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A vibrant high protein pasta salad in a bowl, ready to serve

High Protein Pasta Salad

Enjoy a satisfying and healthy meal with this high protein pasta salad. It is quick to prepare and packed with flavor, making it a perfect option for lunch or a light dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta Salad
  • 8 ounces high-protein pasta
  • 1.5 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 0.5 cup cucumber, diced
  • 0.25 cup red onion, finely chopped
Dressing
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt
  • 0.125 teaspoon black pepper

Equipment

  • large pot
  • colander
  • large mixing bowl
  • small bowl
  • whisk

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cook the high-protein pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and to cool down.
  2. While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables by halving the cherry tomatoes, dicing the cucumber, and finely chopping the red onion.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
Assembly
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, shredded chicken or chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, and chopped red onion.
  2. Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables, then toss gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.

Notes

Feel free to customize this pasta salad with your favorite vegetables like bell peppers, olives, or spinach. You can also add different protein sources such as tuna or crumbled feta cheese for variety.