Off the Shelf Pasta Salad

Brighten up your mealtime with "Off the Shelf Pasta Salad," a quick, vibrant dish that celebrates pantry staples and bold Mediterranean flavors! Featuring tender rotini, penne, or farfalle pasta paired with protein-packed chickpeas, tangy jarred roasted red peppers, briny black olives, and sweet sun-dried tomatoes, this easy pasta salad is tossed in a zesty homemade dressing of extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and fragrant dried oregano. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or as a crowd-pleasing addition to your next potluck. Serve it cold or room temperature, with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a refreshing finish. Whether you're craving simplicity or looking to clean out your pantry, this pasta salad will quickly become your go-to recipe for effortless flavor. Keywords: quick pasta salad, pantry staples recipe, Mediterranean pasta salad, cold pasta dish, easy meal prep recipe.

Nutriscore Rating: 76/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 250 grams dry pasta (rotini, penne, or farfalle)
• 1 can canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup jarred roasted red peppers, chopped
• 0.5 cup black olives, sliced
• 0.5 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chickpeas, roasted red peppers, black olives, and sun-dried tomatoes. Toss gently to combine.

Step 4

Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss to evenly coat all the ingredients.

Step 5

Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if needed.

Step 6

If using, sprinkle fresh parsley on top as garnish before serving.

Step 7

Serve immediately or refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1177.1 grams (1177.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2212

Total Fat 75.80g	97%
Saturated Fat 11.70g	59%
Polyunsaturated Fat NaNg
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 4466mg	194%
Total Carbohydrate 324.70g	118%
Dietary Fiber 44.40g	159%
Total Sugars 51.00g
Protein 69.60g	139%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 318mg	24%
Iron 20mg	112%
Potassium 3752mg	80%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 30.2%

Protein: 12.3%

Carbs: 57.5%