This Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad is a healthy, and quick vegan main dish or side dish which is loaded with lots of fresh and nourishing ingredients! Tossed in a vibrant lemon garlic vinaigrette, this pasta salad is perfect for parties or meal prep!
Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad
Out of all the pasta salads I have on my recipe list, this Mediterranean chickpea pasta salad is one of the best and my all-time favorite salad recipes!
This salad is loaded with crunchy cucumber, juicy tomatoes, salty olives, and spicy chickpeas, and drizzled with homemade lemon vinaigrette dressing to create this amazing and colorful pasta salad!
It’s going to be a must-make at your upcoming picnics, and potlucks, and the best option to add to a meal prep recipe list.
Ingredients:
This Mediterranean pasta salad is a classic pasta salad with a lemon vinaigrette dressing. This salad recipe is easy and very fresh- I tossed cooked pasta with juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, a generous handful of air-roasted chickpeas, and some diced onion, and drizzled some zesty vinaigrette into it.
When it comes to easy and quick meals I prefer the ones that call for simple and easily available ingredients! This Mediterranean chickpea pasta salad recipe hits the spot, here’s a list of this pasta salad ingredients you’ll need:
- Pasta
- Juicy cherry tomatoes
- Roasted or simply cooked chickpeas
- Diced cucumber
- Black or green olives
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Freshly minced parsley
- A handful of toasted pine nuts
- Chopped red onion
For lemon vinaigrette dressing
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh Lemon juice
- Dijon mustard
- Minced garlic
- Dried Italian seasoning
- Red chili flacks
- Salt
How to Make Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Make this simple pasta salad recipe in just 3 simple steps:
- Cook your pasta in a large pot, add a teaspoon of salt. Drain it and toss it with some olive oil. And keep it aside.
- Chop the veggies
- Lemon vinaigrette dressing: For the dressing, whisk together the ingredients in a bowl or a small jar. (Scroll below for more dressing options)
- Toss everything in a deep bowl, season to taste, and enjoy!
Do not forget to refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes. Garnish the pasta salad with freshly chopped parsley or cilantro and extra crumbled feta cheese.
Dressing Options for This Pasta salad
I love homemade dressings for sure!! But if you wish to buy some store-bought then try to look for some rich and tangy flavors like olive oil, Dijon mustard, and honey mustard.
But if you want to make your own homemade dressing then you may try the following options:
Greek salad dressing:
- Dijon mustard
- Vegetable oil (or use half olive oil and half vegetable oil)
- Red wine
- Sugar
- Salt and black pepper
- Dried oregano
Cilantro lime salad dressing:
- olive oil
- limes
- fresh cilantro
- garlic
- maple syrup
- seasonings
Basic balsamic dressing:
- balsamic vinegar
- olive oil
- maple syrup
- Dijon mustard
- garlic
- sea salt
- dried basil and/or thyme
Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad Variations
This Mediterranean pasta salad is best, you can easily customize this recipe as per your taste preference or the leftover ingredients in your kitchen pantry section or fridge.
- Try some mini bocconcini mozzarella balls instead of crumbled feta.
- Fresh herbs options: fresh mint or oregano would be a great addition.
- Make it Gluten-Free: Use certified gluten-free pasta in place or regular pasta
- Make it Vegan: Use green or black olives in place of crumbled feta
- Try these roasted chickpeas for extra crunch
- Add extra protein: Feel free to add some cooked, diced chicken breast. Or add cooked black beans, pinto beans, or kidney beans.
- Extra veggies: Add fresh arugula, and spinach.
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