Friends, Healthy Pasta Salad Recipe exists! Loaded with whole grain pasta and bite sized veggies, this easy recipe is dressed in the same bowl with a flavorful dressing. It’s the perfect summer side dish!

Other healthy pasta salad recipe we love include Italian pasta salad, healthy macaroni salad and healthy tuna pasta salad.

Easy healthy pasta salad with veggies in a bowl.

This healthy pasta salad is out of this world!

During the summer I rotate between avocado egg salad, tomato pasta salad, and cauliflower potato salad when it comes to easy lunch, cold dinner or a backyard get together with friends.

This salad recipe combines hearty whole grain pasta, juicy tomatoes, tangy feta cheese, crisp vegetables for texture, salty olives, lots of fresh parsley, and luscious extra virgin olive oil for the best pasta salad ever!

It can be made in advance for any summertime holiday celebration. This is the perfect side dish to take with you to a potluck, picnic, or host a BBQ with other healthy grill recipes at home. It is the best summer food!

Healthy Pasta Salad Ingredients

Whole grain pasta, tomatoes, asparagus, snap peas, feta, olive oil, parsley, olives, seasonings.

This healthy pasta salad recipe is full of fresh and tasty ingredients plus makes enough to serve a crowd!

  • Whole grain pasta: I like to make healthy pasta with whole wheat pasta, whole grain pasta or gluten free pasta made with whole foods like beans, legumes and seeds.
  • Veggies: Asparagus, green beans or snap peas. Really any quick cooking vegetable that get softened within a few minutes of cooking. I often use a combination of these!
  • Tomatoes: I highly recommend not to skip tomatoes. Tomatoes add so much juice making this pasta salad healthy without loads of extra dressing. Use grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.
  • Cheese: Soft cheese like feta cheese adds just the right amount of creaminess.
  • Olives: Pitted Kalamata olives or green olives add a briny, pickled taste.
  • Olive oil: Quality extra virgin olive oil is the best for any salad.
  • Dressing seasonings: Dried oregano, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. This healthy pasta salad dressing tastes similar to traditional Greek salad but with the addition of hearty pasta!
  • Fresh parsley: Adds an earthy fresh taste. You can also use other fresh herbs like fresh basil or dill.

How to Make Healthy Pasta Salad

Made with simple ingredients, this healthy pasta salad recipe is ready in 20 minutes, then after a quick chill in the fridge, it’s ready to eat in under an hour.

Checking for doneness cooked elbow macaroni in a colander over a pot of water.

1. Cook pasta until al dente. In a large pot of salted water, add pasta and cook until firm. Salt prevents pasta from sticking to each other. Undercooking or cooking pasta until al dente is the best pasta for salads because it won’t become a mush once tossed.

Also keep in mind that gluten-free pasta cooks faster, so keep an eye on your pot.

Prep veggies while pasta is cooking.

Adding chopped asparagus into a pot with boiling pasta water.

2. Cook asparagus/snap peas/green beans in pasta water. Transfer cooked pasta to a large bowl. Cook firm green veggies in pasta water for a minute or two.

Chopped olives, tomatoes, vegetables, parsley, crumbled feta, cooked pasta in a bowl.

3. Combine all ingredients together. I do not make the dressing separately but you can. I just add cooked vegetables, feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, herbs, spices, and olive oil to the salad bowl with pasta and toss gently.

Hands holding healthy pasta salad in white bowl.

4. Let pasta salad sit for 30 minutes. Place it in the fridge and let all flavors “marry” each other. You will see this half an hour makes all the difference for the best cold pasta salad in the world!

Tips and Substitutions

Here are my top tips for delicious healthier pasta salad and so you can use what you have on hand.

  • Uniform size pieces: Chop all ingredients into same small bite size pieces, even olives. It helps with even distribution of all ingredients and salad dressing in every bite.
  • Mix-ins: Any firm vegetable that gets soft within a few minutes of cooking can be used. I often use broccoli, zucchini but get creative and use what’s in season. Also can add fresh baby spinach to the salad.
  • Tomatoes: If you don’t have any, you can replace the tomatoes with one long English cucumber.
  • Cheese: Goat cheese, fresh mozzarella or parmesan cheese would equally work well! Or for a dairy free version learn how to cut an avocado for that touch of creaminess.
  • Olives: Anything pickled could also be used such as pickled asparagus, dill pickles, roasted red pepper, or beets.

Can I Make This In Advance?

Yes. To make healthy pasta salad ahead of time, add all ingredients except oil and salt to a salad bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, sprinkle with salt and drizzle with olive oil, toss and let marinate for 30 minutes.

Salt makes all veggies go limp and pasta soaks up oil quickly, that’s why these two ingredients go in last.

What to Serve Healthy Pasta Salad With?

With 26 grams of complex carbs coming from whole grains and veggies, this salad with pasta could be a filling meal on its own.

During the summertime, it pairs with proteins like grilled chicken breast, carne asada steak or grilled salmon.

