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Summer Pasta Salads

Summer Pasta Salads

Updated June 13, 2007

Credit: Oxmoor House

Fresh and flavorful pasta salads, including your favorite macaroni salad recipes, are fitting side dishes for your favorite grilled entrées. But many of them can also star as main dishes for an easy summer dinner.

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Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella Recipe

This bright and fresh Caprese-inspired pasta toss is the ultimate summer main for a busy weeknight, outdoor picnic, or lunch on the go. With just two steps, it couldn't be easier.

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Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad Recipe

Just a bit of a rich and pungent cheese can go quite a long way. Tossing hot pasta with a few ounces of creamy Brie makes for a light, luscious, and flavorful sauce to coat this abundant bowl of chicken, fresh veggies, and whole-grain noodles.

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Field Pea and Pasta Salad

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Field Pea and Pasta Salad Recipe

Farfalle and fresh veggies make a seriously delicious summer side.

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Farmers' Market Pasta Salad

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Farmers' Market Pasta Salad Recipe

Cook the pasta al dente (1 or 2 minutes shorter than package directions specify) so it holds its shape when tossed with the vegetables and vinaigrette. Ripe for riffs, the salad is also delicious with cheese-filled tortellini.

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Green Bean Pasta Salad with Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Green Bean Pasta Salad with Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette Recipe

This pasta side dish Is made with casarecce [cah-sah-RECH-ee], a pasta that looks similar to a scroll with the long sides curled inward toward the center. If you can’t find casarecce, you can use penne pasta.

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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad Recipe

Turn your favorite broccoli salad into a pasta salad by adding chopped broccoli, grapes, pecans, and bacon to cooked pasta and tossing with a sweet and creamy mayonnaise dressing.

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Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes Recipe

Add zing to your salads with fresh dill, or swap it for basil, mint, or parsley. For pasta, try using whole wheat for its earthy, toothsome quality; any kind will do.

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Orzo Salad with Zucchini and Feta

Credit: Con Poulos; Styling: Jeffrey W. Miller

Orzo Salad with Zucchini and Feta Recipe

Zucchini and feta pair well with orzo in this light summer side dish.

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Cavatappi Pasta Salad with Walnut-Sage Pesto

Cavatappi Pasta Salad with Walnut-Sage Pesto Recipe

A traditional pesto is made with pine nuts and basil, but this version features the more intense flavors of walnuts and fresh sage. The warm pasta is tossed with the pesto, roasted butternut squash, and arugula for a satisfying salad that can fill in as a main dish.

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Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad Recipe

All your favorite summer flavors in one bowl? Believe it! This pasta salad pairs perfectly with grilled fish or a hearty burger.

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Peppery Monterey Jack Pasta Salad

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Peppery Monterey Jack Pasta Salad Recipe

Acini di pepe are tiny pasta rounds resembling peppercorns. Use ditalini (very short tube-shaped macaroni) or any other small pasta shape if you can't find acini di pepe.

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Greek Pasta Salad

Credit: Kate Sears

Greek Pasta Salad Recipe

Go Greek with your pasta salad by stirring in cucumber, tomato, olives, spinach, and feta, and tossing the mixture in a tangy vinaigrette.

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Eggplant Pasta Salad

Credit: Anna Williams

Eggplant Pasta Salad Recipe

Make a Mediterranean pasta salad by cooking eggplant along with tomatoes and olive oil, then tossing the eggplant mixture with penne pasta, pine nuts and parsley.

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Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad Recipe

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Creamy Cavatappi with Edamame, Lemon, and Tarragon

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Rachael Burrow

Creamy Cavatappi with Edamame, Lemon, and Tarragon Recipe

This hearty pasta dish will go fast at summer gatherings. We prefer Cavatappi noodles as the base, but you can substitute your favorite type.

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Tuna-Macaroni Salad

Credit: Mark Thomas; Styling: Stephana Bottom

Tuna-Macaroni Salad Recipe

This colorful macaroni salad with tuna features grated carrot, chopped celery and red onion, all tossed in a creamy mayonnaise-yogurt dressing. Serve it chilled as a side salad or a main dish.

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Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Penne Salad with Goat Cheese

Credit: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Penne Salad with Goat Cheese Recipe

Make an upscale pasta salad that’s company worthy by combining penne pasta, roasted asparagus, arugula, herbes de Provence and goat cheese and tossing with a lemony vinaigrette.

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Smoked Gouda and Penne Pasta Salad

Credit: Ray Kachatorian

Smoked Gouda and Penne Pasta Salad Recipe

You’ll need only six ingredients for this flavorful and easy pasta salad. Smoked gouda and sun-dried tomato are the keys to the salad’s robust flavor.

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Orecchiette with Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, and Basil

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Cindy Barr

Orecchiette with Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, and Basil Recipe

Taking its cue from Italy's insalata caprese, this easy dish combines fresh mozzarella cheese with basil and tomatoes.

