Easy pasta salads

Tossed with beans or shrimp for protein and some fresh herbs and veggies ― or even flowers ― a cool pasta salad makes an inexpensive, quick, family-pleasing meal.

Orzo Salad with Corn, Green Beans, and Tomatoes
Sunset readers give this colorful dish a 5-star rating. You can assemble the salad through step 5 up to 1 day ahead; just keep it covered and chilled until you’re ready to finish and serve.

Nasturtium Pasta Salad
Featuring brightly colored flower petals and blossoms, this salad scores high points for aesthetics as well as flavor. 

Shiitake-Ginger Pasta Salad with Radicchio
This quick and tasty salad can be served warm or cooled to room temperature. If you can’t find fresh shiitakes, substitute additional common mushrooms.

White Bean and Orzo Salad with Shrimp
Sweet, succulent shrimp add extra meal-appeal to this quick, salad.

Mexican Pasta Salad
This salad can be served as a hot entrée by simply omitting the cooling step for the cooked pasta.