15 Unique Pasta Salads with Meat to Add to Your Summer Menu

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Tasty and unique pasta salad recipes with meat! These savory summer salads are so versatile and delicious that you’ll definitely be adding them to your menu often. 

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

Remember those traditional pasta salads at basically every BBQ of your childhood?

(Macaroni noodles swimming in mayo, with maybe some tiny pieces of onion or celery.)

While tasty and nostalgic, there are SO many different kinds of pasta salad out there for us to try!

Pasta salads with meat, for example.

By adding some protein to a pasta salad, they become so much more versatile. And, dare I say, crowd-pleasing!

I put together a list of deliciously unique pasta salads with meat, so you have lots of inspiration for new ones to try this year.

These fun recipes make excellent:

  • Summer lunch ideas (perfect for meal prep!)
  • Light dinners on hot days
  • Hearty side dishes for BBQs, picnics, and parties 

From chicken to turkey, ground beef, bacon, salami, ham, and more, there’s a recipe for everyone.

Let’s dive in!

Read Next: 85+ BEST Pasta Salad Recipes on the Planet

The Best Meat Pasta Salad Recipes

 

1. Taco Pasta Salad

This Easy Taco Pasta Salad recipe is loaded with Mexican-inspired flavors.

Quick to make, it’s perfect for the next potluck or BBQ.

And because the recipe includes ground beef, it also makes an excellent side dish or standalone meal for a family dinner.

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

2. Cold Turkey Pasta Salad with Honey-Citrus Dressing

This sweet and savory main dish Cold Turkey Pasta Salad is loaded with turkey, grapes, and toasted walnuts and tossed in a deliciously refreshing honey-citrus dressing.

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

3. BLT Pasta Salad

Bring on the summer BBQs and serve loaded BLT Pasta Salad with a creamy ranch dressing!

This yummy easy cold pasta salad recipe is full of bacon, tomato, lettuce, pasta and more – one of my favorites!

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

4. Tortellini Pasta Salad with Chicken

This Easy Tortellini Pasta Salad is filled with pillowy cheese tortellini, juicy grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, kalamata olives, and feta cheese, all tossed in a tangy homemade Italian dressing.

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

5. Chicken Macaroni Salad

Talk about an easy and delicious lunch or potluck contribution! Chicken Macaroni Salad has so much flavor that everyone will be grabbing second helpings. 

And it’s even easier with leftover rotisserie chicken!

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

6. Greek Pasta Salad with Salami

Greek pasta salad with salami is a totally delicious gluten-free pasta salad full of hearty ingredients and tossed with a Greek style salad dressing.

Not only is colorful and look pretty in a bowl, but the homemade dressing deserves to be bottled.

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

7. Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

All the great flavors of buffalo chicken dip, in a satisfying tortellini pasta salad!

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is perfect as a main dish salad, or makes a tasty hearty side for picnics, cookouts, tailgating and potlucks.

It’s sure to win raves every time you make it!

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

8. German Pasta Salad with Ham

With ham, pickles, and peppers, this creamy German Pasta Salad is easy to whip together and totally unique.

And if you want to seem extra cultured, tell everyone that this recipe is actually pronounced Nudelsalat in German.

9. Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad

Fast and easy Tortellini Pasta Salad with cheese tortellini, pepperoni, salami, mozzarella, olives, peppers, parmesan and Italian dressing.

It’s truly pasta salad on a whole new level!

Read Next: 9 Best Italian Pasta Salad Recipes (that are better than the deli!)

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

10. Cobb Pasta Salad

Classic cobb salad turned up a notch!

This quick and easy Cobb Pasta Salad features perfectly cooked pasta, crisp bacon, ripe tomatoes, cubed chicken, chopped eggs, creamy avocado, and blue cheese dressing. 

Truly delicious!

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

11. Creamy Smoked Beef Pasta Salad

Smoked Beef Pasta Salad always goes fast at a potluck or picnic, and might win the award for Most Unique.

It’s definitely a unique twist on the traditional recipe. 

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

12. Healthy Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

Colorful and packed with flavor, Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad only takes 30 minutes to make.

Not only is it the perfect addition to a potluck or BBQ, but it makes great meal prep for weekday lunch.

Read Next: 15 Refreshingly Easy Seafood Pasta Salad Recipes

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

13. Gluten Free Italian Pasta Salad with Salami & Feta

Super easy gluten free Italian Pasta Salad with Salami and Feta starts with the best pasta, salami, fresh tomatoes, artichoke hearts, feta cheese and tossed with a simple homemade zesty dressing.

You just can’t go wrong with all those flavorful ingredients!

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

14. Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta Salad

You’ll love that this super easy and delicious summery Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta Salad recipe comes together in just 15 minutes.

Tender chicken with peas in a creamy, zesty dressing makes for the perfect cold lunch or light dinner for hot days.

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

15. Smoked Corn Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad

(“It’s corn!” If you know you know.)

Smoked Corn Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad is a fun update on a classic pasta salad.

Featuring smoked corn, bacon, and avocado, it’s all tied together with a zesty Avocado Cilantro Dressing. 

Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

Ready to try some new pasta salads with meat?

I hope this list of meat pasta salad recipes has given you lots of inspiration for tasty summer salads to make this year.

It’s a whole new way of thinking about pasta salad!

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Easy summer pasta salad recipes with chicken, bacon, pepperoni, and ham! From Italian, Greek, Taco and more, these unique pasta salads are sure to be a hit. On hot summer days, nothing beats cold pasta salad, and these recipes with meat are meals on their own! Pasta salad with chicken recipes, greek tortellini pasta salad with chicken, easy pasta salad recipes with meat, pasta salad recipes with pepperoni, pasta salad recipes with ham and turkey, cold pasta salad recipes with bacon and broccoli.

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