15 Pasta Salad Recipes That Prove Noodles Are Best Served Cold

Homemade Antipasto Salad

Total Time: 1 hour
Main Ingredients: Spiral pasta, salami, pepperoni, provolone, olives
Level: Intermediate

If you like pasta salads that are filling enough to be a main course, this antipasto-inspired dish is for you. Experiment with the cheeses and cured meats you decide to mix into the salad, and use your favorite type of olives.

“This colorful antipasto salad is a tasty crowd-pleaser. Guests love the homemade dressing, which is a nice change from bottled Italian.” —Recipe contributor Linda Harrington, Windham, New Hampshire

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Total Time: 30 minutes
Main Ingredients: Macaroni, cider vinegar, mayonnaise, carrot, celery, brown sugar
Level: Beginner

The secret to this iconic Hawaiian side dish is using high-quality mayonnaise and letting the whole thing sit in the fridge for a few hours before serving so all the flavors meld together and the pasta softens. Make it your main course by mixing in chopped ham, canned tuna or hard-boiled eggs.

“I had to figure out how to make Hawaiian macaroni salad at home because my husband was getting tired of ordering enough for our whole family from a local restaurant. Sometimes I use green onions and serve the salad with a drizzle of teriyaki sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.” —Recipe contributor Blaine Kahle, Florence, Oregon

Greek Pasta Salad

Total Time: 10 minutes
Main Ingredients: Spiral pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, Kalamata olives
Level: Beginner

Spiral pasta is an excellent noodle for pasta salad because its ridges allow the dressing and seasoning to cling to each bite. Any small pasta shape, even orzo, will work, though. Gluten-free pasta is also easy to swap in. With so many other flavors and textures in the mix, you almost won’t be able to tell it’s gluten-free!

A blend of complimentary flavors from traditional ingredients, this Greek pasta salad gets topped with a tangy dressing to pull it all together. Twist the recipe by adding all but 3 tablespoons of the feta cheese into the dressing and whisk until well blended. Garnish the salad with stuffed grape leaf pieces (Dolma) over the top or along the edges for a decorative design. —Recipe contributor Tina Mirilovich, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Mediterranean Tortellini Salad

Total Time: 30 minutes
Main Ingredients: Frozen cheese tortellini, smoked turkey sausage, pesto, baby spinach
Level: Beginner

Keep a bag of cheese tortellini in your freezer so you can make this lively pasta salad whenever the craving hits. Make your own pesto at home, or stock up on any of these excellent store-bought pestos.

“One of my childhood friends moved to Italy 20 years ago. During a recent visit to see her, I enjoyed a scrumptious salad made with tortellini and fresh vegetables. I fell in love with the dish and have been trying to recreate ever since. How’d I do?” —Recipe contributor Kelly Mapes, Fort Collins, Colorado

Pepperoni Pasta Salad

Total Time: 30 minutes
Main Ingredients: Tricolor spiral pasta, cheddar, pepperoni, Italian dressing
Level: Beginner

Simple and inexpensive to make, this zesty, protein-rich pasta salad tastes even better the next day. Thankfully, it keeps for three to four days in an airtight container.

Bottled Italian dressing and pepperoni add zip to this colorful combination. Serve it right away or assemble it ahead of time. The longer this salad chills, the yummier it is! —Recipe contributor Shannon Lommen, Kaysville, Utah

Spaghetti Salad

Total Time: 20 minutes
Main Ingredients: Thin spaghetti, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, bell peppers
Level: Beginner

This bright spaghetti salad is vegetarian, but mix in any kind of flavorful meat (salami, pepperoni or even diced grilled chicken) for extra heft. We also can’t resist throwing in chopped-up olives for briny flavor.

This attractive, fresh-tasting salad can conveniently be prepared the night before. It makes enough for a crowd! —Recipe contributor Lucia Johnson, Massena, New York

Southwest Corn Salad

Total Time: 15 minutes
Main Ingredients: Tricolor spiral pasta, canned corn, canned black beans, tomato
Level: Beginner

With creamy black beans, sweet corn and chopped green chiles, this colorful Southwest-inspired salad proves that Italian isn’t the only flavor profile for cold pasta salads.

“I first saw this Southwest corn salad recipe in the Omaha paper a few years ago. It’s ideal for family get-togethers of all kinds. Hearty enough to serve during winter, this salad always brings back memories of summer picnics!” —Recipe contributor Joanna Lonnecker, Omaha, Nebraska

Macaroni Salad Recipe

Total Time: 30 minutes
Main Ingredients: Elbow macaroni, mayonnaise, celery, carrot, onion
Level: Beginner

Macaroni salad is in the Cookout Hall of Fame for good reason: It’s creamy, crunchy, sweet and tangy. We like to garnish the salad with chopped hard-boiled eggs, which you can also stir into the salad. For some heat, add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper.

