High Protein Pasta Salad
High protein pasta salad is perfect for meal prepping, sharing at a potluck, or satisfying a craving for something wholesome and filling. Packed with protein, colorful veggies, and a tasty dressing, this recipe is sure to become a staple in your weekly routine.
What sets this recipe apart? It’s simple, adaptable, and made with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Plus, it’s a great way to use up leftover veggies or protein from previous meals. This healthy pasta salad is also customizable to fit your dietary preferences or restrictions, making it a delicious and nutritious option for everyone.
If you are looking for more healthy salads then check out this Beet Root Salad or this Southwest Chicken Salad.
Ingredients for High Protein Pasta Salad
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need to make this high protein pasta salad. The exact quantities are listed in the recipe card below, but here’s your shopping list!
- Protein Pasta Noodles – Provides a hearty base for the dish while adding a boost of protein for satiety.
- Gherkins (or substitute with small pickles) – Adds a tangy, crunchy element that balances the creaminess of the dish.
- Large Red Bell Pepper – Offers a pop of color and natural sweetness, along with a satisfying crunch.
- Celery Ribs – Enhances the texture with its crispness and brings a fresh, slightly peppery flavor.
- Small Red Onion – Adds a mild, sharp flavor that complements the other ingredients without overpowering them.
- Large Hard-Boiled Eggs – Contributes creaminess and extra protein, making the dish more filling.
- Light Mayonnaise – Acts as the creamy base for the dressing while keeping the dish lighter.
- Yellow Mustard – Brings a tangy, slightly spicy kick to enhance the flavor profile.
- White Vinegar – Adds acidity to balance the richness of the mayonnaise and bring brightness to the dish.
- Pepper – Provides a mild heat and depth of flavor.
- Sugar – Balances the tangy and savory elements with a hint of sweetness.
- Salt – Enhances the flavor of all the ingredients.
- Garlic Powder – Adds subtle, savory notes without overpowering the dish.
- Onion Powder – Boosts the overall flavor with a mild oniony taste that blends seamlessly.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Protein Pasta Salad
Making this pasta salad is a breeze. Here’s a quick overview of the steps to toss this dish together.
Step 1: Cook the protein pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Once done, rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta.
Step 2 In a medium bowl, whisk together light mayonnaise, yellow mustard, vinegar, pepper, sugar, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder until smooth. Set aside.
Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, diced gherkins, chopped bell pepper, celery, onion, and hard-boiled eggs. Pour the dressing over the ingredients and gently toss until fully combined.
Step 4: Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour for the best flavor. Stir before serving to ensure the creamy dressing is evenly distributed.
Variations and Substitutions
- Protein Boost: Add shredded chicken to make a chicken macaroni salad, grilled tofu, or chickpeas for an extra boost of protein.
- Vegetarian Friendly: Skip the eggs and opt for more plant-based protein like lentils or tempeh to make a high protein vegetarian pasta salad
- Gluten-Free Option: Swap regular protein pasta for gluten-free varieties, like chickpea or brown rice pasta.
- Spice It Up: Sprinkle in some red chili flakes or drizzle with hot sauce for a kick.
Storage
Storing your pasta salad properly ensures it stays fresh and delicious for days. Pasta salad meal prep can be a huge timesaver during the busy work week.
Refrigeration. Keep your pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Refrigeration also helps the flavors meld together for an even tastier outcome.
Can You Freeze It? Freezing pasta salads is not ideal as the dressing may separate and the texture of the pasta can become mushy when thawed. For best results, enjoy it fresh or within a few days.
Reheating Advice – This salad is best enjoyed cold, but if you prefer a warm dish, you can briefly microwave individual servings to take off the chill.
💡 Pro Tips for the Best Pasta Salad
- Always cool your pasta completely after cooking. Warm noodles can absorb too much dressing and become soggy.
- Use fresh ingredients for maximum flavor and crunch, especially with the veggies.
- Make it a day ahead of time for even better flavor, since the ingredients have more time to absorb the dressing.
FAQ
Protein pasta is made with added protein sources like chickpeas, lentils, or quinoa. It’s a great option to boost the protein content of your dish, especially if you’re looking to balance your meal.
Absolutely! While regular pasta won’t have the same protein content, it still works well in this recipe.
High Protein Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Large pot (for cooking pasta)
- Colander (for draining and rinsing pasta)
- Medium mixing bowl (for making the dressing)
- Whisk (for mixing the dressing)
- Large mixing bowl (for combining all ingredients)
- Cutting board (for chopping vegetables and eggs)
- Knife (for dicing and chopping ingredients)
- Refrigerator (for chilling the pasta salad)
- Serving spoon (for stirring and serving)
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Protein Pasta
- ½ cup gherkins chopped fine
- 1 large red bell pepper chopped fine
- 2 celery ribs chopped fine
- 1 small red onion chopped fine
- 2 large hard boiled eggs chopped
- 1 cup light mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp. yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp. white vinegar
- ½ tsp. pepper
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni noodles, according to box instructions, al dente.
- Rinse noodles with cold water to stop the cooking and cool.
- For the dressing, in a medium mixing bowl whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, pepper, sugar, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- To a large mixing bowl, add cooled noodles, gherkins, bell pepper, celery, onion, and hard boiled eggs.
Disclaimer:
Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.
Nutrition
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