Healthy Delicious Creamy Pasta Salad
Creamy, fresh, and packed with wholesome ingredients, this Healthy Delicious Creamy Pasta Salad is a perfect balance of flavor and nutrition. Made with hearty whole wheat pasta, crisp cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, vibrant red bell pepper, and fresh baby spinach, it's a colorful feast for the eyes and taste buds. Tossed in a luscious Greek yogurt-based dressing with a tangy kick of Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and a touch of honey, this lightened-up version of classic pasta salad is both satisfying and guilt-free. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy-to-make dish is ideal for quick lunches, potluck gatherings, or meal prepping. Serve it chilled for a refreshing burst of flavors that will keep you coming back for more.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 250 grams whole wheat pasta
- 200 grams cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 1 small red onion
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons parsley
Instructions
Cook the whole wheat pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half, dice the cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion into small bite-sized pieces, and roughly chop the baby spinach.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and baby spinach. Toss gently to mix.
To make the creamy dressing, whisk together the Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, honey, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth and well combined.
Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables. Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
Sprinkle the salad with freshly chopped parsley for garnish and an extra burst of flavor.
Serve immediately, or refrigerate the pasta salad for 30 minutes to chill before serving. This dish can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
850 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 24.5 g | 31% | |
| Saturated Fat | 5.8 g | 29% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.6 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 24 mg | 8% | |
| Sodium | 1694 mg | 74% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 121.5 g | 44% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 21.2 g | 76% | |
| Total Sugars | 35.1 g | ||
| Protein | 45.6 g | 91% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 484 mg | 37% | |
| Iron | 8.1 mg | 45% | |
| Potassium | 2032 mg | 43% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
