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High Protein Italian Pasta Salad

A delicious and nutritious pasta salad packed with protein through a colorful medley of vegetables, savory meats, and flavorful Italian dressing.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

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

Method
 

Cooking Pasta
  1. Cook the chickpea or protein pasta according to the package directions, salting the water generously for taste.
  2. Cook until the pasta is al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water.
Chopping Ingredients
  1. Chop the red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber into small, uniform pieces.
  2. Slice the smoked deli ham, turkey pepperoni, Italian dry salami, and provolone cheese into even, bite-sized pieces.
Mixing Salad
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pasta, chopped vegetables, meats, and cheeses.
  2. Add the crumbled feta cheese.
  3. Drizzle the light Italian dressing over the mixture and toss gently with two large spoons.
Resting
  1. Let the salad rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving, allowing the flavors to meld.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, omit the meats and add more veggies or beans for extra protein. Garnish with extra basil or olives for serving.
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