This Crispy Greek Pasta Salad takes everything we love about a classic Greek pasta salad—crisp vegetables, salty feta, briny olives, and a tangy homemade dressing—and adds crispy air-fried pasta for the most incredible crunch. I’m absolutely obsessed! It’s fresh, flavorful, and honestly one of the best pasta salads I’ve made in a long time.

If you’ve been anywhere near social media lately, you’ve probably seen the viral crispy pasta salad trend taking over. And while I love trying a viral recipe, I wanted to make a version I’d actually crave again and again so I used our popular Greek pasta salad as a starting point.

The first time I made it, I couldn’t stop sneaking bites straight from the bowl. The crispy pasta completely changes the texture and somehow makes an already great pasta salad even better.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This crispy Greek pasta salad uses many of the same ingredients as our traditional Greek pasta salad, but with one game-changing addition: crispy air-fried pasta. The combination of fresh vegetables, tangy dressing, salty feta, and crunchy pasta creates the perfect balance of flavors and textures.

For the Greek Dressing:

• Olive Oil: Creates a rich, flavorful base for the dressing.
• Red Wine Vinegar: Adds the classic tangy Greek flavor.
• Garlic: Brings bold savory flavor.
• Tzatziki: Makes the dressing creamy while adding fresh cucumber and herb flavor.
• Lemon Zest: Brightens every bite.
• Dried Oregano: A classic Greek seasoning.
• Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Enhances all the flavors.

For the Pasta Salad:

• Rotini Pasta: The spirals hold onto the dressing while crisping beautifully in the air fryer.
• Pesto: Adds fresh herb flavor and helps the pasta crisp up.
• Parmesan Cheese: Creates extra savory flavor and helps develop crispy edges.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Helps the pasta

If you have been looking for the perfect hearty, but fresh, summer dish, this green goddess pasta salad is it. Vibrant and loaded with crisp vegetables and a creamy blended herb dressing, it is everything you love about the viral green goddess trend made to be the star of the table.

This recipe started as a simple question: if the green goddess chopped salad was that good, could we make it even more filling? The answer is a very enthusiastic yes. The dressing is blended from scratch with fresh basil, spinach, lemon, and cashews, and it is SO good you will want to put it on everything. Paired with tender pasta and bright steamed veggies, this is the kind of salad that actually satisfies.

Green Goddess Salad Ingredients

Three components make up this salad recipe: the pasta, veggies and the homemade green goddess dressing made from fresh herbs. Here is what you need:

The Base

• Pasta Shells: Small or medium shells are perfect here because they catch and hold onto the dressing in every bite.
• Frozen Peas: Quick to cook and naturally sweet, they add a pop of color and freshness throughout the salad.
• Asparagus: Chopped into small pieces and lightly steamed, asparagus adds a tender crunch and earthy flavor.
• Green Onions: Mild and bright, they add a subtle savory note without overpowering the other flavors. Also called scallions. 
• Avocado: Chopped small and folded in, avocado adds a creamy richness that complements the dressing beautifully.
• Baby Spinach: Used in both the salad and the dressing, spinach is the backbone of that gorgeous green color and mild, earthy flavor.

The Green Goddess Salad Dressing

• Fresh Basil: The hero of the dressing, basil brings that signature green goddess flavor that is fresh, fragrant, and absolutely irresistible.
• Garlic: Adds depth and a little punch to the dressing.
• Shallot: Milder than a regular onion, shallot gives the dressing a subtle savory sweetness.
• Lemon: Both the lemon juice and zest go into the dressing for bright, fresh acidity that ties everything together.
• Olive Oil: Gives the dressing its silky, smooth texture.
• Cashews: Roasted and salted cashews blend into the dressing to give it a creamy, nutty body without any dairy.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, savory depth to the dressing that takes it completely over the top.
• Rice Vinegar: A splash of gentle acidity that balances and brightens the entire dressing.

Simple, fresh ingredients! Find measurements and detailed instructions in the recipe card below.

How to Make Green Goddess Pasta Salad

This comes together in just a few easy steps, and m

This Mexican street corn pasta salad takes everything you love about elote—sweet corn, creamy dressing, tangy cheese, and bold spices—and turns it into an easy, crowd-pleasing pasta salad.

This easy Mexican street corn pasta salad recipe is perfect for summer BBQs, potlucks, or an easy make-ahead side dish.

What is Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad?

