Take a bite out of summer with these small pasta salad recipes! They're perfect for intimate cookouts with six people or less.
21 Small-Batch Pasta Salads
Updated Jan. 14, 2022
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BLT Macaroni Salad
A friend served this BLT pasta salad, and I just had to get the recipe. My husband loves BLT sandwiches, so this has become a favorite of his. It’s nice to serve on hot and humid days, which we frequently get during summer here in Virginia. —Mrs. Hamilton Myers Jr., Charlottesville, Virginia
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Taco Pasta Salad
My family loves this savory taco pasta salad. Serve taco or corn chips on the side, and you have a complete meal. —Gert Rosenau, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
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Bow Tie & Spinach Salad
With pasta salad, it’s easy to change up ingredients. We like to add grilled chicken and pine nuts, and sometimes we substitute black beans for the garbanzo beans. —Julie Kirkpatrick, Billings, Montana
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Fast Macaroni Salad
Chopped veggies provide crunch, and cherry tomatoes add vibrant color to this refreshing and creamy pasta salad. —Frankiee Bush, Freedom, Indiana
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Orzo with Feta and Arugula
In my family, we love salads because they’re an interesting way to blend many different flavors. This orzo salad is one of our favorites—it tastes delicious served either warm or cool. —Laura Adamsky, Decatur, Alabama
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Grilled Asian Chicken Pasta Salad
For your next get-together, try this Asian pasta salad instead of the traditional kind. It's full of bright, summery flavors, and the grilled chicken makes it a complete meal.
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Garlic Shrimp & Orzo Salad
I enjoy cold pasta salads and rice salads, so I decided to make one with orzo, a rice-shaped pasta. Feel free to add other favorite veggies—like asparagus and green beans—and serve with rolls or pita bread.—Valonda Seward, Coarsegold, California
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Chicken Pasta Salad
Chicken pasta salad can be a light, healthy lunch in its own right, not just a side dish. This one is especially healthy, thanks to its use of whole wheat pasta and especially its hummus-based dressing.
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Grilled Jerk Shrimp Orzo Salad
The heat, seasonings and appearance of this colorful main-dish salad are perfect for summer—or any time of year that you want to summon memories of sunshine. —Eileen Budnyk, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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Quick Macaroni Salad
You can't go wrong with this time-tested winner. Here it is pared down for two.—Carma Blosser, Livermore, Colorado
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Grilled Southwestern Steak Salad
Pasta salad loaded with steak, peppers and onions makes both my boyfriend and me happy. Plus, it’s versatile! We serve it hot, room temperature or cold. —Yvonne Starlin, Westmoreland, Tennessee
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Lemon Orzo Salad
This tasty lemon orzo salad recipe is just the thing you’ll want to have on hand, whether you’re in need of a quick meal or a side dish everyone will love.
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Asian Noodle & Beef Salad
My Asian-inspired pasta salad is crunchy, tangy and light. If you have fresh herbs, like basil or cilantro, on hand, add them to the mix. —Kelsey Casselbury, Odenton, Maryland
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Spinach Salad with Tortellini & Roasted Onions
Spinach and tortellini go so well together, and this salad makes an easy meal with leftover cooked chicken. What really makes it special is the roasted onion that adds oomph to bottled salad dressing. —Robin Haas, Hyde Park, Massachusetts
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Orzo-Tuna Salad with Tomatoes
Stuffed tomatoes provide endless options when you add meat, cheese, rice, veggies – or in this case, orzo. — Jenni Dise, Phoenix, Arizona
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Turkey and Pasta Ranch Salad
This easy pasta salad is loaded with fresh veggies, and the classic ranch dressing makes it appealing to kids. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
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Strawberry-Chicken Pasta Salad
When I figured out how to re-create this restaurant dish at home, my family was so excited. For a different spin, use raspberries or peaches instead of strawberries. —Jane Ozment, Purcell, Oklahoma
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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Chicken Caesar pasta salad is like the Goldilocks of lunch ideas. It’s perfect when you’re too hungry for a salad, but not hungry enough for a heavy pasta dish.
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Turkey Ramen Noodle Salad
My husband and I make this awesome salad together—he does the chopping. When we bring it to potlucks, we pack the ramen and almonds separately and toss them in right before it's time to dish up. They stay nice and crunchy that way. —Kristen Pallant, Big Arm, Montana
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Lemony Tortellini Bacon Salad
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. —Samantha Vicars, Kenosha, WisconsinOriginally Published: April 30, 2020
