Would this work as a pasta salad, too?

Yes, definitely! But if you're planning to refrigerate before eating, then serve it cold, I'd also recommend cooking the pasta *past* al dente—a tip I learned from a recent article in our Genius Recipes column. More on that here: https://food52.com/blog/24371-make-ahead-pasta-salad

According to my husband and kids, it is delicious as a lunch. I pack it for them all, with a freezer pack to keep cool until time to eat- just to be on the safe side. The flavors are a bit muted if you eat it frig cold, so consider that when you season it if you plan to eat it that way.