24 Picnic-Perfect Pasta Salad Recipes to Enjoy All Summer Long

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8 to 10

It doesn't get better than the O.G.—when it's homemade, that is. "In the spirit of all the most delicious side dishes, it actually tastes better the longer it sits in the fridge," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen says, "so I highly recommend making it a day ahead of your picnic. Pick up a bag of ice on your way to the park to keep it chilled, so you don’t let that mayonnaise sit out in the sun for too long."

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

"This caprese pasta salad has all the beloved flavors of the Italian antipasto (juicy tomatoes, creamy cheese, fresh basil and bright balsamic vinegar), plus the picnic-friendly portability of a cookout side," Gillen explains. Most notably, it's free of mayonnaise, in case that's what usually deters you from eating pasta salad.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

This meatless take is citrusy, herby and downright rejuvenating. "It's easy on the pasta, my personal preference,” founder of Preppy Kitchen, John Kanell, writes, "and uses a small cut, like orzo, so you get a little in every bite. It's generous on the crunchy, salty mix-ins, like cucumber, tomato, bell pepper, Kalamata olives and feta."

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

This picnic beauty has all the crunchy elements of the iconic sandwich, minus the bread. Having tested this recipe myself, I suggest using a type of pasta with ridges so it can better hold the dressing. And don’t slice the produce until the pasta and bacon are already cooking—you won’t be able to mix everything until they’ve fully cooled, and you don’t want the avocado to turn brown before serving.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

A few of your favorite ingredients, united in savory harmony. It's meaty, briny, creamy and tossed in balsamic-mustard vinaigrette for good measure. Better yet, the salami and cheese contribute to its high protein content (32 grams per serving, to be precise).

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Buttery avocado and easy canned beans make this pasta salad recipe feel indulgent and satisfying without weighing you down. I'm also betting that this dish will fit right in at your next Taco Tuesday, if not a picnic or cookout. Adjust the jalapeño depending on how mild or spicy you'd prefer it.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

If the bacon isn't enough to sway you, maybe the lemon-garlic breadcrumb topping will. You can certainly make the whole thing ahead and serve it chilled, but you can also prepare everything but the bacon in advance, then crumble it in right before plating so it's as crisp as possible.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes,
• Serves: 6

This fruity pasta salad recipe is all about texture. Think crisp apples, juicy grapes and crunchy chopped pecans. Just be sure not to overcook the pasta on this one, and spritz the apples with extra lemon to keep them from browning (especially if you're going to prepare it ahead).

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4 to 6

Proof that lettuce (and Caesar salad in general) doesn't need to be boring. "I've updated it to include omega-rich avocado in place of eggs, which yields an even creamier consistency than the classic dressing," recipe creator Kelly Senyei explains. It'd taste great on raw veggies, pretzels, pita bread and basically any dunkable snack to boot.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: low carb, keto-friendly, no cook
• Serves: 4

Spiralized cukes are even more refreshing than standard zoodles, don't @ me. It may not be a pasta salad in the traditional sense, but it's a fun substitute for low-carb, keto or gluten-free eaters. You might have your doubts, but it'll turn you into a tofu fan with just one bite.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, <30 minutes
• Serves: 4

It's as close to store-bought, old-school mac salad as you can get, only way more flavorful. Chalk it up to swapping gloppy mayo for tangy sour cream and apple cider vinegar. The raisins and honey also offer complimentary sweetness that will instantly win you over.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

Salty miso dressing + spicy shishito and red chile peppers + sweet-tart strawberries = an unexpected yet epic barbecue side. "While adding strawberries to a salad like this may seem unusual (and it is), it really works," recipe creator Susan Spungen writes. "The juiciness of the berries adds a cool and sweet-tart contrast to the slight spiciness of the peppers and the salty miso dressing."

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, low carb, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

This recipe proves that simplicity can be downright delicious. Buy your zoodles pre-spiralized, or slice them yourself with a peeler or grater. Of course, you can substitute regular long pasta for the veggie noodles and add chopped zucchini to the mix instead. The pasta salad is your oyster.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 2

Not all pasta salad recipes need to be served cold (although you could nosh on this one straight from the fridge, if you'd prefer). Whip up this crisp, citrusy number for a cool alfresco dinner on the patio, and add grilled chicken to the mix if you're feeling ambitious.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

Behold: a fall pasta salad recipe that you'll want to make a part of your weekly rotation come September, because summer does *not* have dibs on this side dish. Tender, sweet butternut squash is just the match for tangy goat cheese and crunchy pine nuts.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 6

Give the elbow macaroni a rest and trade it for tender orzo. The shape alone makes the dish appear more elegant. "You will want to cool your orzo completely to prevent it from clumping together," recipe creator Alyssa Rivers writes. "Running it under cold water in a colander will quickly help the salad cool."

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, high protein
• Serves: 10

Peanut noodles taste just as divine cold as they do warm. Here, they're loaded with crisp veggies, like cucumbers and carrots, tender chicken and fresh cilantro. If you're feeling lazy, opt for store-bought rotisserie chicken to save yourself some cooking time.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

Does it get summerier than fresh herbs, summer squash, zucchini and corn? I think not. (Oh, and you'll want to drizzle the garlicky basil vinaigrette on everything.) "Tossing the hot pasta with the goat cheese is key here, as the pasta melts the goat cheese and makes for a creamy sauce," recipe creator Tieghan Gerard attests.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, vegetarian
• Serves: 4

Come for the charred corn, summer tomatoes and chopped avocado, stay for the citrusy chive-yogurt dressing and pearl mozzarella. I'm betting some frizzled prosciutto would pair beautifully here, or even a touch of store-bought pesto.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

For those of you who prefer your Mediterranean fare with meat. Crumbled feta, mixed olives, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and hard salami make for a refreshing yet hearty pasta salad recipe. Don't even get me started on the oregano-basil dressing.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 5 to 6

How does this protein-packed side come together so quickly, you ask? You can thank my favorite cheat in the book: shredded rotisserie chicken. If you're making it ahead, keep some starchy pasta water on deck to increase the volume of the dressing and keep the dish from drying out too much in the fridge.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

Believe it or not, hulled strawberries give summer tomatoes a run for their money. (After all, balsamic glaze is their soulmate.) "This is a stellar dish for any summer grill-out or tailgating, or even just a lovely dinner inside at home," recipe creator Ali Martin says. "And if you’re not feeling the chilled vibe, this pasta also works well served warm."

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

This dish will change the way you see ramen noodles forever. They're paired with shredded veggies, slivered almonds and a sweet-and-sour dressing, so they're a far cry from the microwave soup you lived on in college.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 6 to 8

As if trading elbows for cheese-stuffed tortellini wasn't ingenious enough, smashing the cucumbers ensures that they'll soak up as much of the flavorful vinaigrette as possible. Keep the leftovers in the fridge for up to two days (if there are any, that is).