Pasta Salads can be so boring, can’t they? Soggy pasta in a bland mayonnaise dressing with tiny bits of crunchy capsicum that make the pasta seem even soggier. Well, these pasta salad recipes are here to change all that. Take one of these to your next BBQ party, and you’ll be coming home with an empty dish. They’re that delicious!
5 Tips for the Perfect Pasta Salad
While Pasta Salad may seem the easiest dish in the world to make, there are a few tings to remember to ensure it is not a bland, soggy mess. Here’s my 5 top tips for ensuring Pasta Salad Success, every time:
1. Choose the Right Pasta
Select a pasta shape that will hold the dressing and other ingredients well. Shapes like rotini, fusilli, penne, or bowtie are great choices as they have ridges and crevices that trap the dressing and other flavors.
2. Cook Pasta Al Dente
Cook the pasta just until it’s al dente, meaning it’s cooked through but still firm to the bite. Overcooked pasta can become mushy and won’t hold up well in the salad. Once cooked, rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down quickly.
3. Balance the Ingredients
Aim for a good balance of flavors, textures, and colors in your pasta salad. Include a variety of vegetables, proteins, cheeses, and herbs to add depth and interest to the dish. Consider incorporating crunchy elements like nuts or seeds for texture contrast.
4. Chill Before Serving
After assembling the pasta salad, refrigerate it for at least an hour before serving. Chilling allows the flavors to meld together and for the salad to become thoroughly chilled, which is refreshing and enhances the taste.
5. Dress it Right Before Serving
Add the dressing to the pasta salad just before serving to prevent it from becoming soggy. Toss the salad gently to coat all the ingredients evenly with the dressing. If needed, you can reserve a small amount of dressing to add right before serving for an extra burst of flavor.
1. Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
Greek Orzo Salad is a delicious pasta salad is made with tender orzo, which is a grain-sized pasta. This recipe from Cooking classy adds bright tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, plenty of fresh herbs, tangy feta and olives to orzo, then coats it in a zesty lemony vinaigrette. It’s a breeze to prepare and can be ready in 25 minutes or less!
2. Thai Peanut Pasta Salad
This vegan Thai Noodle Salad from Feasting at Home uses the best Peanut Sauce for a stand-out pasta salad recipe. It is a great make-ahead salad, and keeps well for 3-4 days in the fridge. This salad is perfect for midweek meals and lunches, or potlucks and gatherings. The secret to this amazing pasta salad is the fresh orange juice, which gives the dish a delicious brightness.
3. Caprese Pasta Salad
This Caprese Pasta Salad from two Peas and Their Pod is simple yet gratifyingly delicious. Pasta with fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese – what could be more heavenly than that? This simple and delicious pasta salad is perfect for summertime or anytime! Balsamic Vinegar and italian herbs bring a flavour dimension that invites summer right onto your tongue.
4. Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
This 20-minute Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad from Midwest Foodie is possibly the most shared recipe I have seen on the internet. This popular salad is loaded with fire-roasted corn, Cotija, and a deliciously tangy, creamy dressing. It’s quick and easy to throw together and is made up of mostly pantry ingredients that you’ve probably already got in your kitchen!
5. Mediterranean Pasta Salad
For this Mediterranean Pasta Salad from Feel Good Foodie, fusilli pasta is combined with baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers. Crumbled feta cheese and a homemade Mediterranean dressing add tons of flavor. This salad is another perfect side dish for potlucks, parties, or a quick and easy weeknight meal.
6. Asian Sesame Ginger Pasta Salad
With abundant crunchy veggies, and an easy flavor packed Asian ginger dressing, this Sesame Ginger noodle salad recipe from Vanilla and Bean comes together with ease. This recipe is vegan, vegetarian and easily gluten free. It’s a great make-ahead recipe for lunches and dinners, and a perfect dish to bring to summer BBQs and parties.
7. Southwestern Pasta Salad
This southwest pasta salad from Like Mother, Like Daughter is full of cold pasta, grilled chicken, and veggies, all coated in a delicious chipotle ranch dressing. It’s a perfect side dish for a summer bbq or potluck, or for a lighter lunch or dinner anytime. You’ll love the added flavour from the pre-cooked chicken and the kick from the chipotle dressing. This pasta salad recipe is sure to be a crowd favourite!
8. Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad
Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad from Kalefornia Kravings is loaded with fresh pasta, cured meats, cheese & a variety of veggies all tossed in a zesty homemade Italian vinaigrette! Easy to put together & incredibly flavorful, this exotic and refreshing pasta salad recipe is always a potluck favorite.
9. Hawaiian Pasta Salad
True Hawaiian macaroni salad, like this one from Favourite Family Recipes, is pretty much just macaroni, carrot, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper. This is the way the locals make it. There are a few other ingredients you can add like celery, extra onion, potatoes, fresh crab, or relish. Once you start getting into adding ham or pineapple, you are getting way off course. You will love the ease of this delicious and classic pasta salad recipe!
10. Curried Chicken Pasta Salad
This Curried chicken pasta salad from 918 Plate is hearty enough to be a full lunch, complete with all the flavors and textures. It’s packed with protein between the yogurt and the chicken, and has a nice crunch from the celery and nuts. You’ll love the flavour from the curry powder and the creaminess of the mayonnaise.
11. Ratatouille Pasta Salad
With perfectly ripe summer time vegetables, this grilled Ratatouille Pasta Salad from Rachel Cooks is a delightful spin on the traditional French dish. Juicy red tomatoes, dark purple eggplant, bright green tender zucchini squash, sweet red onions, and crisp bell pepper are grilled to perfection, then dressed with an easy vinaigrette. These delicious veggies are combined with al dente pasta for an absolutely fabulous pasta salad.
