How to Make a Healthy Pasta Salad

Just considering you're counting calories doesn't mean you have to miss out on enjoying this staple side dish.

Photograph: Taste of Home

Photograph: Taste of Dwelling

In that location's a myriad of ways to make pasta salad. Equally a fan favorite at cookouts, a succulent absurd side dish in summer or a way to add flavor to your party fare, pasta salad is tasty—but unfortunately, it's not always and then salubrious. A traditional pasta salad serving can contain more than than 500 calories, which is a hefty corporeality if you're watching your waistline. But never fright: There are delicious ways of switching upward your dish to make a healthy pasta salad.

1. Go for avocado

Cafeteria-manner pasta salads oft come overloaded with our favorite salad dressings. And while that'southward certainly pleasing to the gustation buds, information technology's not always so pleasing when it comes to stepping on the scale. Instead of using mayonnaise or dressings full of fatty, try swapping out the dressing for mashed avocado. Add buttermilk and a few herbs for this green please.

If you desire your avocado in the salad, start with this recipe for avocado and artichoke pasta salad.

Psst! Did you know avocado contains more than potassium than a banana? Discover more surprising facts nigh avocado.

2. Bandy out the pasta

Here'south a good for you tip: Trade your pasta for a more than nutritious culling. This colorful spiral pasta salad would exist only as delicious if y'all swapped out traditional pasta for a whole wheat version. Or exist daring and ditch the pasta entirely: Use quinoa for an interesting and good-for-yous alter. During your grocery shopping, keep an eye out for whole wheat pasta or salubrious alternatives to those macaroni elbows. Y'all'll thank yourself later.

three. Load upwards on veggies

Don't just stick with the traditional pasta salad recipe, either. Enough of lighter versions, similar this orzo vegetable salad, focus on adding veggies to the recipe. Green onions, plum tomatoes and fresh spinach make it a proficient alternative to the traditional calorie-heavy dish.

Don't exist afraid to experiment with these options and your own ideas next fourth dimension you're in the kitchen preparing pasta salad. Yous may uncover your own method for making it healthy.

P.S. If you come up with something skillful, be certain to share it with us!

Try These Tips With Our Tiptop Pasta Salad Recipes

Macaroni Coleslaw

My friend Peggy brought this cold pasta salad to 1 of our picnics, and anybody liked it and then much, we all had to have the recipe. —Sandra Matteson, Westhope, North Dakota Become to Recipe

Cashew-Craven Rotini Salad

I've tried many chicken salad recipes over the years, but this is my very favorite. It'southward fresh, fruity and refreshing, and the cashews add wonderful crunch. Every fourth dimension I serve it at a potluck or picnic, I get rave reviews—and ( e'er come home with an empty bowl! —Kara Cook, Elk Ridge, Utah

Balsamic Chicken Pasta Salad

I honey all the colors and flavors of this quick and easy common cold pasta salad recipe and serve it often in summer, to the delight of my guests! Yous tin can't beat out the combination of Gorgonzola and bacon. Leftover grilled shrimp makes a tasty substitute for chicken. —Terry McCarty, Oro Grande, California

Salary Macaroni Salad

This pleasing pasta salad is like eating a BLT in a bowl. Filled with crispy bacon, chopped tomato plant, celery and dark-green onion, the sensational salad is coated with a tangy mayonnaise and vinegar dressing. Information technology'south a real crowd-pleaser! —Norene Wright, Manilla, Indiana

Colorful Spiral Pasta Salad

Tackle gatherings to get with a bright pasta salad. This tricolor toss-up with broccoli, tomatoes, olives and a hardworking dressing is the easiest ane yous could take. —Amanda Cable, Boxford, Massachusetts

Tortellini Caesar Salad

This cold pasta salad recipe was served at a honey friend's baby shower by a health-conscious friend, who suggested the dressing be prepared with depression-fat or fatty-complimentary ingredients. Either fashion, the flossy dressing has plenty of garlic flavour and coats the pasta, romaine and croutons nicely. —Tammy Steenbock, Sembach Air Base, Germany

Sweet Macaroni Salad

A sugariness out-of-the-ordinary dressing makes this macaroni salad special. My aunt gave me the recipe and it has go one of my favorites. I occasionally leave out the green pepper if I know that people don't like it, and information technology still tastes bully. —Idalee Scholz, Cocoa Beach, Florida

Taco Pasta Salad

My family loves this savory cold pasta salad recipe. Serve taco or corn fries on the side, and you lot accept a complete meal. —Gert Rosenau, Pewaukee, WI

Potluck Antipasto Pasta Salad

I love trying new recipes, and this one for Italian pasta salad tops all other varieties I've tried. With beans, cheese, sausage and vegetables, information technology'south a hearty complement to any repast. —Bernadette Nelson, Arcadia, California

Shrimp Pasta Salad

I adore shrimp, so discovering it in this pasta salad recipe was a real treat for me. The lemon-dill sauce is light and bright. —Traci Wynne, Denver, Pennsylvania

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Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-make-a-healthy-pasta-salad/

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