What To Serve With Pasta Salad: 30 Ideas for Lunch or Dinner

Looking for the perfect dishes to pair with pasta salad? Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, planning a picnic, or throwing together a quick summer lunch, this list has you covered. From grilled mains to fresh sides, here are 30 delicious ideas for what to serve with pasta salad.

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I love a good cold pasta salad. My Pesto Orzo Salad is one of my favorites. It makes for a delicious, quick lunch, or I serve it with a protein for dinner.

If you want a pasta salad with protein already included, you may want to try my Healthy Italian Pasta Salad or my Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad. These dishes are perfect for summer, and your family is sure to love them!

Bread

Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots

A delicious recipe for Sourdough Discard Garlic Knots – a buttery, garlicky snack, appetizer or side dish!

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Garlic Butter Cruffins with Crescent Roll Dough

Garlic Butter Cruffins, flaky dinner rolls that start with crescent roll dough with layers slathered with garlic herb butter!

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Lunch

Grilled Zucchini and Yellow Squash

Grilled Zucchini and Yellow Squash are a summer favorite, especially when paired with zesty pesto, creamy feta, and crunchy pistachios. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for any BBQ or light lunch. Fire up the grill and enjoy a burst of fresh flavors in only 30 minutes!

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Lebanese Potato Salad

This Lebanese Potato Salad is light, fresh, and pairs well with just about anything. It is dressed with lots of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and parsley. It is perfect for summer cookouts and potlucks!

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Deviled Egg Cauliflower Salad Recipe

Make this deviled egg cauliflower salad recipe when you need a simple party food. Sometimes, a recipe comes along that is so incredibly delicious that you move it from your ‘make it someday’ pile all the way to your ‘make this all the time’ pile. This salad is that good!

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Greek Lemon Potatoes

These Greek Lemon Potatoes are crispy on the outside and fluffy in the center then cooked in a tangy lemon butter sauce. A great side dish!

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Lemon Herb Roasted Asparagus

Lemon herb roasted asparagus is an easy, quick, and flavorful way to prepare asparagus. Asparagus is roasted in the oven, then tossed with a dressing made of lemon, herbs, and garlic.

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Sweet Pepper and Cucumber Salad with Ginger Dressing

Crisp cucumbers and sweet peppers come together in this vibrant, no-cook pepper cucumber salad, tossed with a homemade ginger-soy dressing.

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Dinner

Overhead image of glazed stovetop carrots with garnish.

Easy Glazed Stovetop Carrots Recipe

Stovetop Carrots are an easy way to get your kids to eat more veggies. These delicious honey-glazed carrots are sweet, garlicky, cheesy, and zesty. You won’t need to spend much time on prep, but you’ll end up with a restaurant-worthy side dish. Pair with your favorite protein-centric entrée.

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Overhead image of savory roasted sweet potatoes with parmesan and herbs.

Savory Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Parmesan & Herbs

These Savory Roasted Sweet Potatoes are crispy, cheesy, and packed with flavor! The perfect side dish for any occasion, they are roasted with garlic, fresh rosemary, and a blend of herbs, then topped with a layer of nutty Parmigiano Reggiano for an irresistible cheesy crust. They’re easy to prepare and make a great complement to just about any main dish.

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Ratatouille Recipe

This is the best Ratatouille Recipe I have tried and one my mom passed down to me. Fresh vegetables, like zucchini, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes are simmered with herbs and spices.

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Overhead image of charred broccolini on parchment paper.

Charred Broccolini with Lemon, Garlic, and Parmesan

Smoky charred broccolini, zesty lemon, fragrant garlic, and rich and savory Parmesan cheese, make this recipe a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

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Sauteed Green Beans with Soy Sauce Glaze

These sauteed greens beans with soy sauce glaze are deliciously savory and so simple to make! Five ingredients, 15 minutes, one easy side dish.

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Creamed Corn Au Gratin

This Creamed Corn Au Gratin is easy to make and an instant crowd pleaser. this creamed corn recipe is sweet, savory, and decadent all at once.

