21 pasta salad recipes

A scrumptious pasta salad that's both healthy and easy to make!

This is a great way to use up extra home made dressing. Cook pasta the day before. Then add your leftover dressing and marinate in the refrigerator overnight. The pasta will absorb all the goodness from the dressing and is perfect for a quick and easy lunch or supper.

This was the side-dish my mother-in law made for Easter dinner, and my favorite. Freshly homemade pasta was mixed with basil pesto, sun-dried tomato, arugula and chunks of fresh mozzarella cheese. It was so delicious and flavorful. Here it is...

This was very good. I had a 26 ounce jar of salsa and used almost all of it. I used the last 6-8 ounces at the end right before I served it.

Turkey pasta salad with corn, zucchini, and picante-creamy garlic dressing. A Tex-Mex spin on leftover turkey, ready in 20 minutes and better after a chill in the fridge.

Pasta salad primavera: warm or cold pasta tossed with broccoli, red pepper, carrots, tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil. A light, vegetable-forward Italian spring salad that works any temperature.

Italian tomato pasta salad with elbow macaroni, canned tomatoes, white wine vinegar, herbs, and parmesan. A no-mayo, oil-free cold pasta salad that chills for hours to blend flavors.

Vegan pasta and red kidney bean salad with diced zucchini, green pepper, tomato and green olives, bound in eggless mayonnaise with chili powder, coriander, paprika and sage. A protein-rich room-temperature salad for picnics and potlucks.

Sweet and sour pasta salad with kamut spirals, kidney and black beans, red pepper, scallions, and basil. A protein-packed vegan picnic salad that holds up beautifully for make-ahead lunches.

Pasta salad with marinated artichoke hearts, alfalfa sprouts, black olives, and red wine vinegar dressing. A fresh, oil-free Italian-style cold pasta salad with vegetables.

Colorful rotini tossed with black-eyed peas, sweet corn, crisp bell peppers, and zesty salsa-lime vinaigrette. Perfect make-ahead potluck side.

Grilled shrimp with pesto pasta salad: chilled linguine tossed in homemade basil pesto with red and green peppers, topped with quick-grilled shrimp skewers. A summer entrée salad that works hot or cold.

Tri-pasta salad combines ziti, bow-tie, and spinach rotini with tri-color peppers, olives, and capers in a no-oil herbed red wine vinaigrette. Colorful, tangy, and low-fat for picnics and potlucks.

Curried turkey pasta salad tosses leftover turkey with whole wheat shells, mango chutney, toasted almonds, and a yogurt-mayo dressing bloomed in warm curry powder. A bright, crunchy use for Thanksgiving leftovers.

Pasta and white bean salad with roasted red peppers, pesto, and light mayonnaise dressing. A quick, protein-packed cold salad that comes together in under 30 minutes.

An easy pasta salad that uses the fresh veggies you have on hand and some Italian dressing so you can put it together quickly, we love quick and easy recipes.