I’m sharing the best potluck pasta salad recipe that I always make when I’m cooking for a group. Plus, you’ll get a bonus list of 18 ideas of what to bring to a potluck.
After far too long, I am finally sharing this potluck pasta salad recipe. I originally made this recipe when I went on a little vacation with my parents and a family potluck was part of the trip. And I figured it was about time to share!
What Ingredients do you need for this potluck pasta salad?
- Pasta of your choice – I like to use farfalle pasta
- Pine nuts
- Bell peppers
- Cucumbers
- Baby spinach
- Cherry tomatoes
- Marinated artichoke hearts – you can buy them already marinated in a jar!
- Green onions
- Italian salad dressing
- Feta cheese
There are plenty of pasta salads out there, but I love this potluck pasta salad because it is packed full of vegetables making it a great, healthy dish that’s also filling! If they’re in season, I highly recommend venturing out to the farmers market to get your peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers.
In addition to the veggies, the zippy Italian dressing and marinated artichoke hearts add just the right amount of flavor, all brought together with the crunch of toasted pine nuts. Yum!
Over the years, I’ve continued to make this recipe countless times. It’s super simple, and super yummy, and perfect for potlucks and family get togethers. The perfect summer lunch or dinner side dish!
Other recipes you might enjoy:
- Easy Healthy Lunch Recipe- Pepperoni Pasta Salad in a Jar
- The Best 5 Ingredient Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe
- Whole wheat pasta salad with yogurt dressing {for an outdoor concert picnic}
Potluck Pasta Salad Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 boxes pasta 2 lbs dry pasta - I like using farfalle pasta
- 1/2 cup pine nuts toasted
- 2 bell peppers 1 red, 1 orange, seeded and chopped
- 2 large cucumbers peeled and chopped
- 1 bag baby spinach about 2 cups packed
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved (or 2 large tomatoes, chopped)
- 2 jars marinated artichoke hearts 6 oz each, drained and chopped
- 1 bunch green onions finely chopped
- 1 jar Italian salad dressing 16 oz.
- 4 oz feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to instructions, drain, set aside and allow to cool.
- Toast pine nuts by baking them on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet for 5 minutes at 350. Set aside and allow to cool.
- In a large bowl combine all the chopped vegetables (bell peppers, cucumbers, spinach, tomatoes, artichoke hearts and green onions) and stir.
- When pasta has cooled, add pasta to the bowl and pour Italian dressing over the pasta and stir to combine everything. Allow to cool in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight) and before serving finely crumble the feta cheese over the pasta salad and sprinkle on the pine nuts, stir and serve!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I always buy a stack of aluminum foil baking dishes (like this)at the beginning of the summer so that I always have them on hand, then when I go to potlucks I just bring the food in them so that I don’t worry about having to keep track of my dishes!
With summer coming to an end and fall almost here, I know that means gatherings galore! Â Whenever I’m faced with what to bring to a potluck, I feel like I momentarily freeze and draw a blank on what to bring. So I’ve put together a list of 18 of my favorite recipes to whip up and bring along to your next potluck.
         
   Oil & Vinegar Vegan Potato Salad                      Three Bean & Steak Salad Â
         
       Whole Wheat Pasta Salad                    Honey & Goat Cheese AppetizerÂ
         
    5 Ingredient Jalapeno Cheddar Dip                    Hot Cheesy BLT Dip
         
          Watermelon Salsa                               Grape Tomato Tarts Â
         
  5 Ingredient White Bean Artichoke Dip                Italian Herb Pasta Salad Â
        
       Mexican Street Corn Salad                      5 Ingredient Spinach Feta Dip
        
     Tortellini & Chicken Sausage                       Potato & Kohlrabi SaladÂ
        
  Spinach Salad & Mustard Vinaigrette            White Chocolate PeanutGrape BitesÂ
        
Caramel Marshmallow Tuxedo Chip Blondies     Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
These are some of my favorites of what to bring to a potluck – how about you? What do you like bringing to a potluck? I’d love to know!
Shweta says
MMM that salad looks AMAZING! Thanks.
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much, this salad is SO GOOD!
Georgianne Wordlow says
Oh my goodness! I just made your pasta salad for a potluck and it was such a hit! It’s been a while since I made something for office food day considering I’ve been working from home for the last three years and I wanted something hearty that would stand out. I googled ‘office food day ideas’ and found your website and your wonderful pasta salad recipe. It sounded amazing and so I went out and got the ingredients and made a big roasting pan full of it for our food day. I was worried – not that they wouldn’t like it, but that my culinary skills in pulling it off would be sub par. But it was really easy to make and fun to put together and my coworkers absolutely loved it! I love it, too. The spinach and the orange and red peppers give it an amazing flavor and looks so colorful. I managed to get the farfalle pasta perfectly al dente (I tend to overcook pasta, lol!), and it turned out amazing. Everyone kept complimenting me on it and I couldn’t wait to reach out to thank you for such a wonderful idea. And as I’m sure you know, it tasted even better the next day. There was a little left and everyone made a beeline to it until it was all gone. I was so happy and a couple people are already asking me when I can make it again. Thank you so much! I’ve been looking at more of your recipes – I can’t stop thinking about your salted caramel chocolate chip cookies. There’s a market here that I think I can find that goat’s milk caramel at. I can’t wait<3
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback, I truly appreciate it. I think you’ll love those cookies, they’re pretty amazing!
Angelina says
All of the recipes sound good THX I’m gonna try the mexican street corn.
Sweetphi says
Thank you- I think you’ll love that recipe!
Laura Lorang Kidwell says
Dear Sweetphi, I haven’t tried this yet but I love all of the ingredients you’ve listed and have been looking for this exact thing! My husband works at a middle school and the teachers always have seasonal luncheons. He’s head custodian so for some odd reason he’s not expected to bring anything. Ha Ha!!! Never underestimate the custodians wife! In addition I couldn’t miss your reference to the Oregon coast! My people hail from that terrain and I couldn’t agree more… Beautiful! Thanks Sweets! Really looking forward to wowing them with this dish!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for sharing your story Laura! I love your comment of never underestimating the custodians wife – couldn’t agree more – I think you’re going to absolutely LOVE this recipe and everyone will be asking him to have you make dishes 🙂
tina says
Hi Laura Lorang I would love to hear from you
Joan Koontz says
I made the Potluck Pasta Salad last weekend. I made half of the recipe since there wasn’t a huge crowd at this gathering. It was delicious! I loved the slightly crunchy cucumbers mixed with the pasta. I will definitely make this recipe again!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for your kind words, I’m so glad you liked this recipe as much as I do 🙂
Little Cooking Tips says
Fantastic post Phi! Panos loves artichokes so we’re definitely trying this one soon:) And it’s so easy to make! Thank you for another delicious recipe dear!
Love,
Mirella and Panos
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much – I love using fresh summer veggies, and pasta is just one of my all time favorites, so how can one go wrong? This dish is especially great for sharing 🙂
Shawnna Griffin says
hey girl- it all looks so yummy!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much – I love all the summer potlucks 🙂
Sues says
This looks perfect for a potluck! And also perfect for me to pack as my work lunch all week long!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much girl! I definitely make this in a big batch and have it for lunches 🙂