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Green Beans Almondine

Buttery green beans, almonds and seasonings come together in Green Beans Almondine to create an easy side dish that everyone loves.

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Overhead image of roasted carrots and asparagus with lemon dressing.

Easy Roasted Carrots and Asparagus with Lemon Dressing

Carrots and asparagus come together to create a vibrant and refreshing side dish. They’re tossed in a sweet lemon dressing then finished with sliced almonds, fresh parsley, and grated parmesan cheese. These veggies are a quick and flavorful addition to any weeknight meal.

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Healthy

Summer Grilled Peach Salad with Burrata

Epic summer grilled peach salad made with burrata, arugula, blueberries, pecans and avocado and topped with balsamic honey mustard dressing.

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Kale and Cannellini Bean Salad

An easy and delicious kale and cannellini bean salad made with Tuscan kale, red onions, mozzarella, and pine nuts with a lemon vinaigrette!

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Best Italian Chopped Salad

Enjoy the best Italian Chopped Salad you’ve ever had loaded with salami, cheese, roasted pepper, veggies & an oregano oil & vinegar dressing.

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Grilled Fennel Arugula Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette

Caramelized fennel and asparagus meet crisp arugula, feta cheese, pine nuts, and a rich shallot vinaigrette in this Grilled Fennel Arugula Salad!

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Proteins

Overhead image of mango shrimp ceviche with avocado.

Mango Shrimp Ceviche with Avocado (Ceviche de Camaron y Mango)

This Mango Shrimp Ceviche with Avocado (Ceviche de Camaron y Mango) is perfect for summer when you’re looking for a light and fresh bite.

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Baked Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Baked Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are made with ground chicken, creamy blue cheese crumbles, and tangy Buffalo wing sauce. This easy recipe is great served as an appetizer with toothpicks, in wraps or sub sandwiches, or alongside your favorite side dish for a cozy meal.

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Halibut Ceviche

This Halibut Ceviche recipe is super popular with all of our friends. It’s perfect for eating with tortilla chips, plantain chips, or sliced cucumbers.

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Up close image of air fryer ranch chicken wings.

Easy & Crispy Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Wings

You’ll love this easy air fryer ranch wings recipe! Crispy, full of ranch flavor, and ready in just 20 minutes. Perfect for dinner or game day!

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Calabrian Chicken Meatballs

Calabrian Chicken Meatballs are made with ground chicken, spicy Calabrian chili peppers, garlic, fresh basil, and two types of cheese. They’re loaded with flavor and great with your favorite pasta!

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Overhead image of oven shrimp skewers with garnish and sauce.

Easy Oven Shrimp Skewers Recipe

Easy Oven Shrimp Skewers, ready in 20 minutes with flavorful Old Bay seasoning and a creamy garlic aioli dip. Perfect for a quick and delicious meal!

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Overhead image of sautéed Italian white bens with kale and tomatoes.

Sautéed Italian White Beans with Kale and Tomatoes

This flavorful Sautéed Italian White Beans recipe will be on repeat in your house year around and is easy enough to make any day of the week!

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Fruit

Overhead image of berry caprese sald with strawberry balsamic glaze.

Berry Caprese Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Glaze

Nothing says summer like a berry caprese salad made with fresh berries, mozzarella pearls, mint and a mouthwatering strawberry balsamic glaze.

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Tropical Fruit Salad

This Tropical Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing is light and refreshing and the perfect snack or side dish to any spring or summer meal.

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Rainbow Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

This Rainbow Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing is a MUST HAVE all summer long! The perfect side dish, appetizer, or even dessert!

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FAQS

Can you eat pasta salad as a meal?

Pasta salad can stand as a meal, and I often eat it for lunch or with a protein on the side.

Should pasta salad be served cold or warm?

Serving pasta at room temperature enhances its texture and flavors.

Pasta salad is super versatile, so the pairing options are endless. Whether you’re grilling out or packing a picnic, these 30 side dishes make it easy to decide what to serve with pasta salad.