Summer Pasta Salad – Spend With Pennies

This summer pasta salad is a fresh and colorful favorite, perfect for any occasion!

This easy recipe showcases the best of summer veggies tossed in tender pasta, all dressed in a super simply fresh dressing!

A chilled pasta salad recipe is a perfect meal or side dish on a hot summer day.

This delicious Summer Pasta Salad recipe is sponsored by Walmart.

Easy Summer Salad

• Summer pasta salad is a make ahead meal or side dish, great for hot days or quick lunches.
• A budget friendly way to use up leftover veggies, summer pasta salad is party-ready in no time at all!
• It’s loved by adults and kids alike and it’s a great way to get some healthy vegetables in a fresh meal.
• Make it a main dish by adding topping with grilled chicken breasts or thighs, summer sausage, shrimp, or even beans or chickpeas.
• Use the veggies in your fridge or whatever is in your garden, anything goes!

Ingredients in Summer Pasta Salad

Pasta – We love pasta shapes like rotini as they hold up well and the dressing clings to its corkscrew shape and ridges. No rotini? Use penne, bowtie, or medium-sized shells.

Garden Vegetables – Summer veggies like zucchini, peppers, onions, cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes, corn, and carrots bring the colors of the rainbow together in one dish! Switch up the veggies with a bag of frozen veggie medley (thawed) or whatever is in your crisper!

Cheese – Feta is a dry, crumbly cheese with a rich, slightly salty flavor. A little bit goes a long way and it lasts for a long time in the refrigerator! Bleu cheese crumbles, parmesan cheese, or shredded Mexican blend can be used in place of feta.

Dressing – This fresh vinaigrette is perfect for any classic pasta salad recipe. are great choices for pasta salads since they are light and zesty and bring out flavors of all the ingredients without weighing them down.

How to Make Summer Pasta Salad

This salad is almost too easy to make, and it comes together in just a few quick steps!

1. Cook pasta al dente (firm) and drain. Run under cold water to stop the cooking.
2. Combine all dressing ingredients in a mason jar and shake well.
3. Gently stir the cooled pasta with the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and toss to combine.
4. Garnish with crumbled feta or fresh herbs, if desired.

Leftover Pasta Salad?

Keep leftover summer pasta salad covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Stir and adjust seasonings before serving again. NOTE: Freezing pasta salad isn’t recommended because it won’t be as firm, just start new with a fresh salad!

Summer Salads to Savor

Did you make this Summer Pasta Salad? Leave a comment and a rating below!