As far as other healthy side dishes go, serve with grilled vegetables or healthy broccoli salad.

How to Store Pasta Salad

In the fridge, healthy pasta salad leftovers should last 2 days. It does taste better the next day. But to be honest, my kids love this pasta salad so much it has never lived long enough to see our world past 24 hours.

But stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days guarantees freshness. 3 days would be too long.

FAQs

Is pasta salad healthy?

Some pasta salads are healthy and some are not. I think a pasta salad made with a lot of vegetables, whole grain pasta and olive oil can be enjoyed in moderation and called “healthy”.

What pasta shape or size is best for healthy pasta salad?

I like to use small shapes like elbow macaroni, bowties (farfalle), orzo or small penne. Rotini is fine too. If using larger size pasta like rotini or fusilli, keep add-ins chopped small.

Can I add protein?

Yes, add diced Instant Pot chicken breast or salmon and toss it in there. Keep it vegetarian with Instant Pot garbanzo beans.

You might also want to try this healthy tuna pasta salad!

Can I freeze pasta salad?

No. General rule of thumb in cooking is not to freeze any or anything dish with cooked pasta. Plus, some of the vegetables may not hold up well during freezing/thawing.

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Closeup of healthy pasta salad recipe with veggies.
Healthy pasta salad with vegetables in a serving bowl.

Healthy Pasta Salad Recipe

Healthy Pasta Salad Recipe with whole grain pasta, bite sized veggies and dressed in the same bowl with a flavorful dressing.
5 from 12 votes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 261
Diet Low Fat
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Cook pasta as per package instructions undercooking by 2-3 minutes or until pasta is al dente, cooked but firm. While pasta is cooking, start chopping asparagus or green beans.
  • Transfer cooked pasta to a large salad bowl. Add asparagus to pasta water and cook until it starts to boil. Remove immediately with a slotted spoon to a bowl with pasta.
  • Add tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, parsley, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Stir gently to combine.
  • If you have time, it’s best to let healthy pasta salad refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors “marry” each other. But you can serve it warm immediately or cold later.

Video

Notes

  • Store: Refrigerate in a glass airtight container for up to 2 days.
  • Make ahead: Add all ingredients except oil and salt to a salad bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, sprinkle with salt and drizzle with olive oil, toss and let marinate for 30 minutes.
  • What pasta is healthy? Whole wheat, whole grain or most gluten free pasta made with whole foods like beans, legumes and seeds. 
  • What pasta shape/size is best for pasta salad? I like to use small shapes like elbow macaroni, bowties, orzo or small penne. Rotini is fine too. If using larger size pasta like rotini, keep add-ins chopped small.
  • Uniform size pieces: Chop all ingredients into same small bite size pieces, even olives. It helps with even distribution of all ingredients and salad dressing in every bite.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 261kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 451mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American Ukrainian
Author: Olena Osipov
Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Comments

  1. Well, now I know what I’ll be making either tomorrow or the next… have asparagus in the fridge waiting to be used quickly. This is perfect! I know it will be good as everything I’ve made from your site didn’t disappoint.
    Thanks for you devotion to your site and making healthy recipes – along with some you noted as
    healthy-ish!! I’ve loved everything I’ve made over the last few years since I found your site… friends I’ve passed your site on to also have enjoyed your recipes!!
    I’ll come back & rate this as soon as I make it. However, I know this will be good. And, I love the fact that you can cook the asparagus in the pasta water, too!! I have another bunch of asparagus to use after making this recipe so I will be looking for another recipe to use the second bunch of asparagus.

  2. 5 stars
    Delicious! Added some diced red onion and chopped bell pepper for some extra veg and used banza gluten free chickpea pasta. To keep it dairy free we added on the side some tofu feta. Perfect for a hot summer night! Will make again.

  3. 5 stars
    I was so excited to eat this and it did NOT disappoint. It is so delicious and even my husband had a big second helping!

  4. 5 stars
    It’s super good, but needs a little more omph! Maybe something with spice? I loved how you recommended blanching some of the veggies. Also, feta is so good in it. Thanks! I’d like more like this.

  5. 5 stars
    Hi Olena…. I love your recipes and am so excited to find a young girl that enjoys cooking as much as I have my whole life. I am 80 years young.
    I have made and shared your recipe for baked chicken with smoked paprika. Everyone loves it.
    This Healthy Pasta Salad is the Bomb! I called it a Greek Salad because that’s what it tastes like to me. One thing I wanted to ask you do was check the cooking instructions. I think step # 4 is a mistake or some items were left out of ingredients list. Keep challenging us to cook and eat healthy. Love ?

    1. Hi Shirley! Thank you so much for your positive feedback on my salad and chicken recipes. You are right. There was a mistake on the recipe page. It has now been fixed. Thanks for reaching out 🙂

    1. Every recipe has nutritional info at the bottom of the recipe. For a one cup serving of pasta salad, there are 247 calories. Hope that helps!

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