Chickpea Pasta Salad

Pasta salads are the perfect spring, summer, and early autumn meal for busy and health-conscious people as they are quick to make and packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and plant-based protein from wholesome ingredients.

Mixing pasta with chickpeas is the perfect combination to make you feel satiated and nourished.

Those two ingredients provide complete protein, healthy carbs, plenty of fiber, and a modest healthy fat content.

Add fresh seasonal vegetables, and you'll pack even more flavor, vitamins, and antioxidants in a single bowl of this delicious and nourishing chickpea pasta salad.

This chickpea pasta recipe is Mediterranean-inspired, fresh, colorful, crunchy, and a little zesty, thanks to a tasty mustard lemon dressing. Enjoy it as an easy lunch, snack, or quick dinner.

It's also suitable for meal prep, as you can make it in advance and have it ready for those busy days when you have no time to cook.

Pasta

We like to use rotini pasta or fusilli. But, feel free to use any short pasta type, like bow-ties, elbows, and penne.

For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free pasta. You can even replace regular pasta with chickpea pasta, lentil pasta, whole wheat pasta, or protein pasta.

Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water, seasoned with coarse sea salt or kosher salt.

Chickpeas

They are also known as garbanzo beans. We use chickpeas in glass or in cans to save time. You can also use dry chickpeas, but you've got to soak and cook them first.

Fresh vegetables

For this pasta salad recipe, we use cherry tomatoes, cucumber, kalamata olives or black olives, red onion, and canned corn, but feel free to use your favorite seasonal veggies.

Good alternatives are yellow or red bell pepper, lightly boiled or air-fried asparagus, and artichoke hearts.

Fresh herbs

Fresh parsley is our fresh herb of choice. Other herbs that work well in this recipe are mint, fresh basil, dill, and chives. You can even add a sprinkle of dried oregano.

Dressing

We use a simple dressing with fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and black pepper.

To make the dressing extra tasty, add Dijon mustard, maple syrup (or agave syrup), and a teaspoon of garlic powder. If you don't have fresh lemon juice, you can use red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

Tip: want to make this pasta salad super creamy? Mix in a ripe, diced avocado just before serving it.

Note: we like to keep this salad vegan, so we don't add feta cheese or any other cheese to it, but you can do so if you want to.

Cook the pasta per package directions in a large pot with plenty of salted boiling water. When cooked, "al dente," drain, and cool down under running cold water.

We do this to prevent the pasta from overcooking. While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables.

Make the dressing: to a small bowl, add olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Optionally you can add mustard, maple syrup, and garlic powder. Whisk well till combined.

Rinse and drain the chickpeas and add them to a large bowl. Add chopped tomatoes, chopped cucumber, sliced olives, drained canned corn, finely chopped onion, and finely chopped parsley.

Add the cooked pasta to the bowl. Pour in the lemon vinaigrette, mix well, taste, adjust for salt, and serve this delicious and healthy pasta salad.

Tip: if you want to make this healthy pasta salad extra creamy, add a diced, ripe avocado before serving it.

Mix with a spoon, and you'll see how the avo will mash in the pasta, turning into an irresistible creamy coating. Do not add the avocado if you are not eating the pasta immediately.

You can enjoy this pasta salad as a main meal. It's perfect for a quick lunch or an easy dinner. From a nutritional point of view, you don't need to serve anything else next to it.

The pasta, chickpeas, vegetables, and extra virgin olive oil provide all the necessary nutrients to keep you nourished and satiated.

We especially love this for picnics and potlucks, as you can make it ahead of time and bring it with you. Plus, everyone will like this, vegans and non-vegans alike. It is the perfect summer recipe.

If you want to make this recipe with even more extra protein, try adding our delicious pan-fried tofu. It only takes 15 minutes to make. We love it with this salad.

Eggplant Pasta Salad

Eggplant pasta salad is an easy and delicious recipe made with roasted or air-fried eggplant, chickpeas, your favorite pasta, and other crunchy seasonal vegetables.

It's perfect as a make-ahead meal for potlucks and picnics.

Check out our eggplant pasta salad recipe.

Vegan Pasta Salad

Vegan pasta salad is the ideal lunchtime meal because it's quick to prepare and delicious to eat. It's also great to make in advance to have as a ready-to-go meal to eat at any time.

In our how-to guide, you'll find everything you need to know to make the best vegan pasta salad.

Check out our guide on how to make vegan pasta salad.

Change up the veggies

If you don't like our choice of vegetables, change them up with your favorite ones. For example, you can add roasted eggplant, roasted zucchini, celery, carrot, and even zucchini noodles.

If you are into stronger flavors, try adding chopped-up sun-dried tomatoes in oil. In spring, try lightly boiled asparagus or artichoke hearts. In autumn, go all-in with diced roasted pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, or butternut squash.

Add extra protein

this chickpea pasta salad already packs plenty of protein, more than enough for anyone with about 14 grams per serving.

If, however, you are working out hard in the gym and want even more protein, one option is to add some chopped nuts. Try almonds, cashews, walnuts, and pinenuts. Another option is our super tasty pan-fried tofu or air fryer tofu.

Storage

Store leftovers in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. We do not recommend freezing this pasta salad.

More Salad Recipes

If you love salads, you might also like some of our other delicious salad recipes:

• couscous salad with fresh crunchy vegetables
• chickpea quinoa salad for a boost of plant-based energy to fuel your day
• winter fennel and orange salad just like they do it in Sicily
• healthy and tasty tofu salad with creamy tahini dressing
• Green Bean Salad with mustard dressing
• Juicy tomato salad
• Roasted sweet potato salad
• Incredible watermelon salad

More Chickpea Recipes

• tasty chickpea salad
• easy one-pot chickpea stew
• crispy roasted chickpeas and air fryer chickpea
• savory chickpea crepes with creamy mushroom filling

More Pasta Recipes

• Italian pasta alla norma with eggplant
• Spicy rigatoni arrabbiata or penne arrabbiata
• Garlic and oil pasta or Italian spaghetti aglio olio
• Easy and tasty tomato basil pasta