Asian Pasta Salad Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Spruce up your party with an Asian Pasta Salad! Packed with an irresistible sweet and salty flavor and full of colorful, crunchy vegetables.

Asian Pasta Salad Recipe (1)

Why This Recipe Works

Of allll the yummy pasta salads that have passed through my kitchen lately (and the list is plentiful), this Asian Pasta Salad ranks toward the top of the list. I had containers packed with a variety of pasta salads in my fridge and this is the one I finished first.

The sauce is really hard to describe in words, but my best effort would be a sweet and salty combination of tangy-zingy perfection.

Make this quick and easy recipe to bring to your next summer barbecue or tailgate party. I promise people will RAVE and there won’t be another dish like it in the spread.

Asian Pasta Salad Recipe (2)

How To Make Asian Pasta Salad

This light noodle salad is so delicious and the spicy homemade dressing is delicious!

Step 1

Cook 8 ounces of spaghetti or angel hair pasta in a large pot with boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Add to a large bowl along with carrots, coleslaw, red bell pepper, green onions and cilantro.

Step 2

In a small bowl combine the dressing ingredients: soy sauce, olive oil, brown sugar, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sriracha and ginger. Whisk until combined. Pour over the contents in the bowl and toss to combine. Mix well, cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve. Just before serving, top with sesame seeds.

Asian Pasta Salad Recipe (3)

Recipe Notes

  • The sesame seeds offer a nice texture and finishing touch to your salad. Chopped peanuts would be a great, delicious option, too!
  • Snap peas are a great addition to the salad if you’re looking to pack more veggies in.
  • Squeeze a half a fresh lime over the salad right as you’re about to serve! The fresh lime juice will add an extra touch of total deliciousness.
  • If you need to prep this salad the day before, be sure to cook the noodles and keep the mixed dressing separate until you are ready to serve. Combine the noodles and dressing just before serving.
  • Have leftover rotisserie chicken? This side dish just became the main meal. Toss in some shredded chicken for a delicious lunch or dinner!
  • Don’t skip the cilantro! Even if you’re not a huge fan, this fresh-tasting herb will cool the spicy ingredients down and complement the mixture.
  • Feel free to serve chilled or at room temperature.
  • Make a second batch of this dressing and keep it on hand for another salad!
  • The spaghetti/angel hair is such a perfect noodle for this recipe, but in a pinch feel free to swap out for a different type of pasta.

Delicious Pasta Salad Recipes

Pasta salad are the best kinds of recipes to bring to any type of gathering because they get DEVOURED. Here are a handful of other pasta salad faves!

  • Best Ever Pasta Salad is my favorite pasta salad recipe of ALL TIME. It is packed full of delicious bites (think olives, salami, chunks of cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes!) and it is the perfect food to bring to potlucks.
  • Taco Ranch Pasta Salad – Having a pasta salad that shares the crunchy wonderful zingy flavors of a taco dinner is great for potlucks and summer BBQ’s!
  • Caprese Pasta Salad is a huge hit at parties! Serve this delicious dish as a side, salad or appetizer. The combination of tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese and basil is absolute perfection!
  • This Italian Pasta Salad is a delicious cold salad that can be made quickly, but that does not lack in flavor! It is packed with pasta, crisp veggies, fresh mozzarella, black olives and salami.
  • Easy Classic Macaroni Salad is creamy, crunchy, filling and totally delicious! Enjoy the diced red onion and flavor of the simple dressing made with mayo, mustard and apple cider vinegar with a few spices thrown in!
Asian Pasta Salad Recipe (4)

Favorite Take-Out Copycat Recipes

Being able to make some of your favorite take-out recipes is going to change things up! Follow along to learn how to make some delicious Asian favorites.

  • How To Make Your Own Flavorful Chili Paste
  • Easy Orange Chicken
  • Hoisin Chicken Rice Bowl
  • Easy Mongolian Beef
  • Easy Pad Thai with Shrimp and Tofu

Healthy Salad Recipes

If you’re on a roll with salads and are looking for some healthier options, consider these delicious options:

  • This chopped salad is the best because it’s packed with delicious ingredients. My Best Chopped Salad includes candied pecans, red onions, avocado, tomatoes and more!
  • Edamame Tomato Corn Salad is my favorite salad recipe of ALL TIME. This delicious salad is a crowd-pleaser, enjoyed any time of the year. Bring this to a party and it will be devoured immediately!
  • This versatile Loaded Veggie Salad is EASY to make and it is packed with healthy ingredients, such as chickpeas, black beans, tomatoes and avocados. It is a delicious lunch, wrap filling, party side or even a topping for chicken!

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Asian Pasta Salad Recipe (5)

Asian Pasta Salad Recipe

Spruce up your party with an Asian Pasta Salad! Packed with an irresistible sweet and salty flavor and full of colorful, crunchy vegetables.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 238.59kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

  • 8 oz spaghetti or angel hair pasta
  • 1 cup match stick carrots
  • 1 cup coleslaw mix
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 bunch green onions thinly sliced, white and light green parts only
  • 1/4 cup cilantro finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tsp sriracha sauce
  • 1/4 tsp dried ginger
  • Sesame seeds for topping

Instructions

  • Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente; drain and rinse with cold water. Add to a large mixing bowl along with carrots, coleslaw, pepper, onions and cilantro.

  • In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, olive oil, brown sugar, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sriracha and ginger. Whisk until combined. Pour over the contents in the bowl and toss to combine.

  • Mix well, cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve. Just before serving, top with sesame seeds.

Notes

  • The sesame seeds offer a nice texture and finishing touch to your salad. Chopped peanuts would be a great, delicious option, too!
  • Snap peas are a great addition to the salad if you’re looking to pack more veggies in.
  • Squeeze a half a fresh lime over the salad right as you’re about to serve! The fresh lime juice will add an extra touch of total deliciousness.
  • If you need to prep this salad the day before, be sure to cook the noodles and keep the mixed dressing separate until you are ready to serve. Combine the noodles and dressing just before serving.
  • Have leftover rotisserie chicken? This side dish just became the main meal. Toss in some shredded chicken for a delicious lunch or dinner!
  • Don’t skip the cilantro! Even if you’re not a huge fan, this fresh-tasting herb will cool the spicy ingredients down and complement the mixture.
  • Feel free to serve chilled or at room temperature.
  • Make a second batch of this dressing and keep it on hand for another salad!
  • The spaghetti/angel hair is such a perfect noodle for this recipe, but in a pinch feel free to swap out for a different type of pasta.

Nutrition

Calories: 238.59kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.58g | Protein: 4.35g | Fat: 12.66g | Saturated Fat: 1.84g | Cholesterol: 2.19mg | Sodium: 549.47mg | Fiber: 2.55g | Sugar: 10.28g

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Asian Pasta Salad Recipe (6)Stacey

    Asian Pasta Salad Recipe (7)
    This salad was excellent! I made it as directed except I used 1 Tb cider vinegar and 1 Tb red wine vinegar because I didn’t have rice vinegar. I followed the written instructions and mixed the dressing in a separate bowl before adding it to the salad instead of following the video which shows the cook just putting all the ingredients in the bowl at once. I used angel hair pasta which was great. I Made this salad in the morning and let it chill all day. I served it with teriyaki chicken thighs that I marinated and grilled and fresh pineapple. A perfect meal for a hot day. The leftovers were really good too for a light lunch.

    Reply

    • Asian Pasta Salad Recipe (8)Megan Porta

      Great improvisation! It sounds like a wonderful meal. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Asian Pasta Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the five mistakes to avoid pasta salad? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Pasta Salad
  • Using the wrong pasta. The wrong pasta type or size can make pasta salad soggy, slimy, or just plain hard to eat. ...
  • Salting only once, at the end. ...
  • Too many raw ingredients! ...
  • Overdressing or underdressing the salad. ...
  • Not seasoning again just before serving.

Do you have to let pasta cool before making pasta salad? ›

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare the pasta according to the package directions, or cook slightly more than al dente. Drain pasta, do not rinse, and toss with ½ cup of the prepared dressing in a large shallow bowl. Let cool for at least 15 minutes until pasta reaches room temperature.

Why does pasta salad taste better the next day? ›

Texture: When pasta is freshly cooked, it can be slightly firm or chewy. Leftover pasta has had more time to absorb moisture from the sauce, resulting in a softer and more tender texture. Time to settle: Leftover pasta has had time to settle, which can help the flavors meld together and create a more cohesive dish.

