Protein Pasta Salad (gluten free)

My favorite season is pasta salad season! I love a cold pasta salad in the summer at a summer BBQ or even for a quick high protein lunch! Plus this protein pasta salad helps me hit my protein goal every time! This protein pasta salad is made with a high protein chickpea pasta. It is paired with fresh summer vegetables mixed with a delicious and easy homemade vinaigrette dressing.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• This Protein Pasta Salad recipe makes for the perfect summer comfort food! Pasta salad is always my favorite part of the summer! It makes for a great side dish at summer BBQs! I love bringing this to a summer get together because no one ever knows it is actually gluten free and I get to safely enjoy it!
• The best part about this gluten free pasta salad recipe is that it is a one bowl meal…which means only one bowk to make it and serve it so the clean up is easy! My ideal situation since I hate doing dishes.
• This recipe is allergy friendly. You can use gluten free pasta like I did for gluten free pasta salad. You can use dairy free cheese for an easy dairy free recipe!

INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

Gluten free pasta: I used a gluten free, chickpea based pasta here because it is high in protein. The higher protein the pasta is the higher protein the gluten free pasta salad will be. Click here to shop the exact pasta I used.

Mozzarella: I like to use the Mozzarella balls when making a pasta salad but you can also use chopped or shredded Mozzarella. If you are vegan, you can use vegan mozzarella cheese in this high protein pasta salad.

Red peppers: I used roasted bell peppers in this recipe. You can roast the peppers in the oven until they are charred. or use chopped jarred roasted red peppers. Click here to shop the exact jar of roasted red peppers I used.

Pepperoni: Adds to the protein in this recipe. Pepperoni or turkey pepperoni works great.

Salami: Adds to the protein in this recipe. You can always use proscuitto or ham instead.

Olives: I like to use olives that are typically cured in brine or oil and have a salty flavor to elevate the Protein Pasta Salad flavors.

How do I make the dressing:

This protein pasta salad has a homemade dressing made from olive oil, red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar. You can swap out the olive oil for avocado oil. You can also use an italian salad dressing in place of the homemade vinaigrette.

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Boil water. Cook the pasta according to box directions.

STEP 2

Rinse with cold water. Drain and set aside.

STEP 3

In a bowl combine all the topping ingredients. Dress with oils.

STEP 4

Add pasta. Mix the Protein Pasta Salad together and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

EXPERT TIPS & TRICKS

• Don’t overdress the Protein Pasta Salad. A light dressing will help to preserve the texture of the pasta and vegetables.
• Let the salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to blend and the salad to come together.
• You can also add other vegetables to the pasta salad, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, or bell peppers to this high protein pasta salad.
• For a sweeter version, you can add chopped sun-dried tomatoes or a touch of honey to the dressing.
• For a spicier gluten free pasta salad, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the dressing.

Why is my pasta mushy?

Gluten free pasta is hard to work with! I always suggest cooking your gluten free pasta 1 minute less than the box suggests to get an al-dente pasta. That way, when it sits in the dressing it doesn’t get mushy. Be sure to also salt the water before adding your pasta! The more salt the better! After the pasta is done cooking, I drain and then rinse the pasta with cold water to immediately stop the pasta from cooking any more.

How can I make this protein pasta salad vegetarian?

If you are vegetarian, you can use vegan pepperoni, and salami or omit it all together. Some of the protein in this gluten free pasta salad comes from the meat but some also comes from the high protein pasta, so you won’t be omitting all the protein.

How do I serve and store the protein pasta salad?

To serve, I chill the protein pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to blend and the salad to come together. I always serve the pasta salad with a garnish of fresh basil or parsley for a fresh topping.

The gluten free pasta salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To store the pasta salad, place it in an airtight container. When you are ready to serve the pasta salad, remove it from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.

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