This easy high protein Greek pasta salad has all the flavors of a classic Greek salad and tossed in a delicious Greek vinaigrette. It's ready in less than 20 minutes and perfect to make ahead as a meal prep or for a weeknight dinner.
I don't know about you, but I always have a few staple dishes that I keep in rotation like this easy high protein Greek pasta salad. This dish is perfect for any meal prep or a quick weeknight dinner that comes together in less than 20 minutes.
This classic pasta salad uses a high protein pasta and is made with fresh, wholesome ingredients and topped with a Greek vinaigrette dressing. It's the perfect Mediterranean recipe that can be dressed up with additional protein or eaten as is.
Bring this easy pasta salad along with you to a summer cookout. Cold salads go great for a BBQ side dish or picnic side dish that comes together quickly and tastes even better when made ahead of time.
What is High Protein Pasta Salad?
This high protein pasta salad contains chickpea pasta that helps to provide an additional source of protein. Protein is one of the macronutrients that are needed in our bodies for proper growth and development. Protein helps to keep you feeling full and satisfied for longer periods, and also helps to build and repair muscle tissue.You can add even more protein to this already protein-packed pasta salad recipe by adding in chickpeas, beans, tofu, seeds or nuts.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick to put together.
- Versatile and easy to add in your favorite veggies to this salad.
- Healthy meal prep option or great as a light dinner.
- It's light and refreshing and a good protein source.
- Perfect side dish to bring to summer cookouts or for any large gathering.
Ingredients You'll Need
The pasta salad ingredients are simple to find at your local grocery stores and come together within minutes. Here's what you'll need:
- Chickpea Pasta - this recipe uses Banza chickpea pasta for added protein and nutrients. You may use regular pasta noodles or gluten-free pasta if you prefer but the protein may be less.
- Cucumber - English or Persian cucumbers are great since they have less water and less seeds.
- Grape tomatoes - or cherry tomatoes work great since they are already bite-sized
- Bell pepper - any color you prefer
- Red onion - make sure to dice your red onions. Shallots pair nicely as well.
- Vegan Feta cheese - you can also use regular feta cheese if you prefer.
- Greek Dressing - I love to use Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette or you can use your favorite Greek dressing or make your own with fresh herbs.
How to Make Greek Pasta Salad
Making this healthy pasta salad recipe couldn't get any easier. Here how to make it:
- Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Al dente pasta works best. When done, rinse the cooked pasta under cold water to stop cooking.
- Wash and chop all of your fresh vegetables while the pasta cooks.
- Combine the drained pasta (once the pasta cools) and veggies with feta in a large mixing bowl and toss with dressing, chill for 10 - 15 minutes before serving.
How to Store the Pasta Salad
This recipe can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, making it perfect for meal prep during the week or as a weeknight meal to come home to grab and eat.
Substitutes and Variations
- Cheese - if you prefer to go vegan and make it a dairy free greek pasta salad this greek salad is just for you since it uses vegan feta cheese however if you prefer to use regular feta you can.
- Pastas - if you're not a fan of chickpea pasta, you could use another veggie pasta or your favorite pasta.
- Dressing - instead of buying a greek vinaigrette, you could make your own homemade dressing if you prefer.
- Olives - I personally do not like olives, but they are a must in a greek pasta salad. Both kalamata olives and black olives pair perfectly with this Greek salad.
- Greens - for added fiber you could toss in a handful of spinach, or your favorite leafy greens.
- Protein - feel free to add your favorite protein to the dish. If vegan, chickpeas are a good protein option to add to the dish for extra protein.
Type of Pasta Variations
Although I used rotini pasta, there are other great options to use. Here are some:
- Elbow
- Farfalle
- Fusilli
- Tri-Color Rotini
- Orzo
- Penne
Tips for Making the Pasta Salad
- Use English or Persian Cucumbers for less water and less seeds.
- Grape tomatoes are a better match for pasta salads rather than using a medium-sized tomato as they are already bite-sized.
- If raw red onion is too harsh for you, place the chopped red onions in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes before removing and drying them. This will remove some of the raw onion bite from them.
- If you choose to add olives to the pasta salad, kalamata ones will always deliver a more authentic Greek salad flavor.
Recipe FAQ
Traditional pasta salad recipes don't provide much protein. That's why I like to use extra plant-based protein. In this recipe I use chickpea pasta that adds more protein to the dish.
Spinach is the second highest protein vegetable. 1 cup of spinach has about 6 grams of protein. It is also full of nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin K and vitamin C.
The amount of protein in a high protein pasta salad will depend on the ingredients you use or if you add extra protein to the dish. This high protein pasta salad contains 11 grams of protein per serving as written.
Yes. Rinsing the pasta in cold water helps to stop the cooking process immediately and rinse away some of the starch so that the pasta won't stick or clump together.
More Recipes You May Like:
Watermelon Cucumber Feta Salad
Easy High Protein Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces chickpea pasta Rotini
- ½ Green bell pepper diced
- ½ English cucumber chopped
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- ¼ cup red onion diced
- ⅓ cup vegan feta cheese crumbled
- Greek vinaigrette dressing to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Al dente pasta works best. When done, rinse the cooked pasta under cold water to stop cooking. Allow to drain and cool for a few minutes.
- Wash and chop all of your fresh vegetables while the pasta cooks.
- Combine the pasta and veggies with feta in a large mixing bowl and toss with dressing, chill for 10 - 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Although HalfPastHungry.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on which products you use, the brand that was purchased, or in other unforeseeable ways. HalfPastHungry.com will not be held liable for any reliance on given nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your physician first.
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