High Protein Greek Pasta Salad (Printable)
Protein-rich Mediterranean pasta with chicken, feta, and fresh vegetables in a tangy yogurt dressing
# Ingredient List:
→ Pasta
01 - 7 ounces whole wheat penne or rotini pasta
→ Protein
02 - 10.5 ounces cooked chicken breast, diced (or 1 can chickpeas, drained, for vegetarian option)
03 - 7 ounces reduced-fat feta cheese, cubed
04 - 7 ounces plain nonfat Greek yogurt
→ Vegetables
05 - 1 large cucumber, diced
06 - 7 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
09 - 2.8 ounces pitted Kalamata olives, halved
→ Dressing
10 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 - Optional: fresh dill or parsley, chopped
# How to Make:
01 - Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly, rinse under cold water to stop cooking process, and set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, diced chicken or chickpeas, cubed feta, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, and halved olives.
03 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until emulsified and smooth.
04 - Pour dressing over salad mixture and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated. Avoid over-mixing to maintain texture.
05 - Garnish with chopped fresh dill or parsley if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days to allow flavors to develop.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- It keeps you full for hours without that heavy carb crash
- The dressing gets better overnight so make ahead your new best friend
02 -
- The pasta absorbs dressing as it sits so add a splash more right before serving leftovers
- Chickpeas make this completely vegan and honestly hold up even better than chicken
03 -
- Cut all vegetables similar sizes so every forkful has the perfect ratio
- Let the salad sit for 15 minutes before serving if you can manage the wait