Mediterranean Pasta Salad Chickpeas (Printable version)

Vibrant pasta with chickpeas, feta, fresh vegetables, and zesty olive oil dressing for a light meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or farfalle)

→ Beans & Cheese

02 - 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
03 - 4 oz feta cheese, crumbled

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 cucumber, diced
06 - 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
09 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

10 - 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled.
02 - In a large bowl, mix cooled pasta with chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, Kalamata olives, and parsley.
03 - Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, minced garlic, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl or jar until emulsified.
04 - Pour dressing over salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Sprinkle crumbled feta over salad and toss lightly to combine without breaking up the cheese.
06 - Adjust seasoning to taste, then refrigerate for 15 minutes before serving to enhance flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No mayo means you can actually taste each ingredient singing on its own.
  • It gets better as it sits, so you can make it hours ahead without stress.
  • Chickpeas make it genuinely filling enough to be a meal, not just a side dish.
02 -
  • If you add the feta too early, it gets all mixed into the dressing and turns the salad cloudy instead of showing off those white chunks.
  • Don't dress it right before serving if you can help it—the pasta absorbs the dressing and an hour later it'll taste flat. Dress it, then wait.
03 -
  • Make the dressing while the pasta cools so everything comes together at the same temperature and the flavors actually marry.
  • If you're serving this at a gathering, assemble it no more than an hour before—the vegetables release water and it gets watery if it sits too long.
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