I don’t think you can go wrong with pasta salad. With so many wonderful pasta salad ideas around, it’s not surprising it is the go-to picnic salad of choice – that and potato salad of course.
Pasta salad is one of those perfect make-ahead picnic salads that go the distance and everyone loves. Sometimes, they’re even better the next day. The other thing that makes the picnic pasta salad great, is there are so many variations.
Perfect Picnic Pasta Salad Recipes
From classic Italian flavours to tuna macaroni, chicken and vegan salads. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to great pasta salads.
And while we often think of summer picnics and bbq's, the pasta salad is perfect picnic food any time of year – think hearty pasta salad for a fall salad idea or winter picnic menu.
Expand your salad repertoire with these delicious and easy to make pasta salad recipes.
Vegan Quinoa Pasta Salad Mediterranean-Style (Gluten-Free)
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.
Caprese Pasta Salad
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.
Vegan Pasta Salad
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.
Tuna Avocado Macaroni Salad
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.
Greek Pasta Salad
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.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
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.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
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 Recipe
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.
Easy Italian Summer Pasta Salad
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.
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