Go Back
High Protein Italian Pasta Salad with colorful vegetables and dressing

High Protein Italian Pasta Salad

A colorful and nutritious pasta salad featuring high-quality proteins and fresh vegetables, perfect for any occasion.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 8 oz 1 (8 oz) box of protein or chickpea rotini pasta Or any shape you like
Dressing
  • 3/4 cup 3/4 cup of Olive Garden light Italian dressing (192 g)
Vegetables
  • 1/2 1/2 red onion, chopped into small pieces (120 g)
  • 1 large 1 large bell pepper (red, yellow, or orange), chopped (170 g)
  • 1 medium 1 medium cucumber, peeled and diced (250 g)
Meats and Cheese
  • 8 oz 1 (8 oz) package of smoked deli ham, chopped (224 g)
  • 5 oz 1 (5 oz) package of turkey pepperoni, chopped (140 g)
  • 5 oz 5 oz of light Italian dry salami, chopped (140 g)
  • 4 slices 4 slices of ultra-thin provolone cheese, chopped
  • 1/2 cup 1/2 cup of feta cheese (56 g)
Herbs
  • optional Fresh basil For garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Begin by cooking the chickpea or protein pasta according to the package directions, salting the water generously.
  2. Once done, drain and rinse under cold water to cool it down.
  3. Chop the red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber into small, uniform pieces.
  4. Slice the smoked deli ham, turkey pepperoni, Italian dry salami, and provolone cheese into bite-sized pieces.
Mixing
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pasta, vegetables, meats, and cheeses.
  2. Add the feta cheese, crumbling it gently.
  3. Drizzle the light Italian dressing over the ingredients and toss everything together.
  4. If using, add fresh basil and toss again.
Chilling
  1. Let the salad rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Serve chilled and enjoy.

Notes

For added flavor, consider mixing in olives or sun-dried tomatoes. Customize as desired with your favorite vegetables or proteins.