11 Delicious Picnic Pasta Salad Ideas

Simplicity is key to this substantial yet fresh pasta salad. A chickpea pasta salad with arugula and fresh tomatoes makes a perfect main picnic dish or side without the heaviness of a creamy pasta salad.

If you like a little creaminess in your pasta salad, simply add chunks of avocado for a healthy yet creamy addition.

A gorgeous summer salad loaded with colourful summer vegetables slathered in Mediterranean yoghurt sauce, this vegan pasta salad with quinoa is picnic perfect.

Loaded with plant-based Mediterranean goodness, this gluten-free dish is bursting with flavour, nutrients and protein. So simple to put together and perfectly picnic portable.

Wrap up all things deliciously Italian in this easy to make four-ingredient pasta salad. A light and fresh Caprese Pasta Salad with mozzarella, tomatoes and basil pesto, brings together the flavours of summer you can enjoy any time of year.

A delicious, quick and easy Vegan Pasta Salad that takes less than 20 minutes to make start to finish.

Made with simple healthy ingredients, this colourful, creamy pasta salad is always going to be a crowd-pleaser. While it is vegetarian and vegan, it can also be adapted to gluten-free and there are loads of variations to suit your taste.

Add some pizazz to the classic tuna macaroni salad for a perfect bbq, pot luck or picnic side.

Packed with fresh produce – cucumbers, bell peppers, peas, avocado, carrots, and onion mixed with a creamy dressing, this salad also has its own variations. Don't like tuna, add shredded chicken or add extra veg for a delicious vegetarian version.

Add some Greek flair to your pasta salad. After all, everything is better with feta. A flavour-packed Greek Pasta Salad made with fresh produce and pantry staples is fresh, healthy and delicious.

A unique take on pasta salad for the dill pickle lover. Cool, creamy and tangy, this dill pickle pasta salad makes a great accompaniment to hamburgers, brats, sausages, and hot dogs.

The fresh dill pickles are accentuated with relish, diced shallot, cucumbers and dill pickle juice.

Caesar salad gets an upgrade in this simple pasta salad recipe. Chicken caesar pasta salad is a simple and delicious pasta salad recipe that doesn't miss any of the things we love about a traditional Ceasar – bacon, croutons, romaine lettuce, and creamy caesar dressing. While this salad makes a great picnic side, it is robust enough to serve as a main dish.

You can grill chicken, use leftover roast chook or a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.

BLT bowtie pasta salad packs the essence of a BLT sandwich into a portable, salad version. As a side salad or main meal for a summer picnic, this salad is a picnic, bbq, and pot luck winner every time.

Imagine the most beautiful Italian antipasto platter coming together with a light and zesty dressing in a beautiful Italian pasta salad.

Super light and easily altered to be a vegetarian pasta dish, this is one of the salads that only gets better with age so make sure you make extra.

So quick and easy to make – you can cook the chicken and the pasta at the same time, this instant pot chicken pasta salad is a great go-to picnic salad.

Chicken, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and Italian dressing make this a delicious and healthy pasta salad recipe.