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Caesar Pasta Salad

Credit: Andrew McCaul; Styling: Lynn Miller

Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe

Make a creamy Caesar salad dressing and add to cooked fusilli pasta, along with tomatoes and Parmesan cheese, for a flavorful side dish pasta salad.

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Macaroni Salad with Summer Tomatoes

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro

Macaroni Salad with Summer Tomatoes Recipe

White balsamic vinegar, tomato, and basil help this side dish maintain its fresh appeal. Click here for more macaroni salad recipes.

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Green Bean and Whole-grain Penne Salad

Credit: Leo Gong; Styling: Dan Becker

Green Bean and Whole-grain Penne Salad Recipe

This salad is all about contrasts in flavor and texture: chewy, nutty pasta mingled with crisp, sweet green beans and strewn with bits of crunchy bacon and creamy.

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Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette Recipe

Our colorful pasta salad is so satisfying it qualifies as dinner.

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Sweet Pea-and-Mint Pasta Toss

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Sweet Pea-and-Mint Pasta Toss Recipe

Serve this minty side with grilled shrimp for a quick company-worthy dinner. Can't find torcetti? Use cavatappi or gemelli.

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Triple-Pepper Pasta Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Triple-Pepper Pasta Salad Recipe

This dish is an exposition of sweet peppers. Here they're charred and pureed for a sauce, roasted and stirred into the pasta, and quick-cured for a pretty topper.

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Grilled Yellow Squash and Zucchini Pasta Salad

Credit: Leo Gong; Styling: Dan Becker

Grilled Yellow Squash and Zucchini Pasta Salad Tout

Use your bounty of summer squash to make a fresh and colorful pasta salad. The recipe calls for bowtie pasta, but you can use any shaped pasta you have on hand.

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Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad Recipe

Punch up this classic pairing of watermelon and feta with peppery watercress or arugula.

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Pesto Pasta Salad

Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

Add bright flavor and a punch of color to the traditional pasta salad by using a simple homemade pesto. Mix the pesto ingredients in a food processor for a quick side, which only calls for three other ingredients.

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Orzo with Sesame and Peas

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Karen Shinto

Orzo with Sesame and Peas Recipe

Paul Pastina was looking for something colorful and light to serve with chicken and fish when he came up with this quick dish infused with Asian flavors.

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Roasted Chicken and Bow Tie Pasta Salad

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Roasted Chicken and Bow Tie Pasta Salad Recipe

Instead of a mayonnaise-based dressing, this fruited pasta salad has a citrus-mustard vinaigrette. Chopped celery and toasted walnuts add crunch, and red grapes contribute just the right amount of sweetness.

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Chicken-Penne Salad with Green Beans

Credit: Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

Chicken-Penne Salad with Green Beans Recipe

Fresh green beans and roasted red peppers are the stars of this satisfying pasta salad. Because it has shredded chicken, it's certainly hearty enough for a quick weeknight meal and takes about 35 minutes to make.

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Greek Pasta Salad

Credit: Randy Mayor; Katie Stoddard

Greek Pasta Salad Recipe

Feature your favorite Greek flavors in this easy pasta salad: feta cheese, cucumbers, and Kalamata olives. The dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, and oregano further bring out the salad's Grecian nature, and fresh tuna makes it worthy of serving on Mount Olympus.

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Tomato-and-Gorgonzola Pasta Salad

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Tomato-and-Gorgonzola Pasta Salad Recipe

We love juicy beefsteaks for their sweet, intense flavor. Colorful small tomatoes and any crumbled cheese work well here too.

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Macaroni Salad with Bacon, Peas, and Creamy Dijon Dressing

Macaroni Salad with Bacon, Peas, and Creamy Dijon Dressing Recipe

It's hard to say what makes this salad so spectacular–it's either crisp bacon crumbles or the creamy dressing that's made with cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream. This will be quite a crowd pleaser at your next picnic.

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Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

Tex-Mex Pasta Salad Recipe

This kid-friendly recipe is a takeoff on macaroni and cheese; it makes a large batch that holds well for two or three days. Serve with pickled jalapeño slices for grownups who like spicy food.

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Summer Pasta Salads

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Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

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Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad

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Field Pea and Pasta Salad

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Farmers' Market Pasta Salad

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Green Bean Pasta Salad with Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

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Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

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Orzo Salad with Zucchini and Feta

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Cavatappi Pasta Salad with Walnut-Sage Pesto

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Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

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Peppery Monterey Jack Pasta Salad

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Greek Pasta Salad

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Eggplant Pasta Salad

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Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad

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Creamy Cavatappi with Edamame, Lemon, and Tarragon

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Tuna-Macaroni Salad

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Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Penne Salad with Goat Cheese

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Smoked Gouda and Penne Pasta Salad

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Orecchiette with Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, and Basil

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Caesar Pasta Salad

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Macaroni Salad with Summer Tomatoes

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Green Bean and Whole-grain Penne Salad

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Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

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Sweet Pea-and-Mint Pasta Toss

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Triple-Pepper Pasta Salad

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Grilled Yellow Squash and Zucchini Pasta Salad

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