23 Recipes For Cold Pasta Dishes To Make At Home

If you are too hot to cook during the summer months, a cold meal is what you need to help you get through the warm days.

Some cold dishes are not very filling and do not contain healthy ingredients, but using pasta can ensure that you are full and that you can experiment with different flavors!

Cold pasta dishes are perfect for summer as they are easy to make and do not involve you standing over a hot stove for hours.

You can use many different flavor combinations and easily meet your dietary requirements.

This article will show you 23 recipes for cold pasta dishes to make at home so that you can feel full and refreshed in the heat.

Find out more below for tasty dishes that you can easily make in the comfort of your own home!

23 Recipes For Cold Pasta Dishes To Make At Home

1. Italian Pasta Salad

For a filling and flavorful cold pasta dish, try Italian pasta salad! Start by boiling the pasta. Once the pasta has softened, drain it and rinse it under cold water. Add the pasta to a large bowl. 

In the same bowl as the pasta, add chopped bell peppers, red onion, black olives, parmesan cheese, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese.

Season the pasta salad with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and parsley and mix it to combine the ingredients. Keep the pasta refrigerated until serving!

2. Fresh Veggies Pasta Salad 

Combining fresh vegetables in this pasta salad is refreshing and cooling! Cook the pasta until soft and rinse it under cold water before adding it to a large bowl.

To the bowl, add chopped olives, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, broccoli, red onion, and parmesan. 

Toss the ingredients together and add an Italian dressing over the top. Chill the pasta and serve when ready.

3. Mediterranean Pasta Salad

To make a fresh Mediterranean pasta salad, cook the pasta and rinse it under cold water when it is cooked and drained. .

Pour the pasta into a bowl and toss with olive oil, cucumber, olives, chickpeas, tomatoes, feta, pine nuts, basil, parsley, arugula, and mint. 

Make a dressing from olive oil, garlic, herbes de Provence, salt, mustard, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes and pour it over the salad. Toss the salad and serve!

4. Artichoke Pasta Salad

For a delicious and refreshing pasta salad, drain the cooked pasta and rinse under cold water.

Mix the cold pasta, chopped mushrooms, artichoke hearts, olives, and tomatoes in a bowl and add garlic, basil, parsley, salt, pepper, and oregano. 

Toss the pasta salad until the ingredients are well combined and refrigerate before serving. Serve with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. 

5. Caprese Pasta Salad

Caprese salad is perfect for eating in the summer months, so why not make it a hearty meal?

Leave chopped tomatoes and mozzarella cheese in a bowl to marinate in a dressing made from red wine vinegar, garlic, olive oil, basil, parsley, chives, salt, and pepper. 

Rinse cooked pasta under cold water and drizzle with olive oil. Add the pasta into the same bowl as the tomatoes and mozzarella and toss the ingredients to mix them well. Refrigerate and serve!

6. Cold Lemon Capellini Salad

Lemon in a cold pasta dish is incredibly refreshing on warm nights! Cook the capellini pasta and rinse it under cold water when it has softened.

Add it to a large bowl with chopped tomatoes, parmesan, capers, and a dressing made from olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. 

Chill the pasta until it is ready to serve. Once it is ready, top with more fresh basil, lemon zest, parmesan cheese, and fresh lemon slices. 

7. Pesto Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is incredibly easy to make and perfect for those who need quick meals. Drain cooked pasta and rinse it underneath cold water.

Add the pasta to a large bowl and add green pesto, basil, olive oil, chopped olives, tomatoes, peas, and toasted pine nuts. 

Toss the salad to ensure that the pasta is evenly coated and serve when ready. Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!

8. Broccoli Pasta Salad

Broccoli pasta salad is a great way to make use of leftover veggies!

Rinse cooked pasta underneath cold water and add it to a large bowl.

Mix chopped broccoli, dried cranberries, chopped red onion, sunflower seeds, cooked bacon, and feta cheese with the pasta. 

Pour a dressing made from white wine vinegar, sour cream, salt, pepper, sugar, and mayonnaise, and toss the salad to mix well. Refrigerate the pasta salad and serve!

9. Tuna Pasta Salad

Perfect for either lunch or dinner, this creamy tuna pasta salad is fresh and indulgent! Rinse the cooked pasta under cold water and place it in a large bowl.

Mix the dressing made from mayonnaise, dill, lemon juice, mustard, and garlic. 

Add canned tuna to the pasta along with pickle relish, chopped celery, and red onion, and toss with the dressing. Mix in salt and pepper and serve!

10. Cold Chicken Pasta Salad

This cold chicken pasta salad is light and refreshing for a summer’s day!

Fry or grill the chicken and make sure that it is thoroughly cooked. Rinse the cooked pasta underneath cold water and pour it into a bowl ready for mixing. 

Add chopped bell peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion to the pasta and mix well with a dressing made from olive oil, mustard, basil, garlic, sugar, oregano, and red wine vinegar.

Add the chicken, toss the ingredients to combine, and serve!

11. Greek Pasta Salad

To make a gorgeous and rich Greek pasta salad, drain cooked pasta and rinse it underneath cold water.

Add the cold pasta to a large bowl and mix well with chopped cucumber, red onion, feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, and bell peppers. 

Toss the pasta salad with a dressing made from lemon juice, oregano, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper, and chill the pasta before serving. 

12. BLT Pasta Salad

Why not bring your favorite sandwich to life and make it a delicious summer meal?

Make sure that the bacon is cooked well on both sides. Leave it to cool while you drain the cooked pasta and rinse it under cold water. 

