25 Unique and Classic Pasta Salad Recipes

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These unique and classic pasta salad recipes are perfect for those hot summer days. Pasta salad is so easy to make and always turns out delicious! Try out some (or all) of these recipes, you won’t regret it!


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Whether you prefer classic pasta salad or a more exotic twist, these recipes are sure to please! The best part about pasta salad is that you can make it in advance, then pull it out whenever you need it! Scroll through this post to find the pasta salad dish that’s perfect for you.


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Expert Tips for Making Pasta Salad

There are some common tips and mistakes in making pasta salad. Find some here.

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  • Should you rinse your pasta?: When making cold pasta salad, rinsing your pasta after cooking can help to stop the cooking process and washes away the starch on the noodles, helping to keep the noodles from sticking together.
  • Get the dressing to stick: The key to making delicious pasta salads is to dress it twice, once directly after cooking, and once before it is served. Just add about half as much dressing the first time to allow the flavors to soak into the pasta.
  • How long does pasta salad keep?: Pasta salad can be kept in the refrigerator for up to five days, but will continue to absorb the dressing it sits in. A splash of vinegar or olive oil can help to revive old pasta salad.

Egg Pasta Salad Recipes

Is there a better pairing than pasta salad and eggs? These egg pasta salad recipes are great as side dishes or on their own.

Macaroni salad with fresh herbs and a halved deviled egg as a garnish
Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eDeviled Egg Pasta Salad with macaroni is a classic side dish for any cookout. Whether you call this macaroni salad or pasta salad youu0026#39;re sure to love this recipe.u003c/pu003e
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Pasta salad with vegetables and hard boiled eggs
Amish Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eA family-favorite classic pasta salad recipe with al dente pasta, bell peppers, celery, red onions, and hard-boiled eggs tossed in a creamy tangy-sweet dressing! Perfect for picnics, potlucks, backyard parties, and events!u003c/pu003e
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A Hellman's creamy classic macaroni salad with egg, green bell peppers and bits of red pepper on a yellow plate.
Hellman’s Macaroni Salad with Egg
This classic recipe for Hellmann’s Macaroni Salad has a taste that’s sure to impress. There’s a reason macaroni salad is a potluck and barbecue favorite. It’s creamy, flavorful, and endlessly customizable.
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Macaroni salad seasoned with paprika and garnished with green herbs
Southern Macaroni Salad
u003cpu003eSouthern macaroni salad is deliciously creamy, with the perfect crunch and the right amount of tang. Make this recipe for a scrumptious BBQ side dish!u003c/pu003e
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Chilled macaroni salad in a bowl with egg and scallions
Easy Classic Macaroni Salad
u003cpu003eYou can never go wrong with a creamy Classic Macaroni Salad! This beloved cold side dish is the perfect addition to any meal or pot luck!u003c/pu003e
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A closeup of pasta salad on a spoon over a bowl of pasta salad
Egg Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eA twist on the delicious flavor of deviled eggs, this egg pasta salad contains everything a cold salad should. The tender pasta, crisp vegetables, and a creamy deviled egg dressing give you the perfect combination of flavors for a salad that is out of this world.u003c/pu003e
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Best Classic Macaroni Salad
u003cpu003eThe best + easiest old-fashioned macaroni salad to bring to all the BBQs/potlucks! Everyone will be dying for the recipe!u003c/pu003e
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Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Recipes

Zesty Italian pasta salad brings an Italian twist to this summertime classic. These recipes use Italian herbs and ingredients and are sure to brighten up any meal.

