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Fresh and Flavorful: 10 Pasta Salads Perfect for Summer

These pasta salad recipes, with their fresh and flavorful ingredients, are perfect for a light summer meal or taking to your next potluck or cookout.

Street Corn Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with corn and feta cheese.
Image Credit: Tastes of Homemade

This elote pasta salad, with corn, jalapeno peppers, creamy cotija cheese, and a tangy dressing, has all the components of traditional Mexican street corn mixed with tender pasta for the perfect summer side dish. This easy recipe comes together quickly and makes a large batch.  Perfect for your next BBQ or potluck. 

Get the Recipe: Street Corn Pasta Salad

Bacon Parmesan Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with bacon and parmesan cheese
Image Credit: Tastes of Homemade

This bacon parmesan pasta salad is loaded with crispy bacon, fresh parmesan cheese, and garlic. Bring it to your next summer cookout or serve it along side your favourite dinner. 

Get the Recipe: Bacon Parmesan Pasta Salad

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Caesar salad with pasta and chicken.
Image Credit: Tastes of Homemade

Take your favorite Caesar salad to the next level by adding chicken, bacon, and tender pasta. With crisp, fresh Romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, bacon and crunchy croutons all tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing, this salad can be served as a side or a delicious meal.  

Get the Recipe: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

Orzo pasta salad with cherry tomatoes and cucumber.
Image Credit: Fresh Coast Eats

Fresh and flavorful, lemon orzo salad is made with orzo pasta, feta cheese, tomatoes, onions, and cucumber, then tossed in a simple homemade lemon vinaigrette. It’s perfect for a healthy lunch or as a summer side dish for your next picnic, BBQ, or family gathering.

Get the Recipe: Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

Creamy Southwestern Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad with peppers, herbs, and black beans.
Image Credit: Bon Appeteach

Packed with blacked chicken, black beans, colorful veggies, and a creamy southwestern dressing made of Greek yogurt and spices, this pasta salad makes a great summer meal.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Southwestern Pasta Salad

Tortellini Pasta Salad

Tortellini pasta salad with cucumber, tomato and olives.
Image Credit: Fresh Coast Eats

Cheese-filled tortellini is tossed with summer veggies, mozzarella, and salami and finished with a drizzle of Italian dressing. This tortellini pasta salad is the perfect no-fuss summertime side dish.

Get the Recipe: Tortellini Pasta Salad

Orzo Salad With Pesto

Salad with pesto, orzo pasta, cherry tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar.
Image Credit: Lauren From Scratch

This orzo pasta salad with basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and arugula is topped with balsamic glaze and toasted pine nuts. This caprese-inspired pasta salad is great for a light lunch or taking to a summer cookout.

Get the Recipe: Orzo Salad With Pesto

Tzatziki Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with cucumbers and Tzatziki sauce.
Image Credit: The Herbeevore

A simple side dish of cooked pasta, crunchy veggies, and fresh herbs tossed in a creamy, garlicky dressing. Tzatziki pasta salad is a tasty and refreshing side dish perfect for summer.

Get the Recipe: Tzatziki Pasta Salad

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Bowtie pasta with carrots, peppers, and dill pickles.
Image Credit: Naturally Plant-Based

This unique and insanely delicious pasta salad is made with tender al dente pasta, carrots, and peppers tossed in a tangy, flavorful dill pickle dressing. Perfect for serving at your next summer gathering.

Get the Recipe: Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Grinder Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with salami and tomatoes.
Image Credit: Butter Your Biscuit

If you like the popular grinder sub, you will love this salad. Made with al dente pasta, fresh veggies, chopped pepperoni and salami, this salad is coated in a creamy mayo dressing, parmesan cheese, and garlic. The savory flavors in this hearty salad make it great for a lunch or side.

Get the Recipe: Grinder Pasta Salad

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