The Best Cookout Pasta Salad

Easy to make pasta salad with all your favorite salad toppings.

Apparently, pasta salad gets a bad wrap. It’s not quite a salad and not quite a pasta dish but when made correctly it is the perfect side dish. In my family, pasta salad is a cookout staple. I haven’t seen a recipe like this anywhere on the internet so I decided to share it.

Pasta salad is a dish that typically consists of cooked pasta, vegetables, and a dressing. It’s a popular dish in many parts of the world, particularly during the summer months, as it’s refreshing, easy to make, and can be served cold. In my family a version of this pasta salad is served at every cookout, baby shower, & other family gatherings.

The type of pasta used in pasta salad can vary, but it’s usually a short and sturdy variety like fusilli, rotini, or penne. These types of pasta hold up well in the salad and don’t become mushy or clumpy.

cooked spaghetti pasta in colander — cooked spaghetti

The vegetables that are commonly used in pasta salad include cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, red onions, and olives. Some people also like to add other ingredients like cheese, nuts, or protein like chicken, tuna, shrimp, & eggs.

chopped vegetables on a cutting board — chopped cucumber, scallion. cherry tomato, eggs

This dish comes together really quickly. First, I make the dressings. The dressing for pasta salad is typically made with a combination of oil and vinegar, along with herbs and spices like garlic, basil, and oregano. Some people prefer a creamy dressing made with mayonnaise or yogurt. In my family we use a combination of both ranch and an Italian vinaigrette. You can use store-Bought But I prefer to make my own.

adding shredded cheese to the pasta salad

To make pasta salad, the cooked pasta is mixed with the vegetables and dressing in a large bowl. Next, combine veggies, pasta & seasoning. Give a quick toss, then gradually add both dressings and cheddar cheese. This is one of the few times I use processed cheese. I normally prefer grating the cheese by hand for most recipes but store bought shredded cheese has the coating to prevent the cheese from melting into the sauce. Add as much or little cheese, seasoning, and dressing as you like.

spices on top of pasta salad — seasoning and dressing

It’s important to let the salad chill in the fridge for at least a few hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. If you can’t wait you can eat this right away & it’s still good. If you refrigerate this dish, add more dressing, top with more seasoning and serve cold.

pasta salad in a bowl — topped with more seasoning, ready to eat!

This recipe is so easy and adaptable. Use any pasta of your choice and add protein if you want to make this a meal. Let me know in the comments if you make this recipe!