Wondering what to serve with pasta salad? We’ve collected over 30 recipes to inspire you! From delicious main dishes to salads and other veggies, there is a lot to choose from here.
Although it is technically still spring, Memorial Day Weekend feels in many ways like the start of the summer. Today in New England, the temps will be approaching 90 degrees, so that feeling is underscored here!
Along with summer, we have cookouts, picnics, and simple meals out on the deck or by the pool. Pasta salad is a mainstay for these summer meals. So today we are helping to answer the question, “What to serve with pasta salad?” with this delicious collection of recipes from Cooking Chat and other awesome blogs.
If you’re looking for more summer meal inspiration, be sure to check out our 59+ Grilling Recipes for Labor Day Weekend!
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Pasta salad recipes
We suspect you have come here with a pasta salad made or at least a recipe in mind. But in case you need ideas for pasta salad recipes, too, we are starting with a quick like of options.
- Orzo Salad with Kale Pesto
- Marinated Artichoke Hearts Pasta Salad from Veggies Save the Day
- Asian Pasta Salad from pip and ebby
- Simple Orzo Pasta Salad with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil from Gitta’s Kitchen
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad from pip and ebby
Main dish recipes to go with pasta salad
OK, when I think about pasta salad, summer cookouts and other gatherings with a good crowd and a lot of simple food options come to mind. Let’s start by looking at some main dish recipes that go with pasta salad. We’ve got burgers, chicken, ribs, vegetarian options and more! If you have other ideas, please let me know in the comments.
Main Course Recipes
Main courses to serve with pasta salad, including burgers, ribs, chicken and vegetarian options.
These ground chicken burgers are a summer staple to serve alongside pasta salad! They're perfectly juicy and delicious every time.
A flavorful marinade makes these Easy Grilled Steak Tips a tasty recipe from the grill! Takes under 10 minutes on the grill.
This skillet fried chicken is not only easy to make, it has a healthier, unique coating and it's super quick (with my shortcut method.) Eat them hot or cold, these breaded pan fried chicken thighs also make a great picnic chicken
For a wonderful grilled recipe with a taste of Italy, try these Italian Chicken Drumsticks. This recipe with fresh lemon juice, garlic, & fresh herbs pairs wonderfully with pasta salad.
For a quick & easy Italian recipe to enjoy with pasta salad, there’s nothing better than Instant Pot Italian Sausage & Peppers. In just a few minutes, juicy Italian sausage with tomatoes, sweet peppers, & onions is ready for all to enjoy.
These Kafta Kebabs are made with lean ground beef and a handful of basic ingredients.
These flavor-packed Italian Grilled Hamburgers feature a unique mix of ground beef and Italian sausage, all seasoned with zesty, savory Italian spices, and piled high with grilled peppers and onions, juicy tomato, and a warm, melty slice of fresh mozzarella. They’re easy to make, plus you can prep them in advance!
Buffalo Ranch Chicken Thighs are the super quick and easy meal prep chicken recipe you need! The cool ranch is mixed with spicy hot sauce for the perfect chicken marinade!
Easy Grilled Chicken Tenders are flavorful and cook fast so they are perfect for serving as a weeknight dinner. Serve with pasta salad or stir-fried veggies to make it a complete, family-friendly meal.
Looking for a good mahi-mahi recipe? This Chili-Seasoned Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Lime Butter is the perfect summer dish.
Easy Boneless Baked Pork Ribs recipe, with barbecue sauce flavor, comes together in just over 30 minutes. Recipe uses loin cut country style pork ribs. We have two good wine pairing ideas for this recipe.
French dip sandwiches are a classic side to lunchtime favorites like pasta salad! A savory main that pairs well with any type of side!
A fun summer hot dog bar with lots of colorful toppings.
Chili Lime Grilled Shrimp Skewers are tender, juicy shrimp marinated in warm spices and fresh lime juice, then grilled to perfection. This is an easy dinner that cooks up in mere minutes!
Fire up the grill and grab yourself a pack of flanken ribs, because this beef ribs recipe is going to knock your socks off!
Bring the flavors of California to your kitchen with this juicy Avocado Burger with pickled red onion, cucumber, and sprouts. Ready in under 30 minutes!
These jerk pork skewers are hot, tangy, and full of that classic barbecue flavor for the perfect summertime meal.
Vegetable sides
When you’re wondering what to serve with pasta salad, it’s good to have some more veggies on the plate along with the pasta salad and main course dishes. Here are some tasty and healthy vegetable side options.
Vegetable Sides
Here are some vegetable sides, in addition to the salads above, that you might like to serve with along with some pasta salad.
A side of asparagus and bacon will make any pasta dish taste heavenly! Serve it with cold or warm pasta any time.
Broccolini is a favorite side dish to serve with any meal, especially with pasta.
Sautéed Arugula with Red Bell Peppers and plenty of garlic is a tasty and easy vegetable side dish.
These grilled veggie kabobs with halloumi are so delicious, flavorful, and very easy to make! A great grilling side (or main) that everyone will love.
These grilled Mexican zucchini boats, inspired by the flavors of Mexican street corn, are the perfect side dish for summer grilling! Hallowed out zucchini halves are rubbed with a flavorful mix of spices, grilled, then fill with creamy cotija before finishing off with a splash of lime.
Other salad recipes
Our family often has a green salad option alongside the pasta salad. It’s always good to get those veggies; and in summer,
Other Salad Recipes
Green salads and other salads packed with vegetables can be a good accompaniment for pasta salad.
This colorful Mediterranean bean salad is a delicious and healthy side for any summer meal.
Classic Insalata Caprese (Tomato Mozzarella Salad) is the perfect quick appetizer or salad packed with summer flavors! Light, refreshing and so easy to make! A great way to enjoy in-season tomatoes at the fullest.
Kisir is also known as Turkish Bulgur Salad is one of the tastiest and easiest salad recipes I know. Ready in just 10 minutes. With a taste explosion due to the pomegranate, bulgur, spring onions, and parsley mix.
This summer corn salad recipe can’t be beat! So simple, but completely delicious with fresh corn, feta cheese, tomatoes an apple cider vinegar dressing.
Thinly sliced kale along with traditional Caprese salad ingredients–basil, tomatoes and mozzarella–combine for a healthy and hearty Kale Caprese Salad. Enjoy along with grilled meats, pasta salad and other summer food.
Parmesan cheese and pine nuts are sprinkled on top of a simple Italian-style rocket (arugula) salad in this recipe. Extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and sea salt are all that's needed for this dish.
Our Spinach and Pear Salad recipe shows how you can elevate a basic salad with a few additional ingredients. Ripe pears add delicious flavor to a spinach salad. Then we add a touch of spice to the simple dressing for a salad that might steal the show at your dinner table!
If you are still looking for some more ideas, our “What to serve with pork ribs?” collection has some additional recipes that could work nicely with pasta salad.
Shelley
So many wonderful ideas here! Oh my goodness … the veggie and halloumi kabobs and Mexican zucchini boats for starters. And the Mahi Mahi and shrimp skewers! So many recipes I want to try. Thank you for all the delicious inspiration to kick off my summer and keep my pasta salad from being lonely!
marcie
There are so many delicious recipes to choose from and prepare all summer long! Thank you for including my shrimp skewers!