21 Cold Summer Pasta Salads For Easy Meals All Season Long
These cold pasta salad recipes are the ultimate make-ahead food for warm weather.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Cold pasta salad is a refreshing dish that always deserves a spot in our picnic spreads. You can always bet there will be a cool pasta salad on a potluck side dish lineup. With colorful summer veggies and bright vinaigrettes, these pasta salad recipes will be a hit with your family. Mix and match these fresh, vibrant pasta salad recipes with any summer chicken, beef, pork, or seafood dish. These recipes are the ultimate make-ahead food for warm weather. Pop them in the fridge for when your hungry summertime crowd starts calling.
Many are easy full meals thanks to proteins like chicken or tuna, while others are prime-time sides for seasonal entrees like juicy burgers and fall-off-the-bone ribs. With so many tasty options, you're sure to find a new family favorite as you try these summer pasta salad recipes all summer long.
Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad
Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
Two Southern favorites collide in one out-of-this-world pasta salad. There's a reason our Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad is one of the most popular Southern Living recipes of all time.
Related: This Is The Most Searched BBQ Side Dish In The South
Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Clair Spollen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Pickled shrimp is transformed from an appetizer to a filling meal with the addition of pasta and snap peas. Enjoy this filling dish for a simple summertime dinner or easy on-the-go lunch.
Related: This Is The Most Searched Pasta Salad In The South
Tuna Pasta Salad
This fresh spin on fan-favorite tuna noodle casserole will take you through the warm-weather season. Vinaigrette replaces mayonnaise to brighten up this classic salad that’s filled with fresh vegetables and flavor.
Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
You'll hardly come across a Southern summer gathering without pasta salad or deviled eggs present, so we decided to combine the two classics into a fan-favorite dish that's the best of both worlds.
Summer Orzo Salad
Add leafy greens like arugula to turn this into a main dish-worthy salad. Customize the recipe with additions like grilled steak or charred corn, and top with pistachios or pine nuts for crunch.
BLT Pasta Salad
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Inspired by the classic Southern sandwich, this throw together bowl of goodness has all the same flavors of a BLT with bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes, and sticks together with trusty mayo. It's a breeze to make-ahead, but wait to add the toasted panko and scallions until ready to serve.
Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist Shell Royster
What’s a summer get-together without this creamy classic? This easy make-ahead recipe is similar to the old-school layered salads you remember from Grandma's house.
Broccoli Pesto Pasta
This vibrant pasta salad features a pesto sauce with a broccoli base. Add frozen peas for more texture. This dish makes a great cold pasta salad, but if you can’t wait for it to chill, it can also be eaten warm out of the skillet.
Easiest-Ever Pasta Salad
FRED HARDY, FOOD STYLIST: MARGARET MONROE DICKEY, PROP STYLIST: CALEB CLARKE
All you need is a handful of fresh ingredients and a few pantry staples, like Italian dressing, to toss together this bright pasta salad. For more protein, add rotisserie chicken to the olive, tomato, salami, artichoke, pepper, and mozzarella mixture.
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad
JENNIFER CAUSEY; FOOD STYLING: MELISSA GRAY
Sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, basil, and parmesan pack this salad with a unique flavor blend. The pasta comes together with the sun-dried tomato-based sauce and is topped with extra fresh herbs and feta cheese to serve.
Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad
Punch up this classic pairing of watermelon and feta with peppery watercress or arugula. Top with an easy Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette that will be your new go-to.
Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes
Add zing to your salads with fresh dill, or swap it for basil, mint, or parsley. For pasta, try using whole wheat for its earthy, toothsome quality; any kind will do.
Three-Bean Pasta Salad
Pasta salad, meet three-bean salad. It's a summertime match made in heaven that's pulled together with a lemony vinaigrette for a little zing.
Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Dressing
This springy salad is the furthest thing from a sad desk lunch. With three cups of veggies packed in, this is a salad you’ll look forward to and feel good about.
Related: Why I'll Never Get Tired Of This Orzo Recipe
Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas
This is one of our favorite pasta salad creations, and you'll want to make it all summer long. Use whatever fresh herbs you have on hand to make the bright lemon vinaigrette.
Field Pea and Pasta Salad
You don't have to use cute little jars for serving, but we think it certainly makes a mighty enticing presentation. Add rotisserie chicken to make this veggie-filled salad a perfect summer meal.
Farmers' Market Pasta Salad
HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ
All your fresh summer favorites—heirloom tomatoes, corn, zucchini, and peaches—make an appearance in this colorful recipe. Substitute cheese-filled tortellini for the penne for a heartier dish.
Seafood Pasta Salad
This seafood dish can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to two days so it's ready to go. With Creole mustard and seasoning, there's no shortage of flavor.
Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
Don't even think about making just one batch of this craveable pasta salad recipe. After the first bite, your crowd will be declaring it a new fan favorite.
Tortelloni-and-Grilled Vegetable Salad
This versatile pasta pairs with any grilled vegetable, so use what you have on hand or what looks best at the farmers' market. Refrigerated cheese-and-spinach tortelloni makes for a quick, filling salad.
Summer Tortellini Salad
Dress up store-bought tortellini with olives, peppers, onion, herbs, and a simple vinaigrette. Pre-cooked chicken, or even tuna, makes this a quick and easy dinner.
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Read the original article on Southern Living.