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Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

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  • Author: Emily
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Salads
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Easy Pasta Salad Recipe is a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. Packed with fusilli pasta, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, arugula, and feta cheese, all tossed in a zesty lemon-Dijon dressing, this salad is a crowd-pleaser.


Ingredients

Units Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 3 cups uncooked fusilli pasta
  • 2 heaping cups halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups arugula
  • 1 cup Persian cucumbers, sliced into thin half moons
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
  • 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

Dressing:

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence or dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Boil salted water and cook pasta until slightly past al dente.
  2. Make Dressing: Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, seasonings, and salt in a bowl.
  3. Combine Ingredients: Toss cooled pasta with tomatoes, chickpeas, arugula, cucumbers, feta, herbs, and pine nuts. Pour dressing and toss to coat.
  4. Season and Serve: Adjust seasoning with lemon, salt, pepper, and olive oil as desired. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • This salad can be made ahead and refrigerated for a few hours to let the flavors meld together.
  • You can customize this salad by adding grilled chicken, olives, or other veggies of your choice.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bowl
  • Calories: 320 kcal
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Sodium: 480 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32 g
  • Fiber: 6 g
  • Protein: 9 g
  • Cholesterol: 15 mg