Description
A delicious, vibrant, and high-protein Italian Pasta Salad that is perfect for picnics, barbecues, or a delightful lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8 oz) box of protein or chickpea rotini pasta
- 3/4 cup of Olive Garden light Italian dressing (192 g)
- 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
- 1 (8 oz) package of smoked deli ham (224 g), chopped
- 1 (5 oz) package of turkey pepperoni (140 g), chopped
- 5 oz of light Italian dry salami (140 g), chopped
- 4 slices of ultra-thin provolone cheese, chopped
- 1/2 cup of feta cheese (56 g)
- Fresh basil (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions (8-10 minutes) until al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber into bite-sized pieces.
- Chop the deli ham, turkey pepperoni, and salami into bite-sized pieces and add them to a large mixing bowl.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and let it cool for a few minutes before adding it to the mixing bowl with the meats.
- Add the chopped veggies, provolone, and feta cheese to the bowl.
- Pour the Olive Garden dressing over the salad and mix everything together gently.
- Cover and let the salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
Best served cold. Try variations like Mediterranean Twist or Vegan Delight for a different flavor experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: pasta salad, high protein, Italian, picnic, barbecue