There’s something about pasta salad that makes it perfect for multiple occasions. It’s a simple supper that you can throw together on a busy weeknight, customized to what’s in the pantry. It’s also potluck portable, and equally delicious at room temperature or chilled right out of the fridge—perfect for parties or picnics. It can even be adapted for special diets: vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, dairy-free… even paleo if you use spaghetti squash or zucchini ‘noodles’. And it’s something that even the fussiest of eaters can enjoy.
We’ve got plenty of pasta salad options in the Recipe Finder. Here are four of our favorites:
- Herbed Olive and Double-Tomato Summer Pasta Salad is an all-time classic and one of our readers’ favorites. It’s beautiful, versatile, and clocks in at just 215 calories per serving.
- Orzo Salad with Grilled Vegetables makes a great side dish for summer barbecue parties. Toss vegetables on the fire and add them to the dish just before you bring it to the table.
- Tex-Mex Pasta Salad adds a Texas twist to a summer classic, with cheese, corn, and two kinds of peppers. It’s great as a side dish, or add rotisserie chicken to make a one-dish meal.
- Pasta Twist Salad with Olives pairs curly pasta with old-school antipasto ingredients: olives, artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, salami, and cheese. It doesn’t get much more classic!