Clean eating pasta salad made with cucumbers, tomatoes and a basil balsamic dressing. This delicious pasta salad is gluten-free, vegan and perfect for serving a crowd!
I’m so excited to share this recipe with you because I know that you are going to LOVE this pasta salad.
It’s my mom’s old-school recipe – the one I used to request for every summer cookout growing up — only healthier and bit more spiced up.
Gluten Free Pasta Noodles
I stuck with pasta noodles instead of veggies noodles because I already have a zucchini noodle pasta salad. I recommend using legume or quinoa-based pasta noodles so they’ll be naturally gluten-free and have a good amount of protein and fiber. Nutrient-dense pasta = so awesome!
Swapping Mayo for a Balsamic Dressing
My mom’s traditional recipe calls for Miracle Whip… which isn’t exactly EBF friendly so I skipped it and used an olive oil-based balsamic dressing with fresh basil. Other than that the salad ingredients are all the same.
And Mom will be happy to know that I left the 1/2 teaspoon of sugar in the recipe. Maybe it’s just nostalgia, but I think it really does add a little something to the salad. I went with coconut sugar to keep things more natural and unrefined. 🙂
Overall, this healthy pasta salad is quite a gem. It’s not only easy to prepare, but it requires only minimal ingredients and tastes so fresh and delicious. The recipe makes a ton so it’s also great for serving a crowd!
Ingredients in Healthy Pasta Salad
gluten-free pasta noodles
tomatoes
cucumbers
red onion
balