09/09/2026
This Cookout Pasta Salad is easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for picnics, potlucks, and family gatherings 🥗
Ingredients
🥗 Taco Pasta Salad
16 ounces rotini pasta (cooked, drained, and cooled)
1 pound ground beef
¼ cup taco seasoning
¾ cup water
½ cup grated cheese
1 tomato, diced
½ head iceberg lettuce, chopped (about 3 to 4 cups)
1 avocado, diced
½ cup cilantro, chopped
2 green onions (green parts only), sliced
1 cup French dressing
2 cups Nacho Cheese Doritos, crushed
🥗 Tortellini Pasta Salad
24 ounces frozen cheese tortellini
1 cup chopped salami, I used thick sliced deli hard salami
1 cup cherry tomatoes, washed and halved
½ cucumber, sliced and quartered
½ cup sliced black olives
½ cup mozzarella cheese pearls, or diced fresh mozzarella cheese
½ cup thinly sliced red onion
¼ cup diced red pepper
¼ cup diced green pepper
¼ cup chopped fresh sweet basil leaves
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
¼ cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
½ cup zesty Italian salad dressing
2 tablespoons pesto sauce
🥗 BLT Pasta Salad
16 ounces rotini pasta (cooked, drained, and rinsed with cold water)
13 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
½ large red onion, finely diced
1½ cup cheddar cheese, cut into cubes (measured after cut)
2 cups romaine lettuce, measured after cut or torn into bit sized pieces
1 avocado, cut into small pieces
1½ cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half (measured after cut)
¼ cup parsley, chopped
Dressing
1 ounce Hidden Valley Dressing Mix, dry
1½ cups mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
🥗 Bowtie Pasta Salad
Dressing
¾ cup mayonnaise
¾ cup whole milk
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon ranch seasoning, from a 1-ounce packet
1½ teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Bowtie Pasta Salad
12 ounces bowtie pasta, cooked and drained according to box instructions
7 ounces smoked uncured ham steak, diced
1 cup cheddar-Monterey jack cheese block, diced
1 cup cucumber, seeds removed and diced
1 cup red onion, diced
1 cup grape tomatoes, that have been cut in half
🥗 Tuna Pasta Salad
2 cups dry small shell pasta, cooked according to package directions and drained very well
12 ounce chunk light tuna in water, drained very well – we used Great Value brand
1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
1 cup diced celery
¾ cup diced red onion, chop to about the size of a frozen pea
1 teaspoon dried dill w**d
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
For the Dressing
¾ cup mayonnaise
½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons lemon juice
🥗 Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
1 pound rotini pasta
1 cup mayonnaise
¾ cup sour cream
2 tablespoons olive oil, extra virgin
4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon fresh lime zest
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt, plus additional for salted pasta cooking water
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon black pepper
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups frozen fire roasted corn, thawed (from a 12-ounce bag, Bird’s Eye brand)
1 cup crumbled cotija cheese, plus additional for garnish
¾ cup diced red onion
¼ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (plus additional for garnish)
