Food and Recipes Party Food and Drink 20 Cold Pasta Salads That Will Be a Hit All Summer Long By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 22, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Pasta salad is the refreshing dish that will always deserve 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. You can pop them in the fridge and pull them out when your hungry summertime crowd starts calling. Some of our cold pasta salad recipes make full meals thanks to the inclusion of 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've got cold pasta salad recipes to try all summer long. You're sure to find a new family favorite with these pasta salad recipes. 01 of 20 Tuna Pasta Salad Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Tuna Pasta Salad This fresh spin on fan-favorite tuna noodle casserole will take you through the warm-weather season. 02 of 20 Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes Hector Sanchez Recipes: 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. 03 of 20 Three-Bean Pasta Salad Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Three-Bean Pasta Salad Pasta salad, meet three-bean salad. It's a summertime match made in heaven. 04 of 20 Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad Punch up this classic pairing of watermelon and feta with peppery watercress or arugula. 05 of 20 Tortelloni-and-Grilled Vegetable Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: 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. 06 of 20 Field Pea and Pasta Salad Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Julia Levy Recipe: 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. 07 of 20 Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette Alison Miksch Recipe: 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. 08 of 20 Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad Jennifer Davick Recipe: Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad 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. 09 of 20 Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad Jennifer Davick Recipe: Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad Looking for a walk on the wild side? This pasta salad has bite and is guaranteed to be a hit at your next get-together. 10 of 20 Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad Micah A. Leal Recipe: Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad Bacon and ranch are a match made in heaven, and this pasta salad recipe is even further proof. 11 of 20 Chicken Tortellini Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Salad This simple recipe makes use of store-bought ingredients like refrigerated tortellini and rotisserie chicken. 12 of 20 Tangy Chickpea Pasta Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Tangy Chickpea Pasta Salad This fresh pasta salad recipe sneaks in good-for-you ingredients like chickpeas and eggplant. 13 of 20 Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham Jen Causey Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham This easy make-ahead recipe is similar to the old-school layered salads you remember from Grandma's house. 14 of 20 Pintos and Peppers Pasta Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Pintos and Peppers Pasta Salad This pasta salad has all the Tex-Mex flavors you love without all the heavy sour cream and cheese. 15 of 20 Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Dressing Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Dressing This springy salad is the furthest thing from a sad desk lunch. 16 of 20 Farmers' Market Pasta Salad Hector Sanchez Recipe: Farmers' Market Pasta Salad All your fresh summer favorites—heirloom tomatoes, corn, zucchini, and peaches—make an appearance in this colorful recipe. 17 of 20 Dilly Bean Pasta Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Dilly Bean Pasta Salad You only need a few ingredients for this bright pasta salad recipe that you can add chicken or shrimp to for more protein. 18 of 20 Summer Tortellini Salad Ralph Anderson Recipe: Summer Tortellini Salad Dress up store-bought tortellini with olives, peppers, onion, herbs, and a simple vinaigrette. 19 of 20 Summer Orzo Salad Photographer and Prop stylist: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Recipe: Summer Orzo Salad Add leafy greens like arugula to turn this into a main dish-worthy salad. 20 of 20 Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas This is our Test Kitchen's latest and greatest creation in pasta salad, and you'll make it all season. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit