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.

Nutriscore Rating: 77/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

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

Directions

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and baby spinach. Toss gently to mix.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables. Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.

Step 6

Sprinkle the salad with freshly chopped parsley for garnish and an extra burst of flavor.

Step 7

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

Serving size	(1264.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	849.5

Total Fat 24.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 5.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.6g
Cholesterol 24.5mg	0%
Sodium 1694.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 121.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 21.2g	0%
Total Sugars 35.1g
Protein 45.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 484.5mg	0%
Iron 8.1mg	0%
Potassium 2032.4mg	0%

*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: 24.8%

Protein: 20.5%

Carbs: 54.7%