Banza Chickpea Pasta Salad (gluten-free)

Last updated on October 9th, 2024 at 05:19 pm

The perfect side dish for summer barbecues or parties. Replace traditional pasta with Banza chickpea pasta and transform this family-favorite side dish into a healthier gluten-free recipe. Chickpea rotini combined with sharp cheddar cheese, sliced black olives, Italian dressing & the cutest mini pepperoni make for a quick and delicious pasta dish.

Cold pasta salad is the perfect summer picnic side dish, it pairs well with hamburgers & hotdogs or a backyard barbecue. Here are 25 ideas for what to serve with pasta salad.

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Banza Pasta Salad was inspired by my other Banza chickpea pasta recipes Banza Chickpea Pasta Bake, Banza Cajun Chicken Pasta, Banza Spaghetti & Italian Meatballs with Banza Rotini, and Banza Tuscan Chicken Pasta.

Jump to:

• Ingredients:
• Instructions
• Tips For Making Gluten-Free Pasta Salad:
• Substitutions
• Variations:
• Equipment
• How To Store Pasta Salad
• Chickpea Pasta Cooking Tips
• Where To Buy Banza Chickpea Pasta?
• Banza Chickpea Pasta Salad (gluten-free)
• Tips For Making Gluten-Free Pasta Salad

Banza is our favorite brand of gluten-free pasta because it tastes great and holds up extremely well when cooked compared to brown rice pasta. Even if you don't have dietary restrictions the whole family will love this gluten-free pasta salad recipe. I would even bet they don't know the delicious pasta salad is high in protein and fiber and low on the glycemic index.

Ingredients:

• Banza Rotini
• Sharp Cheese
• Pepperoni
• Italian Dressing
• Italian Seasoning
• Salt & Pepper (optional)
• Fresh Parsley (optional)

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

For perfect al dente pasta bring a large pot of salted water (about 8 cups) to a boil over medium-high heat. Add 1-2 tsp. of extra virgin olive oil to the boiling water then add the entire box of dry pasta to the pot.

Cook pasta for 6 minutes, one minute less than the package instructions. Rinse with cold water quickly to remove any foamy pasta water and stop the cooking process. 

Drain pasta and add it to a large mixing bowl. Add the sliced black olives, cubed sharp cheddar cheese, and sliced mini pepperoni to the bowl.

Pour over the Italian dressing and season it with Italian seasoning. Toss to combine the ingredients.

Check out this post What Goes With Pasta Salad: 25 Easy Ideas for fun and an easy main dish, side dish, and dessert recipes that are perfect to serve in the summer months alongside this easy pasta salad recipe.

Tips For Making Gluten-Free Pasta Salad:

1. Don't skip the salted water when cooking gluten-free pasta.
2. Don't forget to stir pasta during cooking to avoid pasta sticking together
3. Add olive oil to the water
4. Cook pasta for 1-2 minutes less than the package directions. Test pasta at 6 minutes, it should be fully cooked but still firm.
5. For best results make in advance and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes prior to serving.
6. If needed add another splash of Italian dressing, sea salt, black pepper, or fresh herbs just before serving. 

Substitutions

All of the ingredients are gluten-free, so if substituting for a different brand check your labels if you have dietary restrictions.

• Rotini- instead of rotini pasta substitute any other short-cut pasta like penne, elbows, shells, wheels, or cavatappi.
• Gluten-Free - If you don't follow a gluten-free diet use tri-colored rotini like in this classic pasta salad recipe.
• Vegetarian - Omit traditional pepperoni and substitute for vegan pepperoni or add more fresh vegetables instead.

Check out how I cook short-cut, Banza Pasta, in the Instant Pot to avoid the foamy pasta water mess on the stovetop.

Variations:

• Cheese-parmesan cheese, feta cheese, fresh mozzarella cheese balls.
• Fresh Veggies- cherry tomatoes, green onions, red onion, red peppers.
• Delux- Sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, fresh basil, garbanzo beans.

Equipment

To avoid the foamy pasta water from boiling over and making a huge mess on the stovetop be sure to use a large pot like this and don't overfill it. I also recommend using a spaghetti spoon and a collapsible strainer.

How To Store Pasta Salad

Store leftover pasta salad in an airtight container for up to three days. When serving the next day add additional Italian dressing if needed as pasta can soak up the salad dressing the longer it sits.

Chickpea Pasta Cooking Tips

When cooking chickpea pasta don't overcook it. Gluten-free pasta tends to get mushy, break or fall apart if it's overcooked. 

Where To Buy Banza Chickpea Pasta?

Luckily gluten-free Banza pasta is now readily available at the grocery store. Generally, stores like Walmart, Costco, Fred Meyer (Kroger), as well as Amazon, stock multiple varieties and cuts of the best gluten-free pasta available. I also purchase directly from Banza online here.