Chickpea Pasta Salad is a refreshing and wholesome dish that’s bursting with Mediterranean flavors.
Al dente pasta, chickpeas, and ripe tomatoes come together in a vibrant side dish that’s perfect for the spring and summer. Add fresh cucumbers and feta cheese and top with a zesty lemon-herb vinaigrette dressing to bring it all together!
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💚 Why You'll Love This Recipe
Looking for the perfect summer side dish? Try this super delicious garbanzo bean pasta salad! It features filling and hearty chickpeas and a medley of other refreshing and flavorful ingredients.
Combined with your favorite kind of pasta, this Chickpea Pasta Salad is an excellent dish to serve for barbecues, picnics, and more. Fully vegetarian and good for you, this is an excellent recipe for fans of chickpeas and pasta!
I love using chickpeas as often as I can when cooking, like in this recipe for Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas. These nutrient-packed legumes make for an ideal snack or side!
🧂 Ingredients Needed
- olive oil
- garlic - I recommend using fresh garlic if possible, but for easier prep you can use jarred minced garlic.
- lemon
- salt and pepper
- pasta - penne or rigatoni are classic options here, but feel free to use whatever shape of pasta you like.
- chickpeas - if using canned chickpeas, be sure to drain and rinse them first.
- cherry tomatoes - you could also use grape tomatoes or dice any tomatoes into bite-sized pieces.
- kalamata olives
- cucumber
- feta
- fresh parsley and fresh basil - these optional herbs are great for a flavorful and visually appealing garnish.
🔪 Instructions
- Mix together the dressing by combining olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions.
- Add chickpeas, tomatoes, olives, cucumber, and feta to the dressing.
- Stir in the pasta and garnish with fresh basil and parsley if desired.
❔ FAQs
Also called garbanzo beans, chickpeas are a type of legume and therefore a type of bean as opposed to a true pea. They contain protein, fiber, and nutrients, and are popularly used to make hummus.
The trick here is to cook the pasta the perfect amount. I recommend a good al dente cook. If you don't cook the pasta enough though, it will absorb a lot of the liquid in the dressing and result in a drier pasta salad.
Yes, but it doesn't have to be all the way cooled. In fact, pasta that's still slightly warm will help activate the flavors in the dressing and result in a more flavorful and cohesive pasta salad.
💭 Expert Tips and Tricks
- A good pasta salad is reliant on the pasta you use and how you cook it. Use a shape that will hold well when cooked and cook it just to al dente for best results.
- To prevent the pasta from overcooking, drain and rinse with cool water when it's finished.
- Scoop large seeds out of your cucumber to prevent an overly watery pasta salad.
- Be sure to taste the salad before serving and add more salt or pepper if needed.
📌 The combination of chickpeas and pasta with delicious veggies and Mediterranean flavors makes this pasta salad a delicious and refreshing side dish, perfect for the spring and summer!
💡 Substitutions and Variations
- I used penne in this vegetarian pasta salad, but you could also use something like rotini, rigatoni, fusili, or farfalle (or bow tie pasta).
- Adjust the ratio of olive oil to lemon juice so the dressing is perfected to your preferences.
- If you're looking to add more flavor, include additional veggies like diced red onions, squash, artichokes, or peppers.
- An even healthier dish can be achieved by using a pasta made with chickpeas instead of classic pasta.
🥫 Storage
Keep your vegetarian pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Be sure to allow it to thaw in the fridge for a few hours (or overnight) before enjoying again.
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Looking to turn this Chickpea Pasta Salad into a full meal? Serve it alongside Air Fryer Orange Glazed Salmon, a Slow Cooker Whole Chicken, this tasty Mushroom Swiss Burger, or a delicious Pittsburgh Chicken Salad!
✔️ More Salad Recipes You'll Love
- Avocado Mango Salad - This simple side salad combines filling avocado with tangy and sweet mango for a deliciously refreshing dish!
- Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad - This filling and bold salad is perfect for a satisfying lunch or a quick and easy dinner.
- Berry Salad - You'll love this fruit salad as an accompaniment for brunch or breakfast-for-dinner.
- Rocky Road Cheesecake Salad - Who said you can't have salad for dessert? Enjoy this decadent recipe from I Wash You Dry and enjoy the combination of chocolate, marshmallows, and nuts!
For another delicious vegetarian salad, try this Lentil Salad Recipe that's packed with protein, easy to make, and so tasty!
Vegetarian Pasta Salad
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📋 Recipe Card
Chickpea Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 16 ounces pasta, cooked and drained
- 15 ounces chickpeas, drained and rinsed (one can)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup kalamata olives
- 1 cup cucumber, quartered
- 1 cup feta, cubed
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and salt and pepper until combined.¼ cup olive oil, 4 garlic cloves, minced, 1 lemon, juiced, salt and pepper, to taste
- Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl. Toss to combine, making sure all the ingredients are fully coated with the dressing.16 ounces pasta, cooked and drained, 15 ounces chickpeas, drained and rinsed, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved, 1 cup kalamata olives, 1 cup cucumber, quartered, 1 cup feta, cubed, ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Top with fresh basil and serve.fresh basil, for garnish
Notes
- The best pasta shape for a pasta salad is one that holds dressing well, such as penne, fusilli, or rotini.
- Follow the package instructions when cooking the pasta and make sure to cook it until just al dente (firm to the bite). Overcooked pasta won't hold up well in the salad.
- After cooking, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. This helps prevent the pasta from mushy.
- You can adjust the ratio of olive oil to lemon juice to your taste preference.
- If the cucumber has large seeds, it's a good idea to scoop them out to avoid making the salad too watery.
- Use pitted olives to make eating easier.
- Use crumbled feta if desired.
- Before serving, taste the pasta salad and adjust the seasoning, if needed. You can use additional salt and pepper if needed to enhance the flavors.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
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Liz
This pasta salad was so good and the chickpeas made it really filling! So yummy, I'll definitely make this again!
Anjali
Love this healthy pasta salad!! The chickpea pasta was a great stand in for regular pasta - no one in my family could tell the difference! This was the perfect easy lunch for us today!
Vicky
I have made chickpea salads in the past but never thought to add pasta. I love how versatile this recipe is. I was able to use whole-wheat pasta with delicious results!
Mahy
This is one of the best pasta salads that I have seen to date. Love how easy it is to make it, too!
Kushigalu
This salad looks refreshing and delicious. Thanks for sharing.