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.

June 23, 2020

Pasta salad with grilled eggplant tomatoes mozzarella and zucchini.

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.

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 pasta dinner inspired by a classic ratatouille.
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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 Alex Lau
7/35
Pasta Salad with Spring Vegetables and Tomatoes
Ginger-roasted cherry tomatoes, skillet-charred snap peas and scallions, and plenty of fresh basil and mint make this light take on pasta salad eminently craveable.
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Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
8/35
Chilled Ramen With Soy Milk and Chili Oil
This summer dish is a wow. Chilled noodles meet crunchy vegetables that are tossed in a fragrant Sichuan chili paste; it's all served in a cool and flavorful miso, ginger, and soymilk broth.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
9/35
Lemony Pasta With Cauliflower, Chickpeas, and Arugula
A vegetarian pasta dinner that's full of so much fresh arugula, it almost feels like eating a salad. In a good way.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Frances Boswell
10/35
Liu Shaokun's Spicy Buckwheat Noodles With Chicken
This spicy noodle dish tossed with poached chicken, chili oil, soy sauce, and scallions, came from Chengdu chef Liu Shaokun.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone
11/35
Green Tea Noodles with Gochujang Dipping Sauce
In this recipe from chef Edward Lee, the refreshing, slightly nutty flavor of green tea noodles pairs with crisp spears of cucumber and a shower of Thai basil leaves, with a spicy dipping sauce for each bite.
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Photo by Danny Kim, food and prop styling by Ali Nardi
12/35
Orzo With Beets, Olives, Feta, and Soft-Boiled Eggs
In this gorgeous pasta salad, orzo is tossed with feta, olives, and matchstick golden beets for an easy dinner that's best served at room temperature.
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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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