These 10 pasta salads are the perfect combination side salad recipes for your upcoming potluck or picnic holiday. From sweet to savory, try all our pasta favorites by clicking the links below on your favorite! And no worries, all of these pasta side dishes for July 4th are crowd-pleasers that everyone will eat up, leaving nothing for leftovers! Whether you like spicy, tangy, or slightly sweet, there is something for everyone on this list.
The best things about July 4th are all the parties with family and friends, the fireworks, and the food. I love it when we all get together and bring our best recipes to share. If you love bringing family-sized foods to share too, then I have 10 perfect potluck pasta recipes that won’t disappoint.
You can make all of these pasta salads a few days in advance and store them in your refrigerator until the party. They pair perfectly with almost all types of cookout foods, including my Mexican street corn and black bean and corn salsa.
10 Perfect Pasta Side Dishes for July 4th
Are you looking for a family-friendly side dish that is perfect for cookouts or July 4th parties? Pasta salads come in every shape and size. You will find something for everyone on this list. Browse all the recipes, click through, and discover something that will feed everyone without stressing you out or costing you too much.
1. Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
This Italian pasta salad is an incredibly easy side dish. It’s so easy to make, that it’s a summertime cookout staple. You can either use zesty Italian dressy or a creamy base. Then, just mix in your favorite meats. Lots of people love salami or pepperoni, but you can even use shrimp and crab.
2. Amish Macaroni Salad
My Amish Macaroni salad is a time-tested favorite. It has just the right amount of crunch from the celery and burst of tangy mustard goodness. The dressing for this salad can be used on other salads too, so keep this recipe handy.
Find the recipe here.
3. Vegetarian Pasta Salad
If you or your family members are vegetarians, then whip up a batch of this fresh pasta salad. The dressing is made with mayonnaise and milk, which makes it extremely creamy. Fill this up with all your favorite raw vegetables and dig in!
Find the recipe here.
4. BLT Pasta Salad
Nothing is more summertime than a BLT! Crispy, fried bacon, crunchy lettuce, and fresh, juicy tomato. I put all of this perfection into a pasta salad and it is unbelievably amazing. I used mini shell pasta, but you can use bow-tie pasta too.
Find the recipe here.
5. Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad
You know those recipes that remind you of your childhood? This macaroni salad is that recipe. The mayo, mustard, garlic, and onion are all classic combinations that help this salad outlast the test of time. You’ll pass this recipe onto your kids and their kids too. It’s that good.
Find the recipe here.
6. Ranch Pasta Salad with Peas
Ranch is one of those flavors that almost belongs at cookouts and picnics. And if the flavor of tangy ranch isn’t enough, this salad also has crispy bacon on it. And everything is better with bacon!
Find the recipe here.
7. Tuna Pasta Salad
This tuna pasta salad tastes even better the next day. Make it ahead of time and you’ll have the most popular side dish at the cookout. Trust me, don’t leave out the matchstick carrots. They give this salad the perfect amount of crunch!
Find the recipe here.
8. Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
The secret to this bacon ranch pasta salad recipe is the addition of tart black olives. They pair perfectly with the salty ranch dressing and crispy bacon. It’s an unforgettable combination that you won’t be able to stop eating.
Find the recipe here.
9. Classic Macaroni Salad
What makes something a classic? It’s something that was passed down from generation to generation and still just as popular each year. My classic macaroni salad is one that I’ve seen at countless potlucks and cookouts. It’s the perfect party side dish.
Find the recipe here.
10. Mandarin Salad with Chicken and Pasta
Finally, the Mandarin salad is a complete meal in one dish. It’s a creative recipe. So if you want to break out of the norm and try something new, whip up a batch of this. The sweet oranges, hearty chicken, and salty dry onion soup mix all balance and fill this salad with addicting flavor.
Find the recipe here.
How to Prep Salads for Independence Day Picnics
If you are short on time, there are a few things you can do to make meal-time prep go faster. Just follow these tips and you’ll be able to mix up your salads in no time at all.
- Buy pre-chopped veggies. They are worth the investment, it saves you so much time.
- Do all your prep a day in advance. Store your chopped veggies in baggies or plastic containers. They will be ready when you need them.
- Pre-cook the meat. You can always purchase a rotisserie chicken too. It saves you time from cooking the meat.
Cheap Pasta Salads That Feed a Crowd
The best thing about pasta salads is how much you can make at such a low price. You can literally feed the entire party for less than the cost of one meal at a restaurant. Pasta is one of the least expensive ingredients and also the most popular. Kids and adults all love it! So whip up a pasta side dish for your July 4th party.
You’ll be so glad you did!
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