Description
A vibrant and delicious pasta salad packed with protein, perfect for gatherings or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8 oz) box of protein or chickpea rotini pasta
- 3/4 cup 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
- Cook the Pasta: Start by boiling water in a large pot. Add a good sprinkle of salt. Once it’s at a rolling boil, toss in your rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions, usually about 8-10 minutes for al dente.
- Prep Your Veggies: While the pasta’s cooking, chop red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber into bite-sized pieces.
- Chop the Meats and Cheese: Drain the pasta and give it a quick rinse. Then, chop up the smoked ham, turkey pepperoni, salami, and provolone.
- Mix it All Together: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chopped veggies, meats, and cheese. Pour in the Olive Garden dressing and toss until well combined.
- Chill Time: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Taste Test and Adjust: Before serving, taste the salad and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
The salad can be made ahead of time and is perfect for meal prep. Enjoy it at gatherings or as a main dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: pasta salad, high protein, Italian, healthy meal prep, summer salad