Summer cookouts are calling, and your pasta salad is about to get a major glow-up. Ditch the same-old-same-old and prepare something different this year. Whether you’re craving something cool and zesty, a savory seafood salad, or even a bold, street-food-inspired fusion, these recipes will become the stars of your al fresco dining. But, if you do happen to be craving a more customary recipe, we have options for that too!
5 Summer Pasta Salad Recipes
Crab Pasta Salad
Who says your pasta salad and seafood dishes have to be separate? This recipe for Crab Pasta Salad uses small shell pasta that remind us of the sea alongside chunks of crab meat. Besides the star of the show, crab, this recipe also features tomatoes, shallots, and a tangy mustard dressing that combines with a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning. It’s all served in a grilled bell pepper shell for an extra crunch.
Easy, Refreshing Summer Pasta Salad
In case you’re wishing to stick with traditional recipe, this Easy, Refreshing Summer Pasta Salad is as classic as it gets. We toss fusilli pasta with diced pepperoni, cherry tomatoes, St. Malachi cheese, cucumbers, and red wine vinaigrette. Garnish your bowl with basil leaves to add in another gem from the garden that completes this dish with a sweet and peppery touch.
Greek Olive Pasta Salad from Half-Baked Harvest
In case you’re looking for something that strays away from the Italian pasta salad you usually make, this Greek version is just the one. Half-Baked Harvest’s recipe coats green olives, pine nuts, fresh herbs, bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, pepperoncini, as well as feta cheese in a Greek dressing. For the dressing, think nutty tahini, sweet honey, and a kick of Dijon mustard.
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad from Delish
Even further from the coasts of Europe, this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad from Makinze Gore at Delish plays with the Latin flavors of elote. No more messy street corn here! Bite into forkfuls of tender pasta, corn, and cotjia cheese in a delectable, spicy crema dressing. While pasta salad is usually served cold, this is one of those dishes that can be savored warm as well.
Healthy Creamy Pasta Salad from Dishing Out Health
There are small changes that you can make to your pasta salad to make it healthier for all but still undeniably delicious. Jamie Vespa from Dishing Out Health creates a Creamy Pasta Salad that uses only a partial amount of mayo that other creamy recipes use. You can even swap out the mayo for plain whole-milk Greek yogurt as probiotic goodness. The rest of the ingredients are ultimately up to you but Vespa recommends tomatoes, celery, onion, peas, olives, and herbs. Which are even better when you get them from your local farmers’ market.
Story by Kylie Thomas
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