Add the pasta to a bowl and toss with vinegar, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Add chopped tomatoes, lettuce, and bacon, and make sure that the pasta is evenly coated. Serve and enjoy!

13. Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad

For a cold pasta salad that is covered in a creamy sauce, you need to try this creamy chicken pasta recipe! Rinse cooked pasta under cold water and leave it to cool in a bowl.

Cook the chicken evenly on both sides and chop to add to the pasta. 

Toss the pasta with the chopped chicken and celery. Pour a dressing over the pasta salad made from mayonnaise, lemon juice, pickle relish, salt, and pepper, and mix well.

Leave the pasta to refrigerate before serving. 

14. Kale And Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is packed with healthy ingredients to keep your body nourished and strong! Cook the pasta and run it under cold water once it is soft and drained.

Add the pasta to a bowl with kale, bell pepper, parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil. 

Toss the pasta salad so that it is mixed evenly and add the dressing made from honey, olive oil, dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Toss and serve!

15. Chilled Shrimp Pasta Salad

This refreshing seafood pasta salad is creamy and delicious!

Rinse the cooked pasta with cold water and pour it into a large bowl. Mix mayonnaise, sour cream, onion, salt, pepper, and horseradish source with the pasta until combined. 

Mix in chopped cucumber and celery with the pasta and add the shrimp. Toss the pasta and refrigerate until ready to serve!

16. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Just when you think you cannot make a caesar salad more delicious, you can! Cook the pasta until it is soft and rinse it under cold water before leaving it to cool in a bowl.

Grill the chicken so that it is cooked thoroughly and chop it to add to the salad. 

Add a caesar dressing over the pasta and mix well so that the pasta is evenly coated. Mix in the chicken, parmesan cheese, lettuce, and black pepper, and serve topped with croutons!

17. Creamy Cucumber Pasta Salad

A very refreshing pasta salad is perfect for those warm summer evenings. Once you have rinsed the cooked pasta under cold water, place it in a large bowl.

Chop cucumber and onion into thin slices and add them to the bowl with the pasta.

Add a dressing made from mayonnaise, dill, white vinegar, sour cream, salt, pepper, and sugar, and toss the ingredients to mix them well. Chill and serve!

18. Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

If you love pickles, this pasta salad will be a great addition to your meal times! Run the cooked pasta under cold water to cool it down and put it in a large bowl.

Toss the pasta with pickle juice and allow it to marinate for a few minutes. 

Add mayonnaise, cayenne pepper, sour cream, salt, pepper, and more pickle juice to the pasta and mix well. Add chopped pickles, dill, cheddar cheese, and sliced onion, mix to combine well, and serve!

19. Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

When you are using orzo for your pasta salad, drain it with a sieve and leave it to cool in a large bowl. Keep stirring the orzo when it is cooling to prevent it from sticking.

Drizzle it with olive oil and add lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper and stir well. 

Once combined, add fresh basil, cannellini beans, and almonds, and make sure that they are evenly distributed through the salad. Refrigerate the pasta before serving!

20. Mediterranean Lentil Pasta Salad

For a pasta salad packed with goodness and nutrients, boil the pasta and run it under cold water when it is done.

Pour the pasta into a bowl and mix it with chopped tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, artichoke hearts, olives, and lentils. 

Toss the salad with red wine vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, and olive oil, and combine the ingredients. Mix in feta cheese and fresh basil and season before serving. 

21. Mexican Pasta Salad

It is usually too hot to eat Mexican food in the summer, but this pasta salad has all of your favorite flavors at a colder temperature!

Chill the cooked pasta by running it under cold water and drizzle it with olive oil in a large bowl. 

To the pasta, add chopped bell pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, corn, red onion, avocado, jalapeños, black beans, cheese, and cilantro.

Toss the ingredients together before adding a dressing made from salsa, sour cream, olive oil, lime juice, cumin, paprika, mayonnaise, garlic, and chili powder. Mix well, refrigerate, and serve!

22. Crab Pasta Salad

For this creamy crab pasta salad, rinse the cooked pasta with cold water and add it to a large bowl. Toss the pasta with shredded crab, chopped bell pepper, celery, and onion until well combined. 

Add ranch dressing, mayonnaise, and dill to the pasta and stir so that it is mixed thoroughly. Refrigerate the pasta before serving and top with the seasoning of your choice. 

23. Ranch Pasta Salad

For an indulgently creamy ranch pasta salad, rinse the cooked pasta under cold water and leave it in a bowl to cool down.

Add chopped cucumber, tomatoes, broccoli, and parmesan cheese to the pasta and toss to evenly distribute the ingredients. 

Make your homemade ranch dressing from buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, parsley, dill, onion powder, chives, garlic, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce and add it to the pasta.

Toss the ingredients so that the pasta is evenly coated, refrigerate, and serve. 

Final Thoughts

To conclude, there are lots of different recipes for cold pasta dishes that will help you to get through the summer months.

You can choose between lots of different dressings and vegetables to add to your pasta salad to make it suitable for everyone to enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Should You Rinse Cooked Pasta Under Cold Water?

By rinsing cooked pasta under cold water, you are reducing the temperature to prevent it from adding heat to the dish. This keeps your pasta salad chilled and delicious!

How Do You Stop Cooked Pasta Sticking?

To prevent cooked pasta from sticking, you should drizzle and toss it in olive oil as this will reduce the stickiness. 

Can You Make The Recipes Vegan?

You can make any of the recipes for vegans by using vegan-friendly alternatives. You can use vegan meat, vegan mayonnaise, and vegan yogurt to create a creamy texture for your dishes.