Easy Pasta Salad with No Mayo

Stay cool this summer with this Pasta Salad without Mayo. This simple and refreshing recipe features a light Italian dressing, making it a perfect side dish for a backyard barbecue or a quick lunch option.

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Grain-based salads like this Pasta Salad without mayonnaise are great for a potluck or picnic. Other faves include this Street Corn Pasta Salad or this is this Trail Mix Salad. We have lots of Salad Recipes so check them out for inspiration.

Why we love this recipe

• This is a wonderful pasta salad recipe to make in the spring and summer using fresh, seasonal vegetables from the garden or farmer’s market.
• It is a lighter and more nutritious alternative to traditional mayo-based salads.
• This salad is a convenient dish that can be prepared ahead of time and served cold or at room temperature. This makes it a popular prepping choice for potlucks, picnics, barbecues, and other gatherings.

Ingredients 

• penne pasta – a variety of pasta can be used in this recipe like rotini, fusilli, or use elbow noodles to make macaroni salad – always popular. Substitute gluten-free pasta if needed. We recommend brown rice pasta.
• fresh vegetables – you can use an array of different vegetables for this recipe. We love cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and romaine lettuce but you could substitute bell peppers, spring peas, shredded carrots, chopped broccoli or cauliflower, and sliced celery. We also love fresh herbs such as basil, dill, or parsley. Load up the bowl!
• parmesan cheese – crumbled feta cheese is a lovely substitute for grated parmesan cheese.
• shallot – if you don’t have a shallot, a teaspoon of finely minced red onion works well also.
• oil – we use MCT oil for our dressing these days but extra virgin olive oil is also good.
• white vinegar – substitute red wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice instead of white vinegar for a different flavor.
• Italian seasoning – this is a mix of dried basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
• sea salt + black pepper

Equipment

• large saucepan – for cooking the pasta.
• baking sheet – for spreading the cooked pasta out to cool.
• sharp knife – for chopping the veggies.
• cutting board – for prepping.
• small mason jar – our favorite way to mix up homemade salad dressings.
• mixing bowl – for mixing and storing the salad.

Instructions

Step 1

Start by cooking the pasta.

Boil a large pot of salted water and follow the package instructions. We like a bit of bite to our pasta so we cook it al dente. You don’t want to have mushy pasta salad.

Next, drain and rinse the cooked pasta and spread it out on a baking sheet to cool.

Step 2

Meanwhile, while the pasta is cooking, chop the vegetables and grate the parmesan cheese.

Step 3

Then, add the pasta salad dressing ingredients to a small mason jar with a lid and shake it really well.

Step 4

Next, add the cooled pasta, the chopped vegetables, and the parmesan cheese to a large bowl and stir.

Step 5

Finally, shake the dressing once more, and pour it over the ingredients in the bowl.

Toss the salad well to coat all of the ingredients with the dressing.

Expert tip

After cooking the pasta, rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down quickly.

This helps to prevent the pasta from sticking together while still maintaining a firm texture.

Recipe variations

• Create a Mediterranean-style tuna salad by adding kalamata olives, feta cheese, and flaked tuna.
• Make this a chicken salad by adding cold shredded chicken and adding a bit of Dijon mustard to the dressing. We love to use leftover rotisserie!
• Boost the protein and make this a complete meal by serving grilled shrimp or prawns alongside it.
• Put a Tex-Mex spin on it by adding black beans, white beans, corn kernels, diced bell peppers, salsa, and chopped cilantro.
• Make it dairy-free and leave off the cheese for a vegan pasta salad.
• Looking for a creamier version? This Deviled Egg Pasta Salad is a classic side dish and we love it for cookouts.

Serving suggestions

• Serve this salad on a buffet for BBQs or cookouts. We love including platters of grilled proteins and pitchers of cool drinks such as Iced Green Tea, Homemade Gatorade, or Butterfly Pea Tea for our guests.
• Use a colorful bowl for the presentation alongside a pair of wooden salad servers.
• Include a selection of other salads, such as this Spicy Crab Salad or this Cowboy Caviar Salad for your guests to choose from.
• Having a platter of fresh fruit, such as watermelon, grapes, berries, or citrus slices, can serve as a light and refreshing dessert after the pasta salad.

Another fabulous side dish for a BBQ is this tasty Smoked Corn on the Cob recipe. It is super simple but has awesome flavor.

FAQS

Storage tips

• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• We do not recommend freezing pasta salad. Pasta can become mushy, and the vegetables may not hold up well after thawing.

More salad recipes 

**This recipe was originally posted on April 26, 2022, and updated on July 21, 2023.**

If you’ve tried our Pasta Salad no Mayo, please rate the recipe and let us know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!

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