I've been on a serious pasta-salad kick lately—it’s quick, fresh, and perfect for these summer days at the farm after working hard and lots of sweat. I followed three Pinterest recipes recently, each easy to tweak for gluten- or dairy-free diets and customizable to what you have on hand. Here’s what we loved (and how we made them our own!):
1. Taco Pasta Salad
(based on No Dash of Gluten)
A Tex‑Mex twist with pasta, taco-seasoned ground meat, beans, corn, and chopped tomatoes, all tossed in creamy (dairy-free options welcome!) ranch-style dressing. As per usual we used venison from last year but sadly we are down to our last few packs of ground venison. Our tomatoes are producing like crazy too, so we were able to add them in the salad which is a special touch to use your own produce.
Optional tweaks:
Used gluten‑free pasta or a high protein pasta
Swapped sour cream for dairy‑free plain Greek yogurt
Added avocado and cilantro for freshness
Serves as meal or potluck dish—we ate it basically at room temp!
2. BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
(inspired by Dinner Then Dessert)
Grilled or baked BBQ chicken, tri‑colored rotini, sweet peppers, and green onions coated in a tangy ranch‑BBQ sauce. This is easily made with a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store if you're short on time. If you don't like BBQ sauce, then this is not the recipe for you. I did make my own mayo for this because I didn't realize I was out. This was not given a huge thumbs up, but it was eaten and generally liked.
Optional adjustments:
Used a sugar‑free, gluten‑free BBQ sauce
Swapped cow’s milk ranch for coconut‑milk based dressing
Stirred in extra chopped cabbage for crunch
Great warm or cold—and it’s loaded with protein!
3. Italian Macaroni Salad
(taken from Baker by Nature)
Macaroni with diced bell peppers, carrots, celery, olives, and Italian dressing—simple and vibrant. I changed the celery for chopped squash from my garden. That was so nice to be able to use some of the squash and you'd never know it! This is definitely a meal that has been requested repeatedly. It's good warm or cold!
Optional changes:
Swap regular macaroni for GF pasta or high protein
Replace mayo with vegan mayo or mashed avocado or make your own
Boosted flavor with extra herbs and lemon zest
Delicious prep-ahead meal for busy moms.
🥄 Easy Substitution Ideas:
Gluten-free pasta swaps 1:1
Dairy-free? Use plain coconut or almond yogurt, vegan mayo, or dressings made from oil/vinegar blends
Protein boost? Add leftover grilled chicken, beans, or tuna
These salads are absolutely summery and satisfying—perfect for busy days. Which one will you try first? Or maybe you’ve got a twist I’d love to hear about!
Let’s build our summer recipe collection together—drop your favorites below 👇