Pasta salads that double as dinner are perfect when you need recipes that taste as good as they look. From quick weeknight options to dishes fit for a crowd, these ideas are made to be simple and satisfying. You’ll find plenty to keep your table full and your family happy.

Pesto Pasta Salad

A white bowl filled with bowtie pasta mixed with green beans, red bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs—perfect for refreshing pasta salads or a light dinner.
Pesto Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Pesto Pasta Salad is a great addition to your recipe collection. Whether you’re hosting or just looking for something tasty to make, this one fits the bill perfectly.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Pasta Salad

Pizza Pasta Salad

Pizza Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Pizza Pasta Salad is a great addition to your recipe collection. Whether you’re hosting or just looking for something tasty to make, this one fits the bill perfectly.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Salad

Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad

A fork holds a bite of pasta salad with rotini, cherry tomatoes, greens, and cheese. A bowl of pasta salad and ingredients are visible in the background—perfect inspiration for your next dinner or new pasta salads to try.
Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Chicken bacon pasta salad is one of those go-to dishes that’s always a hit. The smoky bacon brings big flavor, and when it’s paired with tender chicken, sharp cheddar, juicy tomatoes, and fresh herbs, it takes a simple pasta salad to the next level. A light red wine vinegar dressing ties it all together without any mayo, letting every fresh and savory bite shine through.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad

Seafood Pasta Salad

Seafood pasta salad in white serving bowl.
Seafood Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This refreshing and light seafood pasta salad is the perfect dish for summer. It combines shrimp, crab, and pasta in a flavorful creamy dressing.
Get the Recipe: Seafood Pasta Salad

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

A bowl of Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad.
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad. Photo credit: The Honour System.

This Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is a delicious fusion of flavors featuring charred corn, cotija cheese, and a creamy chili lime dressing all tossed together with tender pasta.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad without Mayo

Overhead image of a pasta salad without mayo.
Pasta Salad without Mayo. Photo credit: The Honour System.

Stay cool this summer with this Pasta Salad without Mayo. This simple and refreshing recipe, features a light Italian dressing, making it a perfect side dish for a backyard barbecue or a quick lunch option.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Salad without Mayo

Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon

Bacon ranch pasta salad in a clear bowl with a striped towel.
Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon is a rich, creamy side dish that pairs well with all your summertime favorites. Prep this 30-minute, one-bowl salad, which will be a welcome addition to your weekend dinner menu.
Get the Recipe: Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon

Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad

Rotisserie chicken pasta salad in a bowl.
Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Loaded with leftover rotisserie chicken, veggies, and a creamy dressing, this Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad is always gobbled up fast!
Get the Recipe: Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad

Salmon Pasta Salad

Salmon pasta salad in a black bowl with forks nearby.
Salmon Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Pasta salads don’t get much easier or more delicious than this! Made with leftover salmon, this easy pasta salad is creamy, tangy, and loaded with sweet flaky salmon. A touch of dill and lemon amps up the flavor, and this dish is hearty enough to be a meal all on its own.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Pasta Salad

Pizza Pasta Salad

A platter of pizza pasta salad served on a white rectangular dish.
Pizza Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Pizza Pasta Salad is a fun and flavorful dish that combines the best of both worlds: pizza and pasta. It features cooked pasta tossed with classic pizza ingredients like pepperoni slices, mozzarella cheese, olives, and diced bell peppers, all drizzled with a zesty Italian dressing. You can also add a few fresh herbs like basil or oregano to capture the aromatic flavors of pizza.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Salad

Easy Salmon Pasta Salad

A bowl of salmon pasta salad with a creamy dressing, garnished with a sprig of dill.
Easy Salmon Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Easy Salmon Pasta Salad is a light and delicious dish that combines tender cooked pasta with flaky salmon for a healthy and satisfying meal. It typically features flaky cooked or canned salmon, mixed with crisp vegetables like cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and red onions, all tossed in a creamy or tangy dressing, often made with mayo, Greek yogurt, or a lemon vinaigrette.
Get the Recipe: Easy Salmon Pasta Salad

Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

A white bowl filled with tri-color rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber chunks, and feta cheese on a red-and-white checkered tablecloth.
Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

We love pasta but not hot pasta during hot weather. The simplest way to satisfy that pasta craving was creating a cold pasta salad, which, in the winter, can be served as a side instead of the main course.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

Marry Me Tortellini Pasta Salad

A white bowl filled with creamy pasta salad, mixed with chopped spinach, cherry tomatoes, and a creamy dressing.
Marry Me Tortellini Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

This creamy pasta salad brings together cheesy tortellini, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil tossed in a tangy, parmesan-rich dressing that’s made with mayonnaise and sour cream. If you want a flavorful side dish that’s both cool and comforting without any complicated steps, this recipe has you covered.
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Tortellini Pasta Salad

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

A bowl of rotini pasta salad mixed with corn, cotija cheese, red onion, cilantro, and lime wedges, served with wooden utensils.
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

If you like the smoky char of grilled corn with a zing of chili-lime crema, this pasta salad will become your new go-to. It mixes tender fusilli with sautéed charred corn, creamy mayo, tangy sour cream, and crumbly cotija cheese for a flavor punch that’s perfect for a filling side dish.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

A wooden spoon lifts a serving of orzo pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese, and olives from a white bowl.
Greek Orzo Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Get ready to toss together a fresh and tangy mix of orzo, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and briny olives, all dressed in a zesty red wine vinaigrette with a kick of garlic. This salad is a breeze to make, cools down quickly with a rinse after boiling, and keeps its crunch even as leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

Creamy Deviled Egg Pasta Salad

A plate of Deviled Egg Pasta Salad served with a fork on a white plate.
Creamy Deviled Egg Pasta Salad. Photo credit: The Bite Stuff.

Creamy, tangy, and just a little retro, this pasta salad takes everything you love about deviled eggs and folds it into a chilled side dish that’s perfect for potlucks. It’s rich without being heavy and always the first bowl to disappear.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Deviled Egg Pasta Salad

BLT Pasta Salad – With Bacon!

Overhead shot of a glass bowl filled with BLT pasta salad.
BLT Pasta Salad – With Bacon!. Photo credit: The Bite Stuff.

Bacon, lettuce, tomato, and pasta come together in a salad that’s salty, fresh, and hard to stop eating. It’s picnic-ready and always a hit.
Get the Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad – With Bacon!

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. I’ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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