Quick and Easy Pasta Salad Recipes
Pasta salad is the perfect dish for garden parties, picnics, and weekday lunches. It comes together in just minutes, makes great leftovers, and is endlessly adaptable to whatever ingredients you have on hand. Our collection of quick and easy pasta salad recipes is perfect for any occasion. Whether you need a refreshing salad for a summer barbecue or a hearty salad for a winter dinner, these simple pasta salads will be your new go-to recipe.
With just a few fresh veggies, any protein you like, and a simple dressing, you can whip up a delicious pasta salad in no time. The pasta cooks quickly while you prep the other ingredients and add a filling protein. After that, it's just a matter of tossing everything together for a crowd-pleasing dish that always disappears in no time.
Let’s look at a few flavourful pasta salad recipes including Italian, Greek, pesto, and more. With these easy recipes, pasta salad will become a staple dish in your repertoire year-round!
Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
This classic crowd-pleasing pasta salad is a go-to for any evening, all year round. Here’s what you’ll want to toss together:
- 450 grams of cooked rotini, penne, or bowtie pasta
- 1/3 cup Italian dressing
- 340 grams cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese cubes
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup pepperoni slices, cut into quarters
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
Blend together and season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. The classic flavours of pizza toppings taste right at home tossed with pasta and an Italian vinaigrette. Since it is so similar to pizza, you can customise it with your favourite pizza toppings you love like roasted peppers, artichoke hearts, or mushrooms.
Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
Another refreshing but hearty option is a fresh chicken pesto pasta salad. You can whip this up in just a few minutes and adapt it to your taste. You can also make it a lighter, vegetarian side dish by removing the chicken. Since it’s already such a flavourful dish, it will still have a robust taste even with adaptations.
Here’s what to include in your chicken pesto salad recipe:
- 240 grams of cooked penne, rotini, or farfalle pasta
- 2 cups roasted chicken, shredded
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella, cubed
- 1/4 cup pesto sauce
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
In a large bowl, mix together the shredded chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella, pesto sauce, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, basil and salt and pepper. When it’s well blended, add the cooked pasta and toss everything together until fully coated. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavours to blend.
Insider Tip: When you are making pasta salad, always make it al dente. That slightly firm texture will stop it from getting too soggy. Once it has cooked to the right texture, put it in a colander and rinse it in cold water to stop the cooking.
Tropical Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
The blend of sweet pineapple and savoury ham gives this macaroni salad a tropical flair. Even if you aren’t a fan of Hawaiian pizza, this cold salad is well worth trying. Here’s what you will want to include:
- 800 g of cooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup diced pineapple, drained
- 1/3 cup diced ham
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup shredded carrot
- Salt and pepper to taste
The tang of the pineapple balances the richness of the mayo. For an even more tropical taste, add some coconut flakes. This macaroni salad is perfect as a garden party dish or barbecue side.
Southwestern Taco Pasta Salad
Another American-inspired pasta side salad, this Southwestern taco pasta salad recipe will add a kick of flavour to any meal. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 450 grams of cooked pasta shells
- 1 packet taco seasoning*
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can of corn, drained
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomato
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1 cup blend of mozzarella and light cheddar cheese, shredded**
- Crumbled tortilla chips
Mix the pasta with taco seasoning and let cool. Add remaining ingredients and then top with crushed tortilla chips just before serving. If you want to make it into an even healthier salad, you can toss in some ground beef or chorizo for extra protein.
*In Ireland, your easiest option for taco seasoning is a packet of Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix. If you want to experiment with other brands or a taco seasoning recipe, just add about 25 grams of your speciality seasoning blend to the recipe.
**This recipe traditionally calls for a Mexican cheese blend which is Monterey jack, mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Monterey jack cheese is fairly mild, however, so you can skip it without noticing much of a difference. If you would like to make it as close to the original recipe as possible, you can supplement Monterey Jack with Havarti, in a blend of equal parts Havarti, mozzarella, and cheddar.
Fresh and Tangy Greek Pasta Salad
This Mediterranean-style pasta salad is the perfect garden party side dish and will add a fresh taste as a barbecue side dish. To make it, simply toss together:
- 450 grams of cooked pasta shells, rotini, or rotelle
- 1/3 cup Greek dressing
- 1/2 cup sliced Kalamata olives
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Leave the salad in the fridge for at least an hour before serving so all of the flavours blend. For extra protein, add chickpeas or grilled chicken. For an ultra-fresh take, squeeze lemon juice over the top just before serving.
With endless combinations, pasta salads are garden party dishes and barbeque sides. Whether you opt for a fresh Hawaii style dish or a bold Mediterranean flavour, you can’t go wrong with these dishes.
Upgrading Your Garden Party
As delicious as pasta salads and other cold dishes can be, nothing will upgrade your garden party like a warm main cooked in a wood-fired oven. A premium pizza oven or wood-fired grill expands your home with an outdoor kitchen and a new place to entertain.
Meet Luhnasa.
We are passionate about helping you create unforgettable memories with your friends and family with the art of outdoor cooking and living. That’s why we design and build high-quality, durable pizza ovens and outdoor living spaces that inspire people to gather, connect, and savour life's simple pleasures.
Irish-owned and operated, here are Luhnasa we offer exceptional customer service, expert craftsmanship, and innovative design solutions that will exceed your expectations at every turn.