

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    Greek Pasta Salad

    Greek Pasta Salad.
    Photo Credit: I Heart Naptime.

    This Greek pasta salad features a tangy red wine vinegar dressing and is simple to prepare in advance for gatherings. It combines pasta, fresh vegetables, and feta cheese for a refreshing dish. Perfect as a side for summer barbecues or picnics, it’s a crowd-pleaser. You can easily whip it up and serve it chilled. This salad is a great addition to any summer meal.

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    Veggie Loaded Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

    Pasta salad with veggies and Italian dressing.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This pasta salad is quick to prepare, taking under 30 minutes to whip up. It's packed with fresh vegetables, making it a filling side dish or a straightforward option for meal prep. The Italian dressing adds a nice flavor that brings everything together. Perfect for summer gatherings or just a light meal at home. Enjoy this refreshing dish any day of the week!

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    Cowboy Pasta Salad

    Cowboy Pasta Salad.
    Photo Credit: Maria's Mixing Bowl.

    Cowboy Pasta Salad combines hearty beef, beans, and a sweet and tangy sauce that we all enjoy in cowboy beans. This dish mixes everything together with bowtie pasta, creating a unique and tasty salad. It's a fun twist on traditional pasta salads, bringing in bold flavors that stand out. Perfect for summer gatherings or a quick meal, this salad is sure to please. Enjoy a satisfying and filling dish that’s easy to prepare.

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    Italian Pasta Salad with Pepperoni

    Italian Pasta Salad with Pepperoni.
    Photo Credit: Three Olives Branch.

    This Italian Pasta Salad with Pepperoni is a simple dish that’s great for summer gatherings. It’s loaded with tasty ingredients like olives, pepperoncini, onion, and pepperoni, all mixed together. The salad is dressed in a light and creamy sauce that brings everything together. This is a good side dish for BBQs or any warm-weather meal. Enjoy it as a refreshing option that everyone will love.

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    Lentil Pesto Pasta Salad

    Lentil Pesto Pasta Salad.
    Photo Credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

    Lentil pesto pasta salad is full of flavor and offers a healthy dose of fiber, protein, and iron thanks to the lentils. It's a perfect dish to bring to summer barbecues. This salad is not only tasty but also filling, making it a great choice for warm weather gatherings. With its vibrant ingredients, it adds a nice touch to any meal. Enjoy this refreshing salad as a side or a light main dish.

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    Pasta with Peas

    Pasta with Peas.

    Pasta with peas is a delicious 20-minute dish with pesto pasta and fresh veggies. Enjoy it warm or chilled as a refreshing rotini pea pasta salad!

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    Taco Pasta Salad

    Taco Pasta Salad.
    Photo Credit: The Urben Life.

    This taco pasta salad is a fun and filling dish that combines a variety of tasty ingredients. It features seasoned ground beef, soft pinto beans, and juicy cherry tomatoes, all mixed together with colorful green bell pepper and sweet corn. You’ll also find briny black olives, sharp white onion, and crunchy lettuce adding to the texture and flavor. The rotini pasta ties everything together, making it hearty and satisfying. Toss it all with a creamy taco sauce for a delicious meal that everyone will enjoy.

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    Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with Crunchy Croutons

    Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with Crunchy Croutons.
    Photo Credit: Cook Eat Live Love.

    Caesar salad gets a fun twist in this pasta salad version. It’s creamy and tangy, bringing all the classic Caesar flavors together with tender pasta for a filling dish. This is a great option for summer gatherings, quick lunches, or as a side for dinner. It combines the best of both worlds, making it a hit with everyone. Enjoy this refreshing and satisfying salad anytime you want something light and delicious.

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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