Food & Drink

Best Pasta Salads

The Top 10

By Linda Larsen, About.com Guide

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Pasta is a wonderful base for main dish salads. It comes in so many shapes and forms, and is always quick and easy to make. You can combine it with everything from chicken to fruit to grains or seafood. One of the best things about pasta salad is that you should make them ahead of time, preferably in the morning or late at night when it's cooler. These are some of the best pasta salads in my repertoire. And you love them too!

1. Pesto Chicken Pasta Salad

Linda Larsen

This is one of the first main dish pasta salads I created, and it remains a favorite to this day. Whenever I can't decide what kind of salad to make, this is the one that comes out of the recipe file.

2. Chicken Tortellini Salad

Linda Larsen

This last minute recipe has the best combination of flavors and colors. Shred your chicken and mix it with the dressing first so it has a chance to soak up all the flavor.

3. Raspberry Turkey Mint Salad

Linda Larsen

This beautiful salad combines smoked turkey with farfalle pasta and lots of fresh fruit. It has a clean, fresh sweet dressing made from mint, vanilla yogurt, honey, and raspberry vinegar.

4. Tex Mex Chicken Pasta Salad

Linda Larsen

I love this salad, which combines pasta with cooked chicken, edamame, and a suave and spicy dressing. It's beautiful too!

5. Curried Chicken Salad

Linda Larsen

I buy the 'long grain' form of orzo (as opposed to the round kind) from a grocery store in New York just for this salad. It's my husband's favorite.

6. Salmon Orzo Salad

Linda Larsen

This is one of my newest salads, made when I had some leftover cooked salmon fillets. I love the dressing, with its three cheese salad dressing and yogurt combination. And the peas, peppers, and grape tomatoes add great color, crunch, and nutrition.

7. Cabbage Tortellini Salad

Linda Larsen

This salad was the result of some spinach that just didn't last long enough in the refrigerator. It's crunchy, smooth, creamy, and chewy, and just plain delicious.

8. Ravioli Salad

Linda Larsen

And finally, this delicious six ingredient salad can be served hot or cold. Tender ravioli is mixed with veggies and a ranch salad dressing and served over mixed greens.

9. Chicken Melon Salad

Linda Larsen

When I find nice cantaloupe in the supermarket, this is the recipe I think of. Tender chicken combined with cool and sweet melon and perfectly cooked pasta is sublime.

10. Pasta Broccoli Bacon Salad

Linda Larsen

Have you tried that delicious summer side dish Broccoli Bacon Salad? I made it one day and had the brainstorm of adding pasta to the recipe. It's so delicious and different. And satisfying!