Description
High Protein Italian Pasta Salad is a flavorful and nutritious dish that brings together protein-rich pasta, fresh vegetables, savory meats, and cheeses all tossed in a light Italian dressing. This salad is not only quick to prepare, taking just 25 minutes, but it’s also versatile enough to serve as a main course or a side dish at gatherings. Perfect for meal prep, it can be enjoyed throughout the week for lunch or dinner. The vibrant flavors and satisfying textures make it a family favorite that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8 oz) box of protein or chickpea rotini pasta
- 3/4 cup Olive Garden light Italian dressing
- 1/2 red onion, chopped
- 1 large bell pepper, chopped
- 1 medium cucumber, peeled and diced
- 1 (8 oz) package smoked deli ham, chopped
- 1 (5 oz) package turkey pepperoni, chopped
- 5 oz light dry salami, chopped
- 4 slices ultra-thin provolone cheese, chopped
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Chop the red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber into small pieces.
- Cut the deli meats and provolone cheese into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with all the chopped vegetables, meats, and cheeses.
- Pour the Italian dressing over the salad mixture and toss until well coated. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 50mg