Herby Chickpea Feta Pasta Salad

Remember two summers in the past when everybody was making the viral “Jennifer Aniston” salad? While I’m not one to leap on each pattern I see on social media, this one ended up too good to not make and share on the weblog.

Like the title suggests, my formidable tackle this superb herby chickpea feta pasta salad has a pasta base for all of these yummy mix-ins and that candy, tangy lemon French dressing. It’s SO fast and simple to make, bursting with summer season flavors, and extremely satisfying. Enjoy it as a major meal or a facet dish on your subsequent BBQ!

Everything you’ll have to make this chickpea feta pasta salad

This contemporary, completely scrumptious salad is my tackle Jennifer Aniston’s well-known salad. Here’s what you’ll have to make it:

Pasta: our woman Jen makes use of bulgar in her viral salad recipes, however I opted for pasta as a result of pasta salad + summer season = a match made in heaven. I used orzo photographed right here, however see under for tons of choices!
Chickpeas: you’ll get a lift of protein by including a can of chickpeas.
Veggies & herbs: had been including Persian cucumbers, heirloom cherry tomatoes, pickled red onions, and tons of contemporary herbs like parsley, mint (or basil), and dill. Feel free to make use of what you may have!
Mix-ins: get some crunch from roasted pistachios, and saltiness from feta cheese to spherical out the flavors.
For the dressing: the simple lemon French dressing is made with contemporary lemon juice, olive oil, dijon mustard, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, a little bit sugar or honey, and black pepper.

Make this salad your individual

Like just about all salad recipes, this chickpea feta pasta salad is straightforward to customise to your style preferences. Here’s what I can counsel:

Pick your pasta: be happy to make use of any form you’d like! I really like fusilli, orzo, bowties, and casarecce. Gluten-free pasta works completely, too.
Try a brand new grain: not into the noodles? Try bulgar (like Jen), farro, quinoa, or pearl couscous.
Keep it vegan: merely omit the feta and use sugar as an alternative of honey within the dressing.
Mix up the veggies: I believe bell pepper and creamy avocado would even be nice on this salad.
Go nut free: omit the pistachios or swap them for sunflower seeds or pepitas as an alternative.

Find your good dressing

In the viral Jennifer Aniston salad she makes use of a mixture of simply lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. I opted for a lemon French dressing that has extra punch with the addition of dijon, garlic, and many others. however my Healthy Lemon Basil Vinaigrette or my Healthy Greek Dressing would even be scrumptious.

Looking for an additional enhance of protein?

This herby chickpea feta pasta salad packs 20g per serving as is, however be happy to toss in 1 cup of cooked, chopped hen breast for an additional enhance! My Baked or Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken can be good on the facet or blended into the salad.

Prep this chickpea and feta pasta salad forward of time

If you propose to make this for a celebration or need to make it forward of time, I like to recommend chopping the veggies, cooking the pasta, and mixing the dressing, then storing them in separate hermetic containers within the fridge. When you’re able to serve, Toss the pasta, veggies, herbs, and mix-ins collectively, then pour the dressing over and toss once more.

Storing tips

Store any leftover pasta salad in an airtight container within the fridge for as much as 2-3 days.

More salad recipes you’ll love

Get all of my salad recipes right here!

I hope you’re keen on this herby chickpea and feta pasta salad! If you make it make sure you go away a remark and a ranking so I understand how you preferred it. Enjoy, xo!

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Herby Chickpea and Feta Pasta Salad

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Serves6 servings

Beautiful herby chickpea and feta pasta salad, AKA the viral “Jennifer Aniston” salad made with pasta! This straightforward salad is full of veggies and scrumptious mix-ins like feta, pistachios, pickled purple onions, and tons of contemporary herbs. Toss all of it in a lightweight lemon French dressing for the proper lunch or dinner that takes simply 20 minutes to make.

Ingredients

1 pound pasta (casarecce, orzo, fusilli or bowties are favorites!)
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 heaping cup chopped persian cucumber (about 4 persian cucumbers)
1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about ¾ cup feta crumbles)
½ heaping cup roasted unsalted pistachios, roughly chopped
½ heaping cup pickled purple onions
⅓ cup chopped contemporary parsley
¼ cup chopped contemporary mint or basil
2 to three tablespoons chopped contemporary dill
For the lemon French dressing:
¼ cup contemporary lemon juice
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, grated
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon purple pepper flakes
1 teaspoon sugar or honey
Lots of freshly floor black pepper

Instructions

Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil and cook dinner the pasta till al dente, in response to the instructions on the bundle. Drain, rinse with cool water for 1 minute and switch to a big bowl.
In the massive bowl with the pasta, add the chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, feta, pistachios, pickled purple onions, parsley, mint and dill. Toss nicely to mix.
Make the French dressing: In a small bowl or mason jar: add the lemon juice, olive oil, dijon, garlic, salt, purple pepper flakes, sugar (or honey) and many freshly floor black pepper. Whisk till nicely mixed and emulsified, or alternatively, place a lid on the jar and shake till nicely mixed.
Toss once more to mix, then season with freshly floor salt and pepper to style. Serves 4 to six.