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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    19 Easy Pasta Salads That Are Perfect for Meal Prep

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 27, 2025, updated May 6, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Pasta salads are a fantastic option for meal prep, offering a variety of flavors and textures that can be enjoyed throughout the week. They are easy to make, can be customized with your favorite ingredients, and hold up well in the fridge. Here are 19 simple pasta salad recipes that are perfect for quick lunches or light dinners.

    Roasted Garlic Blue Cheese Pasta Salad

    Roasted Garlic Blue Cheese Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Pups with Chopsticks.

    This creamy pasta salad combines fresh vegetables with a rich roasted garlic and miso dressing. If blue cheese isn't your thing, you can leave it out and still enjoy the delicious umami from the miso.

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    Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

    Pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Nutmeg and Vinegar.

    This chicken pesto pasta salad is great for warm weather. It's a healthy and easy dish that you can whip up quickly, making it ideal for a BBQ.

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    Antipasti Pasta Salad

    Antipasti Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: An Affair From the Heart.

    This pasta salad is a great side dish for any meal. It's easy to whip up in under 30 minutes and features delicious ingredients like salami, pepperoni, grape tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese, making it perfect for gatherings or casual dinners.

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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 spring and summer gatherings.

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    Cobb Pasta Salad

    Cobb pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Suburban Simplicity.

    This is a tasty twist on the classic Cobb Salad. It combines pasta with crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, chicken, chopped eggs, creamy avocado, and blue cheese dressing, all ready in under 30 minutes.

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    Avocado Pasta Salad

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

    This avocado pasta salad is delicious and simple to prepare. It's a great side dish for summer gatherings or a quick meal on its own.

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    Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

    chicken pesto pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Barley & Sage.

    This chicken pesto pasta salad is a quick and easy meal that you can whip up in under 20 minutes. It's fresh and light, featuring creamy pesto, grilled chicken, spinach, and tomatoes, making it a great choice for lunch or dinner.

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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 with Italian dressing is quick to prepare and packed with fresh vegetables. It's a great option for a side dish or for meal prep.

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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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    Tuna Pasta Salad

    Tuna pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Homemade Interest.

    Tuna pasta salad is full of fresh veggies and flavors. This dish skips the mayo, making it a light and healthy option that's great for sharing.

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    Mushroom Sweet Corn Pasta

    Mushroom Sweet Corn Pasta.
    Photo credit: Delightful Plate.

    Mushroom sweet corn pasta combines earthy mushrooms and charred corn in a light cream sauce. It's a quick and satisfying meatless meal that you can whip up in just half an hour.

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    Orzo Pesto Salad

    Orzo pesto salad.
    Photo credit: Healthfull Blondie.

    Orzo pesto salad is packed with veggies and fresh mozzarella, all tossed in a delicious nut-free basil pesto. It's a great choice for lunch, dinner, or as a side at any spring or summer get-together.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad on a white dish.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This pasta salad is packed with shredded rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, diced cheddar, and a generous amount of creamy homemade ranch dressing. It's sure to be a hit at your next backyard barbecue.

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    Grilled Veggie Pasta

    Grilled veggie pasta.
    Photo credit: Healing Tomato.

    This veggie pasta dish with red lentil noodles is a great choice for a grilled vegetable dinner. Tossed with a light vegan butter sauce and herbs, it’s an easy meal to whip up on a weeknight.

    Get the recipe

    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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    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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    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 barbecues or potlucks.

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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 tender 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 really tasty. You can whip it up in less than 20 minutes.

    Get the recipe

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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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