This classic recipe is a refreshingly light take on an all-time favorite. It’s perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or a festive weekend barbecue. —Recipe contributor Dorothy Bayes, Sardis, Ohio

Taco Pasta Salad

Total Time: 30 minutes
Main Ingredients: Spiral pasta, ground beef, taco seasoning, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cheddar
Level: Beginner

Crumbling tortilla chips over this spicy, savory pasta salad adds the perfect crunch to every bite. Serve this salad warm or cold with Mexican street corn and cilantro lime slaw.

My family loves this savory taco pasta salad. Serve taco or corn chips on the side, and you have a complete meal. —Recipe contributor Gert Rosenau, Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Sesame Almond Slaw

Total Time: 20 minutes
Main Ingredients: Ramen noodles, cabbage, romaine, green onion
Level: Beginner

This colorful slaw makes a delicious and quick side dish for glazed salmon or fried chicken. Crushed ramen noodles and slivered almonds add the ideal amount of crunch, and a simple soy dressing brings everything together.

“Crunchy veggies and noodles are coated in a tangy dressing in this pleasant slaw.” —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Asian Noodle Salad

Total Time: 25 minutes
Main Ingredients: Thin rice noodles, spinach, carrot, pineapple
Level: Beginner

Vermicelli rice noodles are one of the most surprisingly versatile ingredients to keep stocked in your pantry. After making this noodle salad, you’ll want to drizzle the tangy peanut dressing on everything from grilled chicken to quinoa bowls.

“This rice noodle salad is easy, sweet, spicy, nutty and light. Many friends request this for get-togethers, and our family enjoys it at least once a month for dinner.” —Recipe contributor Krista Frank, Rhododendron, Oregon

Caprese Pasta Salad

Total Time: 30 minutes
Main Ingredients: Penne, heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella, basil
Level: Beginner

To jazz up these classic Italian flavors, stir in baby spinach, halved kalamata olives and garbanzo beans. For another twist on the basil, tomato and mozzarella trio, try this luscious burrata caprese.

This easy pasta salad is always a favorite, especially when summer tomatoes are at their peak. It comes together quickly, but if you can make it ahead of time, the flavors seem to get better after it’s chilled for a few hours. —Recipe contributor Debby Harden, Lansing, Michigan

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Total Time: 30 minutes
Main Ingredients: Spiral pasta, romaine, chicken, tomatoes, Parmesan, Caesar dressing
Level: Beginner

Pre-cooked rotisserie chicken helps this filling pasta salad come together in a flash. For an extra impressive dish, make creamy Caesar dressing from scratch.

My colleagues and I made a pact to eat healthier, and we took turns sharing dishes. I’m happy to report that, thanks to recipes like this crisp and tangy salad, we all trimmed down. —Recipe contributor Teresa Jordan, Springville, Utah

Orzo with Feta and Arugula

Total Time: 30 minutes
Main Ingredients: Orzo, arugula, feta, almonds, dried cranberries
Level: Beginner

A tiny pasta made with semolina and eggs, orzo is fantastic in soups, salads and hearty skillets. If you don’t have it on hand, rice is a great swap in this sweet and tangy salad.

“In my family, we love salads because they’re an interesting way to blend many different flavors. This orzo salad is one of our favorites—it tastes delicious served either warm or cool.” —Recipe contributor Laura Adamsky, Decatur, Alabama

Tri-Color Pasta Salad

Total Time: 20 minutes
Main Ingredients: Spiral pasta, broccoli florets, olives
Level: Beginner

This tri-color pasta salad is simple, fresh and flexible. You can toss in plenty of extras, like sunflower seeds, diced bell peppers or chunks of cheese—whatever floats your boat!

Tackle gatherings with a bright side dish. This tri-color pasta salad with broccoli, tomatoes, olives and a hardworking dressing is one of the easiest cold pasta salad recipes you could take. —Recipe contributor Amanda Cable, Boxford, Massachusetts

Pasta Salad FAQ

Should you rinse pasta for cold pasta salad?

Yes. For cold pasta salad, rinsing your pasta in cold water immediately after cooking helps lower the temperature of the pasta quickly, which prevents it from overcooking. It also rinses off the starch that can cause noodles to clump.

How do you keep cold pasta salad from drying out?

Before adding the dressing, toss the cooked pasta in some olive oil to help prevent the noodles from drying out. Use a bit more dressing than you think you’ll need, because the ingredients will continue to absorb the liquid while the salad sits.

Another way to add moisture? Stir in chopped fresh tomatoes, which are packed with flavorful liquids.

How many days is cold pasta salad good for?

It’s best to eat cold pasta salad within four or five days of storing it in the fridge, depending on the ingredients you’ve used. If your pasta salad is loaded with meats and cheeses or a mayonnaise-based dressing, eat it within two days.