This Mediterranean-style chickpea pasta salad makes the perfect side dish or a hearty lunch scooped over a bed of greens.
Juicy tomatoes, chickpeas, salami, and mozzarella balls are tossed with fresh pasta and dressed in a tangy vinaigrette.
This pasta salad is so quick and easy! Assemble the ingredients, drizzle with vinaigrette and serve.
Easy Chickpea Pasta Salad
- Totally customizable, use any combination of pasta, meat, or cheese that’s on hand.
- Loaded with protein, fiber, and flavor, chickpea pasta salad can even be made without pasta for a wheat-free version.
- This showstopper salad holds up perfectly at picnics and potlucks over lettuce-based salads.
Ingredients and Variations
Pasta – Rotini is a great choice because the dressing clings to it so well. Any medium-shaped pasta will do.
Chickpeas – (AKA garbanzo beans) are firm and hold up well in pasta salads. Be sure to drain and rinse them thoroughly first.
Tomatoes – Grape tomatoes come in a variety of colors which adds visual appeal to chickpea pasta salad. Cherry tomatoes or diced Roma tomatoes are perfect, too!
Salami – Sliced or chopped salami, diced ham, leftover chicken, or other types of sliced sausage can be used.
Cheese – Bocconcini balls are bite-sized balls of fresh mozzarella. Cut them in half before using them. Other cheeses to try are crumbled feta, blue cheese crumbles, or small cubes of Swiss cheese.
Dressing – Whisk in a little pesto to the dressing for a thicker, creamier dressing, if desired. No white wine vinegar? Use lemon juice instead. Use a bottle of your favorite vinaigrette if pressed for time.
Variations – Sliced cucumbers, avocados, or kalamata olives sliced in half will add more Mediterranean color and flavor to the chickpea pasta salad!
How to Make Chickpea Pasta Salad
Fresh, colorful, and full of flavor, chickpea pasta salad is a year-round favorite!
- Toss pasta, tomatoes, chickpeas, salami, and cheese together in a large bowl, as described in the recipe below.
- Whisk dressing ingredients together.
- Toss dressing and basil in the salad. Season and serve.
How to Serve
Chickpea salad is best served uber-chilled, so it’s perfect for making the salad and dressing a day ahead and tossing just before serving. Enjoy it as a hearty side salad to chicken, pork, in a sandwich or wrap, or just over a bed of greens for an energizing workday lunch!
Storing Chickpea Pasta Salad
- Keep leftover chickpea pasta salad in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
- Drain any liquid from the salad before adjusting the seasonings and serving.
- Many of the ingredients in chickpea pasta salad do not freeze well. Fresh is best!
Tasty Pasta Salads To Try!
Did you try this recipe for Chickpea Pasta Salad? Leave a comment and rating below!
Chickpea Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- ¾ pound rotini pasta 12 ounces dry (6 cups cooked)
- 1 pound grape tomatoes halved (or cherry tomatoes)
- 15 ounces chickpeas 1 can, rinsed and drained (garbanzo beans)
- 1 cup salami sausage chopped
- 1 cup small bocconcini balls halved (baby mozzarella)
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 7 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 10 leaves basil finely chopped
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss pasta, tomatoes, chickpeas, sausage, and bocconcini together.
- In a small dish, whisk together garlic, olive oil, and vinegar to make dressing.
- Add dressing and basil to other ingredients and toss together. Sprinkle with salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste.
Notes
- Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days because the dressing is made with fresh garlic. If stored longer there is a risk that the garlic, which has extremely low acidity, may produce botulism, a serious toxin, and that is not a risk worth taking.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
©Our Zesty Life. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Like our recipes?
Follow us on Pinterest!
REPIN this Chickpea Pasta Salad Recipe
Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope the will like it.
That’s aweseome! So happy to hear that Raju!