9 Summer Pasta Salad Recipes for Cookouts, Potlucks, and Easy Dinners These are the go-to warm-weather sides and mains that we'll be making all season long. Close Credit: Ren Fuller Summer pasta salads are a warm-weather classic. They’re easy to make, better if made ahead, and travel well (so we take them to potlucks all the time). They’re also crowd pleasers, the kind of dish that always goes fast at a cookout—and they pair well with all kinds of main dishes like grilled chicken or fish, burgers, quiche, and more. Our recipes highlight peak produce like juicy tomatoes, crunchy green beans, and fresh corn. Some add cheese or chickpeas to amp up the protein. All our pasta salads include crunch (think chopped celery or green beans) for contrast with the soft pasta. We like a zingy vinaigrette or a creamy dressing with lemon to keep things interesting. These summer pasta salad recipes hit all the right notes, and you’ll be making them on repeat all season long—they’re that good. 32 Cookout Sides for Your Next Summer Gathering 01 of 09 Pasta Salad With Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Chickpeas Credit: Ren Fuller A protein-packed pasta salad that also makes a tasty vegetarian main. This dish balances the classic pairing of creamy mozzarella and juicy cherry tomatoes with chickpeas, and a zippy lemony-garlic-oregano dressing brings plenty of punchy flavor. View Recipe 02 of 09 Corn and Zucchini Orzo Salad This summer pasta salad is a little like a rice salad. Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta, and its small size makes it superb for pasta salads. Here, we pair it with fresh corn kernels, diced zucchini, red onion, and feta cheese for a lively, balanced dish. View Recipe 03 of 09 Three-Bean Pasta Salad Two types of canned beans (chickpeas and pinto beans) meet fresh green beans in this protein-packed, dairy-free pasta salad. We make it with small pasta shells that catch the beans. It’s dressed with a mustard, red wine vinegar, and honey vinaigrette. View Recipe 04 of 09 Pasta Salad With Peas and Summer Beans Credit: Bryan Gardner For a healthier take on pasta salad, try this recipe, which pairs whole-wheat penne with fresh green beans, frozen peas, and your favorite herbs. The original recipe calls for cilantro, but we’ve swapped it for mint, parsley, or a mix of herbs. View Recipe 05 of 09 Soba Salad With Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Credit: Marcus Nilsson Need a vegan pasta salad? Try this fresh take, which uses soba noodles rather than pasta, and pairs them with grilled eggplant and tomato, tossed with a punchy dressing made with soy sauce, lemon juice, and sesame oil. Chopped cilantro is the finishing touch that brings it all together deliciously. View Recipe 06 of 09 Tomato and Basil Pasta Salad Credit: Hans Gissinger Consider this a caprese pasta salad. Juicy ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and plenty of basil are combined with campanelle—or another short pasta if you prefer. View Recipe 07 of 09 Pasta Salad With Chickpeas, Green Beans, and Basil Credit: Ren Fuller This potluck favorite has a creamy lemon dressing that brings together green beans, canned chickpeas, red onion, capers, and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano with butterfly-shaped farfalle. It’s a make-ahead dish that travels well. View Recipe 08 of 09 Marinated-Artichoke and Green-Bean Pasta Salad Credit: Ren Fuller Skip the mayonnaise and enjoy this fresh, light pasta salad. It’s dressed in olive oil, artichoke brine, and lemon juice, which balance the flavors of artichoke hearts, red onion, and green beans. A little Parmesan and some red pepper flakes are the finishing touches to this refreshing dish. View Recipe 09 of 09 Spaghetti Salad Credit: Mike Krautter This spaghetti salad may just be the best way to use up all your summer produce. Featuring fresh veggies like tomatoes, English cucumbers, onion, and bell peppers, this pasta salad is packed with satisfying crunch. The salad can be made up to two days ahead, and the more time you let it sit in the fridge, the more the pasta soaks up the delicious vinaigrette. Bookmark this side so you can come back to it again and again this season. View Recipe Explore more: Recipes Ingredients Pasta and Grains Pasta Salad Recipes