Best 2 Easy Colorful Summer Pasta Salad Recipes

Indulge in the vibrant flavors of summer with our refreshing pasta salad recipe. This delightful dish combines colorful vegetables, savory herbs, and tender pasta, making it a perfect side or main course for warm-weather gatherings. With easy-to-find ingredients and minimal preparation time, this recipe is a breeze to make and promises a burst of flavors in every bite. Explore variations of this pasta salad, including a creamy pesto dressing, a tangy lemon-herb vinaigrette, and a spicy arrabbiata sauce. Discover the joy of creating a customized pasta salad that complements your taste preferences and dietary needs.

Let's cook with our recipes!

SUMMER PASTA SALAD

Summer Pasta Salad image

This classic pasta salad, packed with a bounty of summer vegetables and fresh herbs, is the perfect thing to make after a trip to the farmers' market. Look for the tastiest produce at the peak of its season, like crisp radishes and cucumbers, juicy tomatoes and sweet raw corn. We recommend allowing the pasta salad to marinate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories main-dish

Time 45m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1 pound gemelli or other twisted pasta, such as cavatappi
1 cup olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 Persian cucumbers, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
2 pints mini heirloom cherry tomatoes or other cherry tomatoes, halved
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
2 cups radishes, thinly sliced
2 cups fresh corn kernels (from 4 about ears)
1 medium shallot, thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped
1/3 cup fresh dill, roughly chopped

Steps:

Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold running water to cool the pasta and stop the cooking process. Drain well and set aside.
Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, 2 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Add the pasta, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, radishes, corn, shallot, parsley and dill. Toss to combine and allow to marinate at room temperature for least 30 minutes or cover and refrigerate up to 8 hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.

EASY COLORFUL SUMMER PASTA SALAD

Easy Colorful Summer Pasta Salad image

Always a big hit and is very quick and easy to prepare.

Provided by Mary Lee

Categories Pasta Salads

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1/2 - 2/3rd pound rotini pasta ( tri colored optional) cook and drained
1 fresh tomoto diced
1/3 cup vidalia sweet onion diced
1/4 cup celery diced
1/2 cup green, red , and yellow sweet pepper diced
1/3 cup black or green olives sliced
2/3 cup mild cheddar cheese crumbled or cubed ( or cheese of your choice)
1/2 - 2/3 cup salad dressing ( recommended hidden vally ranch , reg or light ... wish bone italian, reg or light)
salt / pepper to taste
1/2 cup lightly crushed seasoned croutons
*optional hard boiled egg slices w / sprig of parsley in center)

Steps:

1. In large mixing bowl add pasta , salt/pepper, vegetables, and chesse. Gently toss ... add salad dressing .. mixed thoroughly. Chill for 2- 3 hours. Just before serving mix again , garnish with croutons. (or hard boiled egg slices if you choose) * Optional .. you can place slices of hard boiled egg on top of salad in the center with a spring of parsely. If you choose to do this, mix salad one last time before garnishing.

Tips:

For the best flavor, use fresh, ripe summer vegetables. Look for vegetables that are brightly colored and have a firm texture.
If you don't have a spiralizer, you can use a vegetable peeler to create long, thin strips of vegetables.
To save time, you can cook the pasta ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
If you don't have any fresh herbs on hand, you can use dried herbs instead. Just be sure to use about 1/3 of the amount of dried herbs that you would use of fresh herbs.
This salad is best served chilled, so be sure to let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Conclusion:

This easy and colorful summer pasta salad is a perfect dish for a summer potluck or barbecue. It's packed with fresh vegetables, herbs, and pasta, and it's dressed in a light and flavorful vinaigrette. The salad is also very versatile, so you can easily customize it to your own taste. For example, you can add different vegetables, herbs, or cheeses. You can also adjust the amount of dressing to your liking.