21 Cold Summer Pasta Salads For Easy Meals All Season Long

Patricia S York

Thu, July 17, 2014 at 6:08 PM UTC

5 min read

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These cold pasta salad recipes are the ultimate make-ahead food for warm weather.

<p>Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley</p> — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Cold pasta salad is a refreshing dish that always deserves 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. Pop them in the fridge for when your hungry summertime crowd starts calling.

Many are easy full meals thanks to 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're sure to find a new family favorite as you try these summer pasta salad recipes all summer long.

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

<p>Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall</p> — Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

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.

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Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad

<p>Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Clair Spollen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox</p> — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Clair Spollen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Pickled shrimp is transformed from an appetizer to a filling meal with the addition of pasta and snap peas. Enjoy this filling dish for a simple summertime dinner or easy on-the-go lunch.

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Tuna Pasta Salad

This fresh spin on fan-favorite tuna noodle casserole will take you through the warm-weather season. Vinaigrette replaces mayonnaise to brighten up this classic salad that’s filled with fresh vegetables and flavor.

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Deviled Egg Pasta Salad

<p>Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley</p> — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

You'll hardly come across a Southern summer gathering without pasta salad or deviled eggs present, so we decided to combine the two classics into a fan-favorite dish that's the best of both worlds.

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Summer Orzo Salad

*Photographer and Prop stylist: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray*

Add leafy greens like arugula to turn this into a main dish-worthy salad. Customize the recipe with additions like grilled steak or charred corn, and top with pistachios or pine nuts for crunch.

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BLT Pasta Salad

Inspired by the classic Southern sandwich, this throw together bowl of goodness has all the same flavors of a BLT with bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes, and sticks together with trusty mayo. It's a breeze to make-ahead, but wait to add the toasted panko and scallions until ready to serve.

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Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham

<p> Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist Shell Royster</p> — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist Shell Royster

What’s a summer get-together without this creamy classic? This easy make-ahead recipe is similar to the old-school layered salads you remember from Grandma's house.

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Broccoli Pesto Pasta

*Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely*

This vibrant pasta salad features a pesto sauce with a broccoli base. Add frozen peas for more texture. This dish makes a great cold pasta salad, but if you can’t wait for it to chill, it can also be eaten warm out of the skillet.

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Easiest-Ever Pasta Salad

<p>FRED HARDY, FOOD STYLIST: MARGARET MONROE DICKEY, PROP STYLIST: CALEB CLARKE</p> — FRED HARDY, FOOD STYLIST: MARGARET MONROE DICKEY, PROP STYLIST: CALEB CLARKE

All you need is a handful of fresh ingredients and a few pantry staples, like Italian dressing, to toss together this bright pasta salad. For more protein, add rotisserie chicken to the olive, tomato, salami, artichoke, pepper, and mozzarella mixture.

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Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

<p>JENNIFER CAUSEY; FOOD STYLING: MELISSA GRAY</p> — JENNIFER CAUSEY; FOOD STYLING: MELISSA GRAY

Sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, basil, and parmesan pack this salad with a unique flavor blend. The pasta comes together with the sun-dried tomato-based sauce and is topped with extra fresh herbs and feta cheese to serve.

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Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad

Punch up this classic pairing of watermelon and feta with peppery watercress or arugula. Top with an easy Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette that will be your new go-to.

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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.

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Three-Bean Pasta Salad

*Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan*

Pasta salad, meet three-bean salad. It's a summertime match made in heaven that's pulled together with a lemony vinaigrette for a little zing.

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Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Dressing

*Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer*

This springy salad is the furthest thing from a sad desk lunch. With three cups of veggies packed in, this is a salad you’ll look forward to and feel good about.

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