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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    18 Delicious Pasta Salads That Are Perfect for Summer Picnics

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 23, 2025, updated May 15, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Pasta salads are a fantastic choice for summer picnics, bringing together fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors. With so many variations, you can mix and match your favorite veggies, proteins, and dressings to create a dish that everyone will enjoy. Here are 18 delicious pasta salad ideas that are sure to brighten up your outdoor gatherings.

    Vegetable Pasta Salad

    Vegetable Pasta Salad Recipe.
    Photo credit: The Gracious Pantry.

    This vegetable pasta salad is great for a light vegan or vegetarian meal, and it also works well as a side dish alongside grilled meats. It's a colorful and refreshing option that everyone will enjoy at summer gatherings.

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    Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad

    Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Two Pink Peonies.

    This Italian bow tie pasta salad is a simple and affordable dish that's great for gatherings. It's quick to prepare and a fantastic way to use up leftover ham.

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    Orrechiette Pasta Salad

    Orecchiette Pasta Salad Recipe.
    Photo credit: The Gracious Pantry.

    Orecchiette Pasta Salad is a vibrant mix of vegetables and herbs that works perfectly as a summer side dish. It's a great choice for your next barbecue or potluck.

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    Cobb Pasta Salad

    Cobb pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Suburban Simplicity.

    This is a fun twist on the classic Cobb Salad, adding pasta to the mix. With ingredients like crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, creamy avocado, and blue cheese dressing, it comes together in under 30 minutes.

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    Greek Pasta Salad

    Greek pasta salad.
    Photo credit:

    This Greek pasta salad is full of fresh veggies and has a delicious dressing that brings everything together. It's a light and refreshing dish that's perfect for summer gatherings.

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    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Get on my Plate.

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is perfect for a simple family meal or a hit at gatherings. It combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, pasta, and fresh veggies all mixed together in a creamy ranch dressing for a satisfying salad.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: The Gracious Pantry.

    As the weather warms up, this pasta salad is a perfect option for lunch or dinner. It's delicious and impressive enough to share with friends at summer gatherings.

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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 with only 15 minutes of hands-on time. It's loaded with veggies and flavor, and you can enjoy it hot or cold, whether you use homemade or store-bought pesto.

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    BBQ Pasta Salad

    BBQ Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

    This pasta salad is perfect for BBQ fans. It combines elbow noodles, corn, tomatoes, scallions, and BBQ tofu crumbles in a creamy dressing for a tasty twist.

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    Summer Pasta Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing

    Summer Pasta Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing.
    Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

    This pasta salad combines fresh vegetables with a creamy tahini dressing, making it a refreshing dish for summer gatherings. With the addition of parsley and basil, it’s a flavorful option that everyone will enjoy.

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    Bruschetta Pasta Salad

    Bruschetta Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Walder Wellness.

    This cold bruschetta pasta salad features juicy cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, and fresh basil. Topped with homemade sourdough breadcrumbs, it adds a nice crunch and flavor, making it a great choice for dinner parties, barbecues, or a packed lunch.

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    Salmon Asparagus Pasta Salad

    SALMON ASPARAGUS PASTA SALAD.
    Photo credit: Maple + Mango.

    This pasta salad is packed with fresh asparagus, salmon, hard-boiled eggs, and pasta, all mixed in a creamy lemon dill dressing. It's simple to prepare and perfect for summer gatherings.

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    Italian Pasta Salad

    Italian Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Rich and Delish.

    This Italian pasta salad features fresh veggies, mozzarella balls, and salami, all tossed together with a tasty homemade dressing. It's a great dish to serve at summer gatherings.

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    Mediterranean Pizza Pasta Salad

    Mediterranean Pizza Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: A Taste For Travel.

    This pizza pasta salad is a fun twist on the classic dish. It's loaded with pepperoni, fresh vegetables, and a simple vinaigrette, and it comes together in just a few minutes.

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    Roasted Beet Pasta Salad

    Roasted Beet Pasta Salad with Basil Dressing.
    Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

    This pasta salad offers a fresh twist on the traditional recipe. It's easy to prepare and works great as a side dish for summer gatherings.

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    Caprese Pasta Salad

    Caprese pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Leftovers Then Breakfast.

    This summer salad is simple to make and packed with fresh ingredients. The tangy balsamic dressing brings together juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and soft pasta, making it a great side for any potluck or BBQ.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

    A bowl of chicken pesto pasta salad.
    Photo Credit: Frozen Bananas.

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad is quick to prepare and packed with flavor. You can whip it up in less than 20 minutes, making it perfect for summer gatherings.

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    Tuna Pasta Salad

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe.
    Photo credit: The Gracious Pantry.

    This tasty tuna and pasta dish is perfect for family dinners. It's so good, you'll want to go back for seconds.

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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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