12 Fresh & Festive Pasta Salads That Belong in Your Picnic Basket
Looking for the perfect dishes to take on your next outdoor adventure? These 12 fresh and festive pasta salads are the ultimate picnic companions, combining vibrant flavors and easy portability. Whether you’re headed to the park, beach, or backyard, these recipes are designed to stay crisp, tasty, and crowd-pleasing all day long. Pack your basket with these colorful salads and get ready to elevate your picnic game!
Pizza Pasta Salad
The best of both worlds pizza and pasta, this Pizza Pasta Salad is sure to be a crowd favorite. With delicious pasta, pepperoni, mozzarella, and plenty of vegetables this is a great recipe for picnic and potlucks!
Instant Pot Pasta Salad
This Instant Pot Pasta Salad Recipe is delightful! It has so much built-in flavor from the rotini being cooked in Italian Dressing. The pasta salad is then stocked full of salami, feta cheese, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Did someone say picnic?!
Creamy Avocado Pasta Salad
This Avocado Pasta Salad recipe is a healthy summer salad that’s perfect for picnics and potlucks. It has a rich creamy avocado sauce with tomatoes and corn.
Rotini Pasta Salad with Pepperoni
This medley of perfectly cooked rotini pasta, pepperoni slices, and a mouthwatering blend of fresh ingredients will leave you craving more. Whether you’re hosting the next barbecue, packing a picnic, or simply looking for an easy side dish, this Rotini Pasta Salad is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Texas Style
This Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad, made with bacon, cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning, Texas Shape pasta and jalapenos gives this pasta salad a Texas flair for any potluck, picnic, or party.
Southwest Pasta Salad with Chicken
This cool Southwest Pasta Salad, with chicken, pasta, corn, and black beans, is covered in a creamy avocado dressing, and makes a perfect summer side dish.
Bacon Pasta Salad Primavera
Bacon Pasta Salad Primavera is an easy summer pasta salad with only 5 ingredients but plenty of bacon and a variety of Italian spring vegetables like you see in a pasta primavera dish.
Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
This deviled egg pasta salad takes side dishes to a whole new level. With a perfect combination of creamy, crunchy and tangy, this macaroni salad will take center stage at picnics or potlucks!
Tuna Pasta Salad (No Mayo)
This tuna pasta salad makes a super light yet filling summer lunch, and it’s made almost entirely with cupboard staples. There’s no mayo in sight and the Mediterranean flavors are absolutely mouthwatering!
Roasted Asparagus Pasta Salad
Roasted Asparagus Pasta Salad is the perfect spring and summer side dish. It’s full of colorful veggies, tender pasta, and tossed in a homemade lemon dressing. Ready in just a few minutes, this dish is perfect for a picnic!
Buttermilk Pesto Pasta Salad
Buttermilk Pesto Pasta Salad is the summer recipe of your dreams! Pasta is all dressed up with a creamy basil pesto dressing, mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, green olives and corn. So perfect for parties and picnics!
Shrimp Pasta Salad
This shrimp pasta salad recipe is creamy and irresistible! Full of crunchy veggies and herbs, this retro favorite hits the spot in summer.
