This 20 minute, Mediterranean inspired chickpea pasta salad recipe is loaded with tomatoes, cucumber, and tangy feta cheese. Dressed with a vibrant lemon garlic vinaigrette, this pasta salad is perfect for your next picnic, party, or meal prep!
This salad is a refreshing taste of the Mediterranean. It’s also perfect for weekly meal prep, picnics, and cookouts. It’s that pasta salad your friends will be asking you to bring to the next movie night! Best of all, this filling and flavorful salad comes together in less than 20 minutes!
How to make a good pasta salad
- Salt the pasta water. This is your chance to season the base of the salad. You want the pasta water to be as “salty as the sea.” Yes. You’ll add more salt here than would seem healthy. But I promise the pasta won’t absorb most of the salt.
- Seed the cucumber. Either use seedless cucumbers or use a spoon to scoop the seeds out of the cucumber before dicing. This is a major key to avoid a watery pasta salad. Need help? Check out this How to Seed a Cucumber video.
- Use a homemade vinaigrette. Sure. You can use a bottled dressing. But the salad dressing will make or break this recipe so keep this in mind.
- Dress the salad while the rotini is still warm. This will help the pasta soak up all of that lemon garlic goodness.
If you’re looking at this picture and wondering… hey wait, where are the chickpeas? They are in there. This pasta salad is made with chickpea pasta.
Is chickpea pasta healthy?
I’d say yes. It’s got more fiber and protein than regular pasta which can help you feel full and keep blood sugars steady. Chickpea pasta is a pasta alternative that actually tastes good. It’s made from chickpeas and sometimes a few other ingredients.
When I first started as a dietitian, it was common to recommend whole wheat pasta or possibly quinoa pasta for anyone avoiding gluten. But things have come a long way.
Chickpea pasta is easily my favorite alternative pasta. And actually, I’m a fan of most of the legume pasta options versus grain-based ones. A red or green lentil pasta would be equally delicious in this recipe.
I first shared a chickpea pasta recipe with this Vegan Chickpea Pesto Pasta.
And in case you’re wondering… Yes. You can still eat regular pasta. I definitely do. I will be making a batch of my Slow Roasted Tomato Basil Linguine later this summer. And this Mediterranean Salmon Orzo Salad has lots of the same flavors as this one but with salmon for a big protein boost!
Mediterranean-inspired Chickpea Pasta Salad for all of your pasta salad needs!How to find the best chickpea pasta
Look for chickpea pastas with a simple ingredient list. I used Barilla’s Rotini Chickpea Pasta for this recipe. I love that the only ingredient is chickpea flour. (Yes!)
There are plenty of other brands. So experiment to find one you like. And follow the cooking instructions for the best results. Cooking times can vary and some will require rinsing after cooking to prevent the pasta from becoming gummy. This is necessary for the Banza brand pasta I’ve used, for example.
Alright… enough chatting. Let’s get to the recipe!
Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Pasta salad ingredients
- ½ lb. chickpea pasta I used rotini
- 2 cups diced cucumber seeds removed
- 2 cups halved grape tomatoes
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- ½ cup thin red onion slices a small red onion
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- handful fresh basil, torn or shredded
Lemon Garlic Vinaigrette
- 1 large lemon, juiced
- 3 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 large garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 2 teaspoon raw sugar
Instructions
- Cook the chickpea pasta according to package directions, in salted water. Allow to cool slightly. Toss with a little oil to prevent sticking if needed.
- Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette. Add all vinaigrette ingredients to a mason jar with a lid and shake until blended or whisk in a medium bowl.
- Assemble the salad. Add the warm chickpea pasta, vegetables, and feta to a large mixing bowl. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat. Top with the torn basil. Serve.
Notes
Chickpea pasta salad tips
- Cook the chickpea pasta according to package directions, in salted water. The cook time will vary by brand and pasta shape. I cooked this chickpea rotini for 8 minutes to keep it al dente.
- Add the vinaigrette while the pasta is still warm. This salad tastes better the next day because the vegetables and pasta have time to almost marinate in the vinaigrette for maximum flavor in each bite.
- Keep this salad in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This pasta salad is perfect for meal prep.
Nutrition
Recipe by Marisa Moore, RDN | Marisa Moore Nutrition: https://marisamoore.com
All images and content are © Marisa Moore. Please do not republish or reprint anything without prior consent.
Lindsey
tasty recipe, have made several times
Tara
Do you think chicken would be good in this?
Luvalab
Loved this! I used the recommended veggies then added broccoli and bell pepper to make it veg-heavy. Delicious, thank you!
valerie swanson
Enjoyed this recipe last night. My husband was surprised at how much he liked the lemon dressing and said, “you can make this again any time!” I appreciated the tips on cooking the pasta and all went well. Thank you!
John
I made this recently for a party I was invited too and it was super easy, tasty and seemed like my friends enjoyed it. I could find the chickpea pasta, so I used the regular. Highly recommend to make, only half the recipe so you don’t take anything home with you.
Allie S.
This is literally the best pasta salad I’ve ever had! I swapped black olives for kalamata but other than that followed the recipe to the T. It’s so good! The vinegarette is so good!!
Wendy
Very delicious!!! I had to substitute some veggies and then added raw sunflower seeds. The dressing is great! Thank you for the recipe.
Mae
Delicious and so great for summer! Had never tried chickpea pasta before but will definitely be using it more, even if only to make this again! Way more filling than your average pasta salad.
Didn’t have any white wine vinegar so used red wine vinegar instead and still fantastic.
Amanda
Love the flavors in this! I did 1 tsp of raw sugar in the vinaigrette vs. 2 tsp (personal preference) and left out the basil simply because I didn’t have any, and it turned out delicious!
Logan Herndon
This pasta salad is amazing!! I used protein pasta instead of chickpea pasta and omitted olives because I am not a fan of them, but the lemon garlic vinaigrette is perfection! I will definitely be making this recipe all summer long!
Sher
Girl you are killing me! These recipes make me drool. LOL! Thanks!
Beth Pierce
Love this classic dish for summer sides! Looks amazing! I will definitely be making this tomorrow with dinner!
Marisa
Hope you enjoy it, Beth. Thank you!
Mirlene
Ah, I love how loaded this salad is. So many healthy and delicious ingredients that it is impossible to say NO to it, so I am saying YES! 🙂
Marisa
Yes. This is a definite yes, Mirlene!
Sapana
I’m getting hungry just looking at this recipe! I love how healthy and tasty it is, packed with some of my favorite ingredients. Can’t wait ot make it!
Marisa
I know the feeling. I’ve made it twice already and the pictures make me want to make it every week honestly!
Vee
I am about to make this. I assume you mince the garlic? Two large cloves seem like a lot.
Marisa Moore
Yes. it’s minced. I’m a fan of garlic and don’t find it to be too much. You can adjust the garlic to your personal preference.
Krissy Allori
This looks perfect for my next Summer BBQ!
Jennifer Quisenberry
This recipe is so good and frankly, good for you. It’s easy to make and chock full of delicious Mediterranean ingredients. It was great served with some grilled chicken and some fresh pita on the side.
Marisa
Thanks, Jennifer! Such a healthy option to serve with chicken and I’m all for that fresh pita on the side!