6 Simple and Delicious Pasta Salad Ideas
Looking for pasta salad ideas? I love these quick and delicious pasta salads with ingredients from a simple black beans pasta salad with a cumin lime yogurt dressing, to a Mexican street corn pasta salad with sweet corn and Mexican cheese.
You can experiment with different combinations and variations when developing pasta salad ideas.
Start With The Perfect Pasta For A Delicious Pasta Salad
Base your pasta pairing on the dressing and whether or not the dressing is thin or creamy.
The Perfect Pasta Cuts for Different Sauces and Dressings
1. Thick and Chunky Dressings
The best pasta cuts for thick, creamy, and chunky dressings have ridges or spirals that carry the dressing, similar to penne and fusilli.
- Fusilli and Rotini are both spiral pastas. I love these because they hold on to dressings so well, especially an Italian or cilantro dressing, because the herbs tuck away inside the spiral really well.
- Penne and Macaroni – the ridges trap a thick dressing like a marinara or mayo-based dressing.
2. Rich and Creamy Dressings
Similarly to thick and chunky dressings, rich and creamy dressings pair well with pasta cuts that have ridges and spirals, so this list will be similar to the thick and chunky dressings list.
- Tortellini pasta is perfect with cream-based or cheesy sauces, red marinara-type sauces, and a creamy pesto sauce.
- Fusilli and Rotini
- Penne and Macaroni
3. Light and Tangy Dressings
You want small, light pasta, like orzo, cous cous, or capellini, for light and tangy sauces. these pasta cuts are delicate and perfect for light spring and summer.
4. Light and Smooth Dressings
Light and smooth dressings are lime or lemon olive oil dressings, work well with pasta cuts like (farfalle) bowtie pasta, or orzo.
My Favorite Pasta Salads When I’m Looking For Pasta Salad Ideas
These simple and delicious pasta salad ideas range from 20 minutes from start to finish, depending on the ingredients added to the pasta salad.
Cooking pasta isn’t lengthy; it can take 12-15 minutes, depending on the cut. These pasta salads are perfect for busy weeknights, summer picnics, or as a quick side dish.
20-Minute Simple Black Bean Pasta Salad
It’s light, tangy, and bright. It’s a good source of bean protein and has a lime-based dressing.
2. 20-Minute Elote Pasta Salad
Mexican street corn is delish, and this Mexican street corn pasta salad combines all of those ingredients with bowtie pasta and a cumin lime crema dressing.
3. Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad
Cilantro, tuna, and mayo with pasta! Tons of flavor and so simple to make, this creamy tuna pasta salad is perfect for cookouts, gatherings, or a simple weekday recipe.
4. Southern-Style Macaroni Salad
This is MY favorite pasta salad, a recipe I still ask my mom to make. It was her way of getting us to eat carrots when we were kids, and while the idea of finely shredded carrots in a pasta salad doesn’t sound like it would taste good, I’m obsessed with this combination.
5. 30-Minute Shrimp Pesto Pasta Salad
Another sauce I love—fresh basil, pine nuts, zesty lemon, garlic, salt, and olive oil—with pasta? It’s a dream combination. This pasta has shrimp, but you can swap the shrimp for fresh mozzarella cheese, chicken, or salmon.
6. 20-Minute Shrimp Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad
Lime, cilantro, garlic, and finely diced red onion with thick Argentinian shrimp and bowtie pasta, and extra sweet tomatoes.
Share and Comment
Share and tag me with your favorite sides. I’d love to know your favorites, and to see photos of your creations.
