Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad

This Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad is loaded with plant protein and bold Greek flavors!

What’s not to love about Mediterranean recipes? Refreshing, healthy, and absolutely jam-packed with flavor, they are some of our absolute favorite dishes to indulge in. And this Mediterranean chickpea pasta salad is all the proof you need! When you need a little color on your plate and are looking for an easy dish that will make you feel as though you’re vacationing on the sunny Med, this one will definitely deliver!

This salad is loaded with creamy feta, crunchy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, salty olives, and protein-rich chickpeas. That’s right: No meat? No problem. Even the pasta is made out of chickpeas. It all gets topped with a smooth and tangy lemon dressing that just gets even better as the salad sits in the fridge, and all the flavors get nice and acquainted with each other.

Yep, this recipe is going to be a must for your upcoming dinners, potlucks, and meal-prep Mondays.

Is This Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad Healthy?

This is certainly a healthy pasta salad recipe, especially if you’re used to traditional pasta salads that can be loaded with salt, sugar, and heavy dressings chock-full of artificial ingredients. Chickpeas and chickpea pasta are high in plant-based protein and fiber, which can help keep you full and support digestion. Veggies like cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes, and red onion provide a variety of vitamins and minerals, while the olive oil and kalamata olives add some healthy fats to the mix. However, the olives and cheese do contain sodium, so it’s a good idea to be mindful of how much you add if you’re watching your salt intake.

A perfect salad

Coring the tomatoes and cucumbers is an optional step, but it can be helpful when making this salad, as their seeds and pulp might make the dish watery. To core the tomatoes, use a sharp paring knife to cut around the stem area. Then, cut the tomato in half and scoop out the seeds and core with a small spoon. For the cucumbers, slice them in half lengthwise and gently scrape out the seeds with a small spoon, taking care to keep the flesh intact.

When preparing the salad, it’s also important to let the pasta cool before adding the other ingredients. For instance, adding herbs to hot pasta can cause them to wilt, which may affect the texture and appearance of the dish.

Serving Suggestions

Want more ways to upgrade your Mediterranean menu? We love these Mediterranean Grilled Stuffed Peppers, this Mediterranean Tuna Salad With Olives, and this Mediterranean Low-Carb Broccoli Salad. They’re all bound to get rave reviews at your next summer dinner party!

Recipe