What is the best olive oil for pasta salad? ›

The best olive oil for salads is the extra virgin olive oil. It is the olive oil with most flavored and fruity of all of them. But of course, there are many varieties of extra virgin olive oils, each of which have their own characteristics.

Is it best to make pasta salad the day before? ›

For storing: After I make this pasta salad, whether making it ahead or storing leftovers, I just pop it in the fridge and it will keep for 2-3 days. For making ahead: I love to make pasta salad 12-24 hours ahead of time. This gives it time to absorb the dressing but not get mushy!

How do you keep pasta salad from absorbing dressing? ›

Beyond this, the solution is simple: don't drain as much water from the cooked pasta, and add more dressing. There's a limit to how much moisture pasta will absorb. I would add that another solution is to cool your macaroni salad ingredients overnight separately, then combine before dining.

Can you run pasta under cold water for pasta salad? ›

If you're making a cold pasta salad, then rinsing with cold water might very well be your best, ideal choice. It depends upon the dressing, but that starch that makes the pasta stick so nicely to warm sauces can make cold salads unappealingly clumpy.

How do you fix undercooked pasta in pasta salad? ›

If you've already added the sauce to the undercooked pasta, you can return it to the stove. Simply pour it back into a pot, add some water to help prevent the sauce from thickening too much and stir the pasta occasionally. Ensure it's fully cooked by testing a piece before removing it from the stove.

What is Olive Garden's salad dressing made of? ›

Ingredients. Water, Soybean Oil, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Eggs, Romano Cheese (Pasteurized Part Skim Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Dehydrated Garlic, Spice, Xanthan Gum, Dextrose, Annatto Color, Calcium Disodium EDTA Added to Protect Flavor, Natural Flavor.

Does pasta salad contain mayo? ›

In addition to the mayonnaise and sour cream, we use these ingredients: Yellow mustard adds a bit of color and rounds out the flavor of the dressing nicely. We usually use Dijon mustard in our recipes, but just like when making our potato salad, we prefer regular yellow mustard for the best pasta salad.

How do you thicken pasta salad dressing? ›

Egg yolks are the ideal addition to pasta sauces, salad dressings and custards that need thickening. The protein in egg yolks thicken when heated and they also add a richness to sauces.

Why does my pasta salad taste weird? ›

Vinegar and other acidic ingredients do strange things to the flavor of pasta when used in salad-level amounts. Ever notice an irritating acerbic aftertaste just about every time you've eaten pasta salad? That's the vinegar announcing itself, and it's not pleasant.

Why do you rinse pasta for pasta salad? ›

By washing away the starchy film on the pasta, you're guaranteeing that when you toss the pasta with your other salad components and dressing, the pasta won't stick together or clump. Each noodle or shape will be singular, cooked to perfection, and intact.

When should you throw out pasta salad? ›

But how long, exactly, is that pasta salad going to last? The majority of pasta salads will last between three to five days in the refrigerator. This is provided you are storing the salad properly, in an airtight container so as to prevent any harmful bacteria from growing in your salad.

What are the seven things that you should not do when preparing the salad? ›

Common Salad Mistakes
  1. Here are seven things you should NOT do when making salads: Too much dressing. ...
  2. Pouring on the dressing. ...
  3. Wet salad leaves. ...
  4. Not seasoning it. ...
  5. Subpar salad dressings. ...
  6. Uncreative toppings. ...
  7. Served in a bowl.
May 13, 2013

When creating a salad what 5 factors should you consider? ›

But today, I am going to teach you how to make a salad without using a recipe so you, too, can become a salad artist. Sound like a deal? There are five elements to a perfect salad: greens, sweetness, creaminess, crunchiness, and dressing.

Should you rinse pasta in cold water for pasta salad? ›

The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad or when you are not going to use it immediately. In those cases, rinsing the pasta helps to stop the cooking process.

What is necessary to avoid when making fresh pasta? ›

15 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Fresh Pasta
  1. Not using the well method to mix your pasta. ...
  2. Using the wrong type of flour. ...
  3. Using too many egg whites. ...
  4. Not using the correct dry-to-wet ingredient ratio. ...
  5. Not adding semolina. ...
  6. Under-kneading your pasta dough. ...
  7. Forgetting to rest your pasta dough. ...
  8. Rolling out your pasta by hand.
Feb 1, 2023

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