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.
![This flavor-packed chickpea pasta salad is loaded with bright and zesty ingredients. Chickpeas are tossed with juicy tomatoes, spicy salami, mozzarella balls, and rotini pasta in a tangy vinaigrette. For extra zing, add pesto and lemon juice. Customize with cucumbers, avocado, or feta for a restaurant-worthy dish! #chickpeapastasalad #ourzestylife #chickpeapastasaladrecipe #chickpeapastasaladdressing chickpea salad on a plate](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Chickpea-Pasta-Salad-OurZestyLife-3.jpg)
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.
![chickpea pasta salad in a bowl](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Chickpea-Pasta-Salad-OurZestyLife-1-680x1020.jpg)
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!
![Whip up this vibrant chickpea pasta salad recipe and enjoy a burst of flavors. Combine chickpeas, tomatoes, salami, mozzarella cheese balls, and pasta with a tangy vinaigrette. Amp up the taste with pesto and lemon juice, or get creative with cucumbers, avocado, or feta! #chickpeapastasalad #ourzestylife #chickpeapastasaladrecipe #chickpeapastasaladdressing chickpea salad in a bowl with a spoon](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Chickpea-Pasta-Salad-OurZestyLife-2.jpg)
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!
![Tasty chickpea pasta salad is chock full of zesty flavor, with plenty of room to customize with your favorite ingredients. Along with chickpeas, there are juicy tomatoes, spicy salami, and creamy mozzarella balls, tossed together in a zesty vinaigrette. Give it even more pizzazz with pesto and lemon juice. Toss in cucumbers, avocado, or feta! #chickpeapastasalad #ourzestylife #chickpeapastasaladrecipe #chickpeapastasaladdressing chickpea salad on a plate with a fork](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Chickpea-Pasta-Salad-OurZestyLife-4.jpg)
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!
![Overhead view of a white bowl of chickpea pasta salad with another bowl on a cutting board in the background.](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Chickpea-Pasta-Salad-1040-300x300.jpg)
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.
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![Whip up this vibrant chickpea pasta salad recipe and enjoy a burst of flavors. Combine chickpeas, tomatoes, salami, mozzarella cheese balls, and pasta with a tangy vinaigrette. Amp up the taste with pesto and lemon juice, or get creative with cucumbers, avocado, or feta. There are endless possibilities with this versatile recipe. #chickpeapastasalad #ourzestylife #chickpeapastasaladrecipe #chickpeapastasaladdressing tomatoes and chickpea salad on a plate with writing](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SP-Chickpea-Pasta-Salad-OurZestyLife-1-.jpg)
![Tasty chickpea pasta salad is chock full of zesty flavor, with plenty of room to customize with your favorite ingredients. Along with chickpeas, there are juicy tomatoes, spicy salami, and creamy mozzarella balls, tossed together in a zesty vinaigrette. Give it even more pizzazz with pesto and lemon juice. Toss in cucumbers, avocado, or feta! #chickpeapastasalad #ourzestylife #chickpeapastasaladrecipe #chickpeapastasaladdressing chickpea salad on a plate with writing](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NP-Chickpea-Pasta-Salad-OurZestyLife-1.jpg)
![This flavor-packed chickpea pasta salad is loaded with bright and zesty ingredients. Chickpeas are tossed with juicy tomatoes, spicy salami, mozzarella balls, and rotini pasta in a tangy vinaigrette. For extra zing, add pesto and lemon juice. Customize with cucumbers, avocado, or feta for a restaurant-worthy dish! #chickpeapastasalad #ourzestylife #chickpeapastasaladrecipe #chickpeapastasaladdressing chickpea salad in a bowl with writing](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NP-Chickpea-Pasta-Salad-OurZestyLife-2.jpg)
![Give your taste buds something to celebrate with this delicious chickpea pasta salad. Combine chickpeas, tomatoes, salami, and mozzarella in zesty vinaigrette. Elevate it with pesto and lemon juice. Add cucumbers, avocado, or feta for a tasty treat! #chickpeapastasalad #ourzestylife #chickpeapastasaladrecipe #chickpeapastasaladdressing chickpea salad in a bowl with writing](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SP-Chickpea-Pasta-Salad-OurZestyLife-.jpg)
![Here's a flavorful chickpea pasta salad recipe that's customizable. Toss chickpeas with tomatoes, salami, pasta, mozzarella balls, and a zesty vinaigrette. Make it into a flavor fest with pesto and lemon juice. Or, toss in cucumbers, avocado, tuna, and feta and make it a feast! #chickpeapastasalad #ourzestylife #chickpeapastasaladrecipe #chickpeapastasaladdressing chickpea salad with tomatoes on a plate with writing](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LP-Chickpea-Pasta-Salad-OurZestyLife-.jpg)
![This tasty chickpea pasta salad is loaded with zesty goodness. Chickpeas are tossed with tomatoes, salami, rotini pasta, and mozzarella balls and dressed with a tangy vinaigrette. Enhance the salad with pesto and lemon juice. Or embellish with cucumbers, avocado, tuna, or feta for a summer inspired delight! #chickpeapastasalad #ourzestylife #chickpeapastasaladrecipe #chickpeapastasaladdressing chickpea pasta salad on a plate and in a bowl with writing](https://ourzestylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LP-Chickpea-Pasta-Salad-OZL-2.jpg)
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!