The 15 Best Pasta Salads, According to a Recipe Developer

You can make pasta salad with just about anything, but that doesn't mean you should.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published June 03, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
A bowl of Greek pasta salad with vegetables, olives, and feta cheese
Sabrina Modelle

As a professional recipe developer, I've cooked, eaten, and developed more than a few recipes for one of the most popular dishes of an American summer: pasta salad. That being said, I've learned a thing or two about what makes a great pasta salad. You may be thinking, "Okay, but pasta salad is so simple, so easy, so versatile that you basically can't mess it up—right?" Well, if you've ever had a bad pasta salad, you know that's not true and that not all pasta salads are created equal.

So here are three of my not so common pasta salad rules of thumb to live by, plus my favorite pasta salad recipes.

  • Don't be afraid to cook your pasta past al dente. Once you rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking (a must for every pasta salad—do not skip this) and store it in the fridge, it will become more solid. So cooking your pasta until soft all the way through (but not mushy!) is a good thing.
  • Be playful with your mix-ins. The best pasta salads have different textures and flavors going on in every bite—crunchy, soft, creamy, tangy, sour, fresh, salty, spicy, etc. The pasta shape also plays a role here. For example, I love using medium shells or orecchiette with peas or corn because those shapes can catch the small veg and make for one great bite.
  • Save some dressing for serving. If you're making a large batch of pasta salad to have leftovers for later in the week or to bring to a party or potluck, it's always a good idea to save some dressing for serving. As the pasta salad sits in the fridge, it will absorb the dressing, leaving it a bit dry. A fresh drizzle of your dressing adds moisture and flavor back into the salad, making it just as good as the day you made it, if not better.

  • Green Goddess Pasta Salad

    Bowl of Green Goddess Pasta Salad

    Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

    "In early 2022, green goddess salad was the recipe everyone was making and recreating across social media. However, there was one thing I didn’t love about the viral recipe: all the chopping! So I took the key flavors and textures and made it into an easy, green pasta salad." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Grinder Pasta Salad

    ginder pasta salad in a bowl with serving utensils at a table setting with glasses of water, a table napkin, and a stack of plates (close-up)

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "A grinder is a large Italian-style sub sandwich generally served on a hoagie roll and filled with meats and cheeses like salami, ham, and provolone. It almost always includes a generous layer of vegetables like banana peppers, lettuce, and tomato. While I love a good grinder, the flavors are also perfect for pasta salad adaptation, making it easier to share." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Cowboy Pasta Salad

    A bowl of cowboy pasta salad containing farfalle pasta, diced meats, cheese, and chopped vegetables, next to a blue napkin and spoon

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

    "This salad gets its cowboy name because of its bold Tex-Mex flavors and hearty serving of creamy black beans alongside the pasta. A combination of mayo spiked with store-bought barbecue sauce, spicy brown mustard, taco seasoning, and hot sauce creates a smoky, spicy flavor bomb of a dressing." —Amanda Stanfield, Recipe Tester/Developer

  • Greek Pasta Salad

    A big bowl of Greek pasta salad ready to serve

    Simply Recipes / Sabrina Modelle

    "Packed with fresh tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers—not to mention Kalamata olives and feta cheese—this pasta salad has all the flavor of your favorite Greek salad!" —Sabrina Modelle, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 15 below

  • Tortellini Salad

    Tortellini Salad

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "This salad swaps plain pasta for plump cheese- and spinach-filled tortellini. It’s a great pasta salad to prepare in advance since it only gets better as it sits—fresh, bright, and zingy!" —Sharon Lehman, Recipe Developer

  • Tuna Macaroni Salad

    Tuna macaroni salad in a serving bowl.

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "It's such a simple salad, yet I think it's my favorite macaroni salad, and also my favorite tuna salad, of all time. In the whole world. Period." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Tahini Pasta Salad

    Tahini pasta salad

    Simply Recipes / Grace Elkus

    "There’s an impossibly easy way to upgrade any mayo-laden recipe, firmly securing its inclusion in the pasta salad movement. And that’s replacing the mayo with tahini." —Grace Elkus, Recipe Developer

  • Pasta Salad with Corn, Bacon, and Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

    Pasta Salad with Corn and Bacon

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Here's a great picnic salad for the end of summer—with pasta and corn. We don't usually think of pairing the two, both being starches, but the combo works great." —Elise

    Continue to 9 of 15 below

  • Spinach and Orzo Salad

    A bowl of spinach and orzo pasta salad, ready to serve

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "My parents love it when I cook for them, especially when it's a new recipe and they get to be the taste testers. They happily put up with the delays to the meal due to my tweaking the dish as they "dish out" their suggestions. I love their input, as they know much more about food than I do, and their suggestions almost always result in something better. This spinach, orzo, olives, and feta salad recipe comes from our happy family collaboration." —Elise

  • Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

    A bowl of Hawaiian macaroni salad with a serving spoon placed on a colorful plate

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Sally McKay / Christina Daley

    "What makes this summery side dish different from mainland pasta salads? Firstly, the macaroni is cooked past al-dente all the way to tender. The extra-soft noodles can better absorb vinegar for some bright acidity, then an ultra-creamy dressing made from lots of mayonnaise plus some milk. Then, grated carrots, sweet onion, and a little bit of sugar bring just the right sweetness to the party. It’s a perfectly balanced, decadently creamy salad that’s a great partner to any summer main dish." —Amanda Stanfield, Recipe Tester/Developer

  • Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

    A plate with smoked salmon pasta salad, ready to serve

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "The little bits of smoked salmon do pretty much all the heavy lifting as far as flavor goes. There's just enough mayo so the salmon sticks to the pasta. The celery and bell pepper provide color, coolness, and crunch." —Elise

  • 5-Ingredient Italian Pasta Salad

    5-ingredient pasta salad in a bowl with serving utensils

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Andrew Bui / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    "The importance of this pasta salad in my life cannot be overstated. The same goes for the simplicity of this recipe. It’s only five ingredients and it comes together in just 15 minutes." —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers

    Continue to 13 of 15 below

  • Halloumi Pasta Salad

    pasta salad (close-up)

    Simply Recipes / Sarah Crowder

    "Halloumi is a semi-hard salty cheese that's bouncy and squeaky when eaten cold. Its appeal is that it doesn't melt. The creamy cheese will hold its shape and brown nicely when cooked, making it ideal for searing, roasting, and grilling." —Sarah Crowder, Senior Art Director

  • Shrimp, Bacon, Avocado Pasta Salad

    A bowl of shrimp pasta salad

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Pro tip on pasta salads: add more vinegar than you would expect. A typical vinaigrette ratio is 2:1 or 3:1 oil to acid. This salad's vinaigrette is more like 2:3. Some of that acid is to counteract the richness of the avocado and bacon. Some of it is just because pasta salads do better with more vinegar. It brightens the flavor." —Elise

  • Pesto Pasta Salad

    A bowl of pesto pasta salad ready to serve

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Cherry tomatoes, nuts, peas, and olive tapenade are what I had on hand for this particular version, but you could also add goat cheese, slivered almonds, sun-dried tomatoes, or snow peas." —Elise

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