Mexican street corn pasta salad is inspired by elote, a popular Mexican street food made with grilled corn, creamy sauce, cheese, lime, and spices. You all loved our Mexican street grilled corn salad so we added some pasta for a hearty, flavorful side dish.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Packed with bold Mexican street corn flavor
• Creamy, tangy, and slightly smoky
• Perfect for BBQs and potlucks
• Easy to make ahead
• Great as a side or a light main dish

Ingredients for Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

• Corn (grilled or roasted): sweet, smoky flavor (the star!)
  • TIP: Most grocery stores sell roasted corn in the freezer section which is a great shortcut!
• Butter: adds richness and helps bring out the natural sweetness of the corn
• Salt: enhances the flavor of the corn and the overall dish
• Pasta (ditalini or similar): hearty base that holds the dressing well
• Cotija Cheese: adds a salty, crumbly bite that’s classic for elote
• Avocados: add a creamy texture and fresh flavor
• Cilantro: adds a bright, herby finish
• Red Onion: adds a sharp bite and a little crunch

For the Dressing:

• Mayonnaise or Mexican Crema: adds a creamy base that coats everything evenly
• Sour Cream: adds tanginess and balances the richness
• Chili Powder: adds a mild smoky flavor and a hint of spice
• Cumin: adds warm, earthy flavor
• Lime Zest & Juice: adds brightness and a fresh citrusy kick
• Garlic: adds bold, savory depth
• Salt + Pepper: enhances and balances all the flavors

If you are a pickle lover, this dill pickle pasta salad is about to become your new warm-weather obsession. Creamy, tangy, loaded with fresh dill and chunks of cheddar, it is the kind of side dish that gets talked about long after the plate is empty.

My little sister was absolutely obsessed with pickles growing up. As in wrap-in-a-napkin-and-eat-it-walking-around-the-house obsessed. However, I have always been pretty against them until I realized that I have a husband who loves them so every once in a while, I find a recipe that is perfectly suited for him and this is that recipe.

This pasta salad is everything a summer side dish should be. The pasta gets tossed in pickle juice right after cooking, so it soaks up that bright, briny flavor before the dressing even goes on.
The creamy garlic aioli and sour cream base take it somewhere rich and indulgent, while the fresh dill and chopped pickles keep every bite zippy and fresh. It comes together fast, gets better as it chills, and is always the first bowl emptied.

Ingredients For Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

This is much better than your run-of-the-mill macaroni salad. The dill pickle flavors mesh with the creaminess of the dressing and the real mayonnaise.  Here is what you need and why:

• Rotini Pasta: The spiral shape is perfect here because it catches and holds onto the creamy dressing in every single bite. Other pasta shapes like cavatappi or bowtie pasta would work too, but rotini is my preference.
• Dill Pickle Juice: Tossed with the warm pasta right after cooking so it absorbs directly into the noodles for briny flavor from the inside out.
• Mayonnaise: Adds richness and body to the dressing as the creamy base.
• Garlic Aioli: Brings a bold, garlicky depth to the dressing that takes it well beyond a basic pasta salad.
• Sour Cream: Lightens the dressing slightly while adding a subtle tang that complements the pickle flavor beautifully.
• Salt and Pepper: Season the whole salad and can be adjusted to taste.
• Fresh Dill: The signature herb that ties all the pickle flavors together and adds a bright, fresh finish.
• Pickles: Sweet petite or dill pickles chopped throughout the salad for that satisfying briny crunch in every bite.

This tortellini pasta salad is everything you want in a summer side dish. It’s fresh, flavorful, and incredibly easy to throw together. Loaded with tender cheese tortellini, savory salami, juicy tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella, it’s a simple recipe that always disappears fast.

We make it just as often for lunch the next day as we do for a side dish. And honestly, I actually make this is as our main dish quite often during the summer. It’s so fast and fresh and doesn’t heat up the house. It is a winner!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Summers are all about pasta salad recipes and this easy tortellini pasta salad is fresh, flavorful, perfect for hot summer days and done in just 15 minutes! Here is what you need:

• Cheese Tortellini: the hearty base that makes this salad extra satisfying
• Kosher Salt: adds flavor to the pasta as it cooks
• Mozzarella (marinated): adds a savory, salty bite
• Salami: bring creaminess and built-in flavor
• Black Olives: add a rich, salty bite that brings a classic Italian flavor to the salad
• Cherry or Grape Tomatoes: fresh and juicy
• Red and Orange Bell Peppers: add a sweet, crisp crunch and bright color
• English Cucumbers: add a fresh, cool crunch with a mild flavor
• Red Onion: adds a sharp bite and a little zing to balance the flavors
• Fresh Basil: bright, herby finish
• Italian Dressing: adds a tangy, herby flavor that ties everything together

How to Make Tortellini Pasta Salad

Don’t blink because you might miss this…

1. Cook the tortellini: Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add tortellini and cook until they float to the top. Drain and let cool.
2. Combine ingredients: Once cooled, add tortellini to a large bowl with salami, mozzarella (including oil and herbs), tomatoes, and basil.
3. Toss and serve: Gently toss everything together until well combined. Season with salt to taste and serve.

👉 Serve immediately or chill for later—this pasta salad is delicious either way.

Variations and Substitutions

This tortellini s