These easy pasta salad recipes come together in no time. They're perfect for a summertime cookout or potluck.
20 Easy Pasta Salads Prepped in 20 Minutes or Less
Updated Sep. 08, 2024
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Tri-Color Pasta Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Tricolor spiral pasta, broccoli, Italian salad dressing
Level: Beginner
Broccoli and tomatoes brighten this fresh and easy pasta salad. Italian salad dressing with roasted red pepper and Parmesan adds a nice kick to the plate. You can add other veggies, like corn or artichoke hearts, for more color and crunch.
Tackle gatherings with a bright side dish. This tri-color pasta salad with broccoli, tomatoes, olives and a hardworking dressing is one of the easiest cold pasta salad recipes you could take. —Recipe contributor Amanda Cable, Boxford, Massachusetts
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Sweet Macaroni Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Elbow macaroni, mayonnaise, sweetened condensed milk
Level: Beginner
This veggie-packed macaroni salad is best served at a summer cookout alongside burgers and tangy pickles. The sweet dressing nicely contrasts smoky meat.
A sweet out-of-the-ordinary dressing makes this macaroni salad special. My aunt gave me the recipe and it has become one of my favorites. I occasionally leave out the green pepper if I know that people don’t like it, and it still tastes great. —Recipe contributor Idalee Scholz, Cocoa Beach, Florida
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Tortellini Pasta Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Cheese tortellini, olives, feta cheese
Level: Beginner
This Greek tortellini pasta salad is made special thanks to the cheese tortellini, olives, peppers and vinaigrette dressing. It pairs well with leftover grilled chicken or salmon on top.
A bold homemade dressing gives this Greek tortellini salad a burst of flavor. Watch it disappear from your buffet table. If you do have leftovers, stir in sliced grilled steak for an easy dinner the next day. —Recipe contributor Sue Braunschweig, Delafield, Wisconsin
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Italian Pasta Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Pasta shells, pepperoni, salami, provolone cheese
Level: Beginner
This Italian pasta salad recipe stands out with a homemade Italian dressing. The zesty, veggie-packed salad is always a hit at potlucks, and it works wonderfully as a make-ahead lunch in the summertime.
The first time I tasted this delicious salad was at my wedding, and I recall, even in the blur of that day, the recipe was in high demand. That was years ago and I’m still asked to bring it to cookouts and parties! —Recipe contributor Sarah Ryan, Geneva, Ohio
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Mexican Macaroni Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Elbow macaroni, ham, pickled jalapeño
Level: Beginner
Also known as ensalada de coditos (which roughly translates to “elbow macaroni salad”), this classic Mexican dish is usually served at picnics, quinceañeras and family gatherings.
Enjoy this easy twist on macaroni salad for a lunchtime change of pace. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Pesto Pasta Salad
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Spiral pasta, pesto, zucchini, red pepper, tomato
Level: Beginner
Pesto pasta salad is healthy, super easy to make and bursting with flavor. It’s the perfect complement to grilled meats, veggies and other salads.
My family and I live on a homestead in the Missouri Ozarks and produce much of our own food. In the summer, when the garden is bursting with fresh vegetables and it’s too hot to cook, I like to use the season’s veggies for pesto pasta salad and other cool meals. —Recipe contributor Sarah Mathews, Ava, Missouri
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Tortellini Caesar Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Cheese tortellini, romaine, mayonnaise
Level: Beginner
Tortellini in pasta salad is nothing short of a stroke of genius. With romaine lettuce, it feels like a normal salad with a lot of extra surprises. The creamy garlic sauce is a nice spin on a Caesar dressing.
This salad was served at a dear friend’s baby shower by a health-conscious friend, who suggested the dressing be prepared with low-fat or fat-free ingredients. Either way, the creamy dressing has plenty of garlic flavor and coats the pasta, romaine and croutons nicely. —Recipe contributor Tammy Steenbock, Sembach Air Base, Germany
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Almond-Apricot Chicken Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Spiral pasta, chicken, apricots, almonds
Level: Beginner
This easy pasta salad recipe combines chicken, apricots and veggies. Just wait until you try the lemon dressing! The broccoli adds a great splash of green.
Here’s a one-of-a-kind pasta salad that combines tender chicken, sweet apricots and crunchy vegetables. Plus, the lemony dressing can’t be beat. —Recipe contributor Susan Voigt, Plymouth, Minnesota
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Vermicelli Pasta Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Vermicelli, Italian salad dressing
Level: Beginner
Vermicelli is a long, very thin noodle that’s great in a salad. Instead of a mayonnaise base, this pasta salad has creamy Italian dressing for added flavor. Green and red peppers adorn this festive dish.
I started making this salad because it’s loaded with peppers, my husband’s favorite. Don’t be surprised when there are no leftovers to take home after the family reunion, picnic or church potluck. —Recipe contributor Janie Colle, Hutchinson, Kansas
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Acini di Pepe Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Acini di pepe pasta, cauliflower, pineapple
Level: Beginner
For a new pasta shape, try acini di pepe. It’s most similar to orzo and ditalini.
Looking for a quick lunch idea? Blend veggies, tiny pasta and juicy pineapple bits to make my favorite acini di pepe salad recipe. —Recipe contributor June Herke, Watertown, South Dakota
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Caprese Macaroni Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Elbow macaroni, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese
Level: Beginner
With tomato, basil and mozzarella, this pasta salad is a classic Caprese with a twist. The dressing is a creamy combination of mayo and Italian salad dressing mix.
When fresh tomatoes and basil are abundant in the summer, I like to make this wonderful Caprese macaroni salad. —Recipe contributor Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas
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Judy’s Macaroni Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Elbow macaroni, pickle juice, hard-boiled eggs
Level: Beginner
If you love pickles, you’re going to love this tangy pasta salad. This recipe uses sweet pickles and their juice. It’s a fun side dish for burgers and brats.
After finding this vintage macaroni salad recipe years ago, I tweaked the flavor and bumped up the pickles. Tuck this dill pickle pasta salad inside your picnic basket. —Recipe contributor Elizabeth Kirchgatter, Maysville, Kentucky
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Quick Macaroni Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Elbow macaroni, cheddar cheese, peas
Level: Beginner
We see cheddar cheese and we’re sold. The mildly sweet pimentos make it even better. This smooth and creamy pasta salad recipe will be a hit at your next picnic.
You can’t go wrong with this time-tested winner. Here it is pared down for two. —Recipe contributorCarma Blosser, Livermore, Colorado
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Bacon Macaroni Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Bacon strips, elbow macaroni, tomato
Level: Beginner
Bacon makes everything better, especially pasta salad. The mayo and vinegar dressings adds a tang that melds beautifully with the smokiness of the bacon.
This pleasing pasta salad is like eating a BLT in a bowl. Filled with crispy bacon, chopped tomato, celery and green onion, the sensational salad is coated with a tangy mayonnaise and vinegar dressing. It’s a real crowd-pleaser! —Recipe contributor Norene Wright, Manilla, Indiana
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Lemony Tortellini Bacon Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Cheese tortellini, broccoli, bacon strips
Level: Beginner
On a hot day, you want something tangy and bright. This easy pasta salad recipe fits the bill with a light balsamic-lemon dressing. Add a glass of lemonade and you’re all set.
Who says summer meals have to be complicated? We love this tangy, simple and tasty salad on warm summer nights. Add a cold glass of lemonade or iced tea and dinner couldn’t be easier. —Recipe contributor Samantha Vicars, Kenosha, Wisconsin
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Cucumber Shell Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Pasta shells, peas, cucumber
Level: Beginner
Someone is bound to ask for this recipe when you bring it to the potluck. Ranch dressing, cucumbers, shell pasta—what’s not to love?
Ranch dressing is the mild coating for this pleasant pasta salad alive with the fresh flavors of crunchy cucumber, onion and green peas. Someone always seems to want the recipe! —Recipe contributor Paula Ishii, Ralston, Nebraska
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Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Wagon wheel pasta, kidney beans, cheddar cheese
Level: Beginner
We’ll take any excuse to mix it up with a new pasta shape. Picante sauce and cumin give this pasta salad a nice kick.
Summertime gatherings aren’t complete without a refreshing pasta salad. This tasty version features a mayonnaise and picante dressing. It may become one of your favorite side dishes for tacos, too! —Recipe contributor Kathryn Donahey, Oil City, Pennsylvania
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Tuna Macaroni Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Tuna, elbow macaroni, eggs, mayonnaise
Level: Beginner
Tuna is such a quick and easy way to add protein to a recipe. The mayonnaise and sweet pickle relish create a dressing that’s perfect for summer.
Pack this classic salad for a picnic or workplace lunch. For best results, allow the salad to sit in the fridge overnight for flavors to blend. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Easy Macaroni Salad
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Elbow macaroni, eggs, ham, mayonnaise
Level: Beginner
Pass it at a potluck, unwrap it at a picnic or bust it out at a barbecue; this easy macaroni salad is perfect as a side for the summer grilling season.
This hearty pasta salad is sure to please appetites of all ages—and it serves a lot of folks! —Recipe contributor LaVerna Mjones, Moorhead, Minnesota
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Make-Ahead Hearty Six-Layer Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Pasta shells, lettuce, hard-boiled eggs
Level: Beginner
This make-ahead salad is dressed to impress. With hard boiled eggs, chicken, lettuce and cheese, you really can have it all. Or you can share it with friends!
This salad is an all-time favorite. I reach for the recipe whenever I need a dish to pass. It is easy to make, can be assembled ahead of time and looks marvelous. —Recipe contributor Noreen Meyer, Madison, Wisconsin
Easy Pasta Salad FAQ
What to serve with pasta salad?
Many meat dishes can be served with pasta salad. Steak, fried chicken and grilled pork chops are some barbecue favorites. If you’re vegetarian, pasta salad can be served with veggie burgers or grilled cheese.
If the pasta salad is the main dish, add protein like shredded chicken, cooked ham or hard-boiled eggs.
How long is pasta salad good for in the fridge?
Most pasta salads last for three to five days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can tell that pasta salad has gone bad based on discoloration, smell and texture. If your pasta salad looks slimy, throw it out.
Can you freeze pasta salad?
Yes! Pasta salads made with oil dressings can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. Dairy-based pasta salads can be frozen as well, but their texture is changed slightly after thawing. It may be best to eat those fresh. A helpful tip to freeing pasta salad is to store the liquid ingredients in a separate container.
Originally Published: April 02, 2020
