Nothing completes a summer BBQ quite like a big bowl of pasta salad. It’s easy to make, perfect for feeding a crowd, and packed with fresh, bold flavours that pair beautifully with grilled favourites.
From creamy classics like Chicken Caesar and Bacon Ranch to lighter options loaded with fresh vegetables, herbs, and zesty dressings, there’s something here for every taste. These pasta salads are ideal for picnics, potlucks, family gatherings, or simply enjoying in the garden on a warm day.
Whether you’re looking for something rich and comforting or light and refreshing, this collection of BBQ pasta salad recipes has you covered all summer long.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is the BBQ side you’ll make every summer! Take your favorite salad poolside with this twist on bowtie pasta salad, which features creamy Caesar dressing and crispy bacon.
Get recipe: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Ultimate Green Goddess Pasta Salad
Green Goddess Pasta Salad has all the flavor of the popular restaurant dish, but with noodles instead of lettuce! This creamy avocado pasta salad is an easy weeknight meal, and it’s a unique option for any luncheon or potluck. It’s the perfect dish for a summer picnic, too!
Get recipe: Ultimate Green Goddess Pasta Salad
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Discover a delectable summer pasta salad, the Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad! Packed with flavorful diced chicken, crispy bacon, tender pasta, French Fried Onions, and creamy Ranch dressing. Ideal for BBQs, potlucks, summer gatherings, and picnics!
Get recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Tuna Macaroni Salad with Green Olives
Tuna Macaroni Salad with Green Olives is always a hit for a treat with canned tuna, and this salad is a tasty idea for summer potlucks! And we made this recipe with Fiber Gourmet Light Elbows for a macaroni salad with only about 10 net carbs per serving.
Get recipe: Tuna Macaroni Salad with Green Olives
Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
This Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe is a tasty and versatile salad with roasted red peppers and olives, and it’s extra easy to make. And this post has options to make the Pesto Pasta Salad with several different types of pasta, depending on how much you care about the carbs.
Get recipe: Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
Italian Gnocchi Salad
Italian gnocchi salad is a fun twist on traditional pasta salad, swapping out pasta for soft potato gnocchi tossed in a bright red wine vinaigrette with tomatoes, artichokes, basil, and bite-sized mozzarella pearls.
Get recipe: Italian Gnocchi Salad
Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
Fresh mozzarella, sweet cherry tomatoes, peppery rocket, and loads of garlicky pesto all shake hands in this orzo pesto pasta salad. It takes less than 15 minutes, and the flavour transports you to Italy on a warm spring afternoon.
Get recipe: Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
Elote Pasta Salad
If Mexican street corn and pasta salad had a love child, it’s this dish. Charred corn, tender pasta, and a zesty dressing that’s equal amounts creamy, smoky, sweet, and a touch spicy — this is elote pasta salad … my newest obsession (and it’ll be yours soon, too!).
Get recipe: Elote Pasta Salad
Perfect Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
This vegetable-loaded pasta salad tastes like summer! It is the perfect side dish for BBQs, baby showers, potlucks, picnics, and other gatherings.
Get recipe: Perfect Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Caprese Pasta Salad
This is the best Caprese pasta salad with classic Caprese salad flavors of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil tossed with pasta and a homemade dressing.
Get recipe: Caprese Pasta Salad
BLT Pasta Salad
This BLT pasta salad is a delicious and refreshing dish that combines the flavors of a classic BLT sandwich with pasta. Made with bacon, fresh lettuce, tomatoes and a light dressing, it’s a satisfying blend of textures and tastes. Easy to make and great for summer parties and picnics!
Get recipe: BLT Pasta Salad
Street Corn Pasta Salad
Give your next cookout a deliciously Latin flair with my Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad! This colorful mashup of elote—my favorite Mexican side dish of cheesy corn—and creamy cold pasta salad is perfect for pairing with all your favorite grilled meats
Get recipe: Street Corn Pasta Salad
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad for BBQs and Potlucks
This Hawaiian macaroni salad recipe is perfect for hot summer days, church potlucks and the perfect side dish at any BBQ. Plus it only takes a few minutes to make! I love how creamy and tangy and slightly sweet this pasta salad is.
Get recipe: Hawaiian Macaroni Salad for BBQs and Potlucks
Tomato and Corn Pasta Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
This fresh tomato and corn pasta salad is the perfect summer dish. I love to make it for lunch, as a side dish, or to bring to a summer barbecue. This pasta salad recipe makes enough for 6 people as the main dish and 10-12 as a side dish.
Get recipe: Tomato and Corn Pasta Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
Street Corn Pasta Salad
If you’re looking for a fun and flavorful dish this Street Corn Pasta Salad (Ensalada de pasta con elote) is just what you need. With the smoky sweetness of roasted corn, a citrusy lime, creamy mayonnaise, and cotija cheese, it’s a delicious twist on the classic pasta salad. Perfect for BBQs, picnics, or even a casual weeknight dinner, and it brings vibrant flavors to any table.
Get recipe: Street Corn Pasta Salad
Healthy Orzo Pasta Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing
Healthy Orzo Pasta Salad is a colorful and flavorful dish that’s packed with all the good stuff! Think orzo pasta, crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, and briny Kalamata olives, all tossed together in a tangy honey Dijon dressing. It’s fresh, light, and so easy to make, the perfect dish for any occasion!
Get recipe: Healthy Orzo Pasta Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing
High Protein Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
This high protein pasta salad is packed with tuna, chickpea pasta, creamy Greek yogurt-based dressing, and hard-boiled eggs for a healthy, high-protein twist on classic tuna mac salad.
Get recipe: High Protein Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
Italian Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe with Grilled Chicken & Arugula
Here we pair rice-shaped orzo pasta with olives, tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and a bold homemade Italian dressing for a flavorful side dish! Make it a full meal with juicy grilled chicken and fresh arugula. It works well for meal prep lunches or as an easy weeknight dinner.
Get recipe: Italian Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe with Grilled Chicken & Arugula
Summer Orzo Pasta Salad
Summer Orzo Pasta Salad is a great addition to any summer get together! This summer salad recipe mixes together orzo pasta, chickpeas, creamy feta cheese, crisp summer vegetables, fresh herbs and is topped with a light lemony vinaigrette.
Get recipe: Summer Orzo Pasta Salad
Italian Pasta Salad
As the weather gets warmer easy pasta salads are the perfect addition to picnics and summer get togethers. This Italian Pasta Salad is always a crowd favorite loaded with chickpeas, artichokes, roasted red peppers, pepperoni, salami, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Get recipe: Italian Pasta Salad
Asian Pasta Salad With Peanut Dressing
A Pasta Salad with Asian flavors is all we needed for our weekend brunch. This Salad has a Spicy Peanut Dressing and is topped with toasted sesame seeds for extra flavor.
Get recipe: Asian Pasta Salad With Peanut Dressing
Pasta Salad With Roasted Corn And Edamame
Simple and refreshing Pasta salad with roasted corn and edamame is a great option for lunch or as a side for Holiday Meal. After a long time, I am participating in Blogging Marathon and Pasta Salads is the theme that I am doing for this week’s BM. I love making pasta salad for a party as it is easy to put together a large batch.
Get recipe: Pasta Salad With Roasted Corn And Edamame
Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes
A salad that can be a meal by itself. This pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes is a perfect blend of vegetables and pasta marinating in a tangy dressing and is best when served chilled.
Get recipe: Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes
Street Corn Pasta Salad
One of my favorite things to snack on is a tasty cold salad! This Street Corn Pasta Salad was like a chilled and deconstructed, spicy street corn cob! The jalapeño brought a nice heat, the flavors of the lime, the crunchy corn, the cheese, and the chili powder – it all came together so well! And this pasta salad gets yummier as it sits in its own deliciousness! This would be perfect for a potluck, party, a sunny day on the patio! It was so yummy! It felt like summer – a total vibe!
Get recipe: Street Corn Pasta Salad
Pasta Primavera
Pasta Primavera is a timeless pasta dish that originated in the 70s at a famous New York City restaurant—a city I adore and once called home. This dish remains a favorite even today! Pasta primavera combines pasta with a medley of vibrant, colorful, fresh seasonal vegetables.
Get recipe: Pasta Primavera