Classic Italian Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eThis classic Italian pasta salad recipe is so simple to put together! It’s filled with chilled rotini, plenty of veggies, mozzarella cheese, and our homemade Italian dressing. Light and fresh, it’s the perfect addition to a picnic or potluck.u003c/pu003e
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Italian Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eAnother take on a classic Italian pasta salad with fresh homemade Italian vinagrete and salami.u003c/pu003e
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Glass bowl filled with antipasto pasta salad with fresh tomatos and onions
Antipasto Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eChock full of antipasto favorites, this no-mayo Antipasto Pasta Salad is one eye-catching, crowd-pleasing summer side.u003c/pu003e
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Pesto pasta salad with fresh vegetables
Italian Pesto Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eItalian pesto pasta salad is a flavorful side dish thatu0026#39;s guaranteed to be the star of every potluck or get-together you attend. The addition of the pesto turns this classic pasta salad into a summer must have!u003c/pu003e
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Proscuitto and Pea Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eThis Prosciutto and Pea Pasta Salad is a fun twist on a classic, and it’s an excellent side dish to serve alongside your favorite grilled summer recipes!u003c/pu003e
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Easy Italian Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eA stupidly easy pasta salad with pasta, juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, red onion, salami, olives, herbs, and a drench of quick homemade dressing.u003c/pu003e
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A pasta salad with multicolored pasta and pepperoni, tomatos, and mozarella
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eThis Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad features tri colored rotini pasta with pepperoni, mozzarella, cheddar, and tomatoes in a Parmesan vinaigrette. This Italian pasta salad variation is the perfect summer side dish recipe!u003c/pu003e
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Cold Tuna Pasta Salad Recipes

Tuna is a tasty and healthy fish to add to your pasta salad. These delicious cold tuna pasta salad recipes are sure to please family and friends alike!

Tuna Pasta Salad ina robin eggs blue bowl.
Tuna Pasta Salad
Tuna Pasta salad is a light, healthy dinner or side dish that is packed full of protein and vital nutrients. The very best part is the flavor of this amazing summer salad.
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Macaroni salad with creamy dressing, avocado, and tomatos
Tuna Avocado Macaroni Salad
u003cpu003eTuna Avocado Macaroni Salad is an AMAZING creamy macaroni salad that is filled with chopped veggies, avocado, and tuna. This is going to impress everyone at your next potluck!u003c/pu003e
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Tuna Pesto Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eMake a pasta salad with two delicious greens, pesto u0026amp; avocado!u003c/pu003e
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Tuna Pasta Salad With Capers
u003cpu003eScrumptious tuna pasta salad with capers is the star attraction of any picnic or potluck spread. This quick and easy 20-minute recipe will have you in and out of the kitchen in no time flat!u003c/pu003e
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Closeup of pasta salad with tuna, peas, onion, and hard boiled egg
Tuna Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eThis Tuna Pasta Salad will be a great side dish for your next summer bbq, lunch, or even a meal. You will find it loaded with perfectly cooked macaroni, tuna, onion, celery, peas, hard-boiled eggs, and a simple creamy dressing.u003c/pu003e
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Spicy tuna pasta salad with an orange hue with onion, tomato and herbs
Spicy Tuna Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eSpicy Tuna Pasta Salad is an easy cold pasta salad to serve during grilling season or to bring to your next potluck. It’s perfect as a make-ahead side dish or lunch. You’ll love the delicious, creamy, sweet and spicy dressing!u003c/pu003e
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Overhead shot of tuna pasta salad with tomatos, onions, spinatch and basil
Italian Orzo Tuna Salad
u003cpu003eThis Italian Orzo Tuna Salad recipe is one of my all-time faves — fresh, zesty, savory, and blessedly mayo-free.u003c/pu003e
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Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Dill pickle pasta salad may seem a bit unorthodox, but the flavors these dishes bring can’t be beat! Tangy pickles and tender pasta salad make these recipes perfect for those hot summer days.

Closeup of pasta salad with a creamy sauce and fresh dill and sliced pickles
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eThis dill pickle pasta salad features tangy and crunchy dill pickles. The creamy homemade dressing blends incredibly well with the tender pasta and cheese to complement these unexpected stars of the show.u003c/pu003e
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Pasta salad with creamy dressing, cheese, pickles, and dill
Keto Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eKeto dill pickle salad has all the flavor of the traditional pasta salad without the carbs. This pickle salad is the perfect make ahead side dish for a summer BBQ or potluck.u003c/pu003e
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Large plate of pasta salad with a mayonaise dressing, pickles and dill
Easy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eDill Pickle Pasta Salad will impress all your guests with its salty crunch and creamy dressing-it’s full of amazing and crave-able flavors!u003c/pu003e
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Dill pickle pasta salad woth cheese and herbs
No Mayonnaise Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
u003cpu003eThe cool vinegar crunch meets al dente pasta coated in creamy goodness in an unexpectedly delicious combination of goodness.u003c/pu003e
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