Strawberry Fields Pasta Salad

A fresh, vibrant pasta salad that is loaded with sweet and savory flavors. The salty feta cheese balances the sweet fruits.

There’s nothing quite like the taste of ripe, fresh strawberries. And when they’re paired with sweet mandarin oranges and creamy pasta salad, the results are absolutely delicious. This easy strawberry pasta salad recipe is perfect for potlucks and picnics, and it’s sure to be a hit with your friends and family.

If you’re looking for a sweet and savory pasta salad that is perfect for the warmer weather, this easy salad is it! Strawberry Fields Pasta salad is the best salad for summer cook outs, barbecues, and parties because it is so easy to make and tastes even better the next day! Bonus points if you have fresh strawberries and spinach to add to this nicely textured salad.

Strawberry Pasta Salad Ingredients

Pasta – I love the pretty look bowtie pasta provides this salad. However, it is pretty forgiving and would be equally delicious with rotini, mini shells, or penne.

Berries – Garden-fresh berries, hulled are the best! However, any store-bought, ripe strawberries will work! You can also add blueberries to this salad if you prefer them in lieu of grapes.

Grapes – Red grapes add a sweet element to this salad. They were on sale so I used this type, but green grapes also work.

Oranges – A love canned mandarin oranges in my salads. They are tender, sweet, and add a vibrant burst of color.

Onion – Red onion adds a crunchy, savory element that helps tone down the sweetness.

Nuts – I used pecan halves but you can also use walnuts, or slivered almonds. The nuts add balance, and a nice texture to this salad.

Spinach – I had some fresh baby spinach on hand that I wanted to use up. Arugula would have also been a nice, peppery addition to this salad.

Dressing – I love poppy seed dressing with this salad. I used the brand Bitten Lemon Poppy Seed dressing which worked out so nicely.

Cheese – Feta cheese adds a salty flavor to the salad that just balances it so perfectly. Not a fan of feta? Goat cheese, or even cheddar cubes would be delicious as well.

How to Make Strawberry Fields Pasta Salad

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain and rinse pasta with cold water; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, strawberries, grapes, red onion, spinach, mandarin oranges, pecans, and feta with the lemon poppy seed dressing. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

Toss salad to combine, and cover. Place bowl in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld.

Enjoy salad chilled.

How to Store

It’s easy to store strawberry pasta salad for later! Simply place the salad in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to four days. When you’re ready to enjoy the salad again, simply remove it from the fridge and serve. Unfortunately, this salad cannot be frozen.

Summer Pasta Salads

Looking for some meal-like summer pasta salads? These are some of my absolute favorites!

• Pesto Pasta Salad
• Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
• Tuna Pasta Salad with Dill Pickles
• Greek Pasta Salad
• Chicken Bowtie Pasta