Recipe Roundup

35 of Our Very Best Pasta Salad Recipes (and Other Cooling Noodle Dishes)

These cold noodles and modern pasta salads make the perfect summer meal.
Pasta salad with grilled eggplant tomatoes mozzarella and zucchini.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege

We've all had disappointing pasta salads, but when you start with the right recipe, there's nothing better than a big bowl of summer noodles. Whether you're looking for a make-ahead pasta salad recipe served at room temp or truly cool noodle dishes to help you beat the heat, we have options for you, including romesco-tossed pasta, noodle bowls bursting with in-season veg, refreshing sōmen, springy sesame noodles, soba salads, chilled ramen, and more.

  • A serving bowl of pasta salad made with orecchiette and marinated vegetables.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    1/35

    Easy Pasta Salad

    This easy pasta salad recipe practically makes itself: Toss the veg with vinegar and oil, and the juices are pulled out into a concentrated summery dressing.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    2/35

    Pasta Salad With Corn and Tomatoes

    Toss sautéed fresh corn kernels with chopped plum tomatoes, penne pasta, Parmesan, and a garlic-basil dressing—and remember, when working with such great ingredients, you really don't need to do much.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege
    3/35

    Summertime Sōmen Noodles

    It doesn't get cooler than this: Serve these classic Japanese noodles in a pool of ice water. Dip the noodles in a sauce made with dashi, rice vinegar, and soy sauce, or fill a bowl with noodles and scatter the sauce on top.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege
    4/35

    Grilled Ratatouille Pasta Salad

    Grill eggplant and zucchini, then toss with hot pasta, fresh tomatoes, herbs, and mozzarella for an almost instant ratatouille-inspired pasta dinner.

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  • Photo by Laura Murray
    5/35

    Cold Sesame Noodles With Broccoli and Kale

    If you love sesame seeds, you'll love this noodle dish, which tossed with loads of them, plus high-heat roasted broccoli, torn Tuscan kale, and refreshing mint. 

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    6/35

    Romesco Pasta Salad With Basil and Parmesan

    The reason this salad holds up so well at room temperature is because you dress it twice. It absorbs the first round of dressing completely, the second addition keeps it glossy, and a fistful of walnuts and breadcrumbs means there's always something to bite into.

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  • Photo by Candice Kumai
    13/35

    Spicy Tahini and Avocado Soba

    Soba + tahini + avocado? Enough said. This full- meal noodle salad satisfies every craving.

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  • Cedric Angeles
    14/35

    Israeli Couscous Tabbouleh

    Couscous is pasta, so it should be treated the same. Our couscous hack: rinse immediately after cooking—this will halt the cooking and prevent the couscous from sticking together.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    15/35

    One-Pot Spring Pasta With Smoked Salmon

    This one-pot pasta dinner easily goes cold: just sub out the noodles for any short pasta, then chill after adding the vegetables and sauce ingredients. Toss with extra sour cream and dress with salmon just before serving.

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  • Romulo Yanes
    16/35

    Heirloom Tomato Herb Pasta Salad

    Introducing the chill-free pasta salad, the mixed summer side you can slap together at the absolute last minute. Chop whatever herbs you have on hand with heirloom tomatoes and créme fraîche. Serve room temp: no chilling required.

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  • Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Judy Mancini
    19/35

    Summer Squash and Basil Pasta

    Sautéed squash eventually gets jammy and saucy if cooked long enough, making it ideal for coating big pieces of pasta. We like this dish just as much cold the next day, but hold the basil until you're ready to serve.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Andy Baraghani
    20/35

    Cold Udon with Grapefruit Ponzu

    Cold noodles tossed in a bright citrus and chile sauce are the ideal canvas for jammy roasted tomatoes in this light summer dish.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    35/35

    Salad Pasta

    Okay, okay, this last one on our list of pasta salad recipes is actually not pasta salad. It’s salad pasta. A whole salad’s worth of greens, folded into pasta to make a complete dinner in one bowl. The chickpea pasta adds protein and the garlicky anchovy sauce complements it especially well.

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