Make this gluten-free pasta salad that is bursting with healthy vegetables, zesty Italian dressing, Salad Supreme, and gluten-free Banza chickpea pasta. This cold Italian pasta salad is the perfect side dish you can add to your summer picnic! Quick and easy to make in less than 15 minutes!
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Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Classic Pasta Salad Recipe
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make This Cold Pasta Salad
- What Goes with Pasta Salad?
- Storage, Make-Ahead, and Freezing Tips
- Other Expert Tips for Making Delicious Pasta Salad
- Dietary Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- More Delicious Salad Recipes for Summer Months!
- Gluten-Free Pasta Salad with Banza Pasta (No Mayo)
Looking for a delicious and healthy gluten-free pasta salad recipe? Check out our easy recipe, made with fresh vegetables, gluten-free Banza pasta, and a tangy Italian dressing.
This gluten-free pasta salad is one of my favorite traditional summer recipes and is a great recipe for warm summer days. If you are looking for a healthy gluten-free recipe and made without mayo, here is the best gluten-free pasta salad you can find!
If you need ideas for what to serve with gluten-free pasta salad, check out our entire collection of healthy summer recipes, including our collection of easy summer meals that pair well with this recipe - many of them are gluten-free!
Why You'll Love This Classic Pasta Salad Recipe
Here are the top 5 reasons to make this easy pasta salad recipe:
- Simple ingredients - use whatever veggies you like or have on hand.
- This gf pasta salad tastes just like the family classic Italian pasta salad recipe - all the fresh and zesty flavor!
- Great for meal prep - make ahead to serve the next day.
- Customizable - use whatever veggies you like.
- Easy to double for a crowd - great for parties, picnics, potlucks, and BBQs.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
My favorite brand of gluten-free pasta is Banza gluten-free chickpea pasta. Feel free to use your favorite gf pasta such as Banza, Jovial Brown Rice Pasta, or Barilla Gluten-Free.
Select a sturdy pasta shape such as rigatoni, shells, or bowties to avoid it becoming mushy or hard.
Perfect Pinch Salad Supreme (aka McCormick Salad Supreme seasoning) is a seasoning that you can find in the spice section of grocery stores.
Bottled, store-bought gf zesty Italian salad dressing works well for this recipe. I recommend Whole Foods brand or another gf bottled version.
Or, make your own homemade Italian dressing with red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and lemon juice.
Fresh veggies like cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, bell pepper, broccoli, English cucumber, black olives, red onion, green onions, or whatever crunchy veggies you have on hand.
Cheese is a great to add to zesty Italian pasta salad. Use mozzarella chunks, grated parmesan cheese, fresh mozzarella cheese, or feta.
Fresh herbs like fresh parsley, dill, or fresh basil all make the best pasta salad with so much fresh flavor.
You can also add meat to add extra protein. Make this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni, deli meats, salami, or cold cuts.
How To Make This Cold Pasta Salad
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe with the best results. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
Step 1
Cook the pasta in a large pot with salted boiling water, according to the package al dente directions. While the pasta cooks, clean all of the veggies, then cut and dice the vegetables and cheese.
Once cooked, in a large bowl, add all of the vegetables, cooked pasta, and cheese.
Step 2
Add Italian dressing and Salad Supreme.
Step 3
Gently stir to mix and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving cold or at room temperature.
What Goes with Pasta Salad?
This recipe is one of the best gluten-free summer recipes you can pair with almost any meal.
Summer BBQ main meals such as grilled smash burgers, grilled pork tenderloin, turkey burgers, grilled Greek yogurt chicken, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, or salmon are great for pairing with gluten-free pasta salad.
This recipe is also a great lunch for teens, kids, and adults! You can add in a protein like chicken or shrimp to make a full meal or to make ahead enough lunches for an entire week.
Storage, Make-Ahead, and Freezing Tips
- Storage: Store leftovers for 5-7 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
- Make-ahead: Make ahead up to 5 days in advance and stir before serving. Reserve a bit of the dressing to drizzle on right before serving.
- Freezing: Although possible, freezing gluten-free pasta salad is not recommended due to loss of flavor and texture during freezing.
Other Expert Tips for Making Delicious Pasta Salad
- Salt the cooking water and cook the pasta according to the "al dente" instructions on the package.
- Select a sturdy shape such as rigatoni, shells, or macaroni if you are using Banza or another plant-based version.
- Save extra dressing for adding to the pasta salad if you are serving it the next day.
- Allow gluten-free pasta salad to marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or overnight to develop the flavors. Stir before serving.
- Add ¼ to ½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream along with artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, and feta cheese for a creamy, Greek-style version - or try this Greek pasta salad with tortellini.
- If you want to include meat, add ½ to 1 cup of chopped salami or pepperoni.
Dietary Tips
- Vegan: Use vegan cheese or omit the cheese.
- Dairy-free: Omit cheese and season with Everything Bagel seasoning and dairy-free Italian dressing.
Recipe FAQs
Store leftover pasta salad for 5-7 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Banza, Barilla, Ancient Harvest, or Jovial are great gluten-free pasta choices for this recipe.
Barilla has gluten-free rotini, penne, and elbows that would work great in this recipe. Banza is a plant-based chickpea pasta - use rotini, bowties, or cavatappi. Ancient Harvest has an organic, gluten-free tri-color pasta that would work well also.
Brianna's, Newman's Own, and Ken's Simply Vinaigrette are all gluten-free and may be used in this recipe. Simply Organic makes a gluten-free Italian dressing mix.
Read the label for the dressing you select to ensure all of the ingredients are gluten-free.
Yes, rinse the pasta after draining it in a colander. Run cold water over drained, cooked pasta, and drizzle with olive oil to prevent it from sticking.
Although you technically can freeze it, freezing gluten-free pasta salad is not recommended because freezing contributes to a loss of flavor and texture.
The easiest way to get the great texture for gluten-free pasta is to cook until "al-dente" according to the package directions.
After cooking, test one noodle by running it under cold water and then sampling it for texture. Adjust the time as needed based on this test.
When eating gf pasta cold like in this gluten-free pasta salad, cooking to al dente will help it to keep its shape during making and storing the salad.
The estimated nutrition for this recipe can be found in the recipe card. This recipe without meat contains approximately 8.3 grams of protein per serving.
More Delicious Salad Recipes for Summer Months!
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Gluten-Free Pasta Salad with Banza Pasta (No Mayo)
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 1 cup bell pepper diced
- 1 cup broccoli cut
- 1 cup cucumbers diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese diced
- 8 ounces Banza pasta
- 1 cup gf Italian dressing
- ¼ cup Perfect Pinch Salad Supreme seasoning
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to al dente package instructions. Rinse with cold water.8 ounces Banza pasta
- While pasta is cooking, clean and prepare all veggies and cheese and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the cooked pasta, seasoning, and Italian dressing and stir to combine.1 cup bell pepper, 1 cup broccoli, 1 cup cucumbers, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, 1 cup gf Italian dressing, ¼ cup Perfect Pinch Salad Supreme seasoning
- Let the salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Stir the salad when ready to serve. Add additional Italian dressing if needed.
Notes
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Nikki says
This looks like a delicious pasta salad. I love all the wonderful veggie choices in the summer they are perfect for salads! Thank you for including my grilled veggie pasta!
mommafitpgh@gmail.com says
you got it! grilled veggies are my fave, I can't wait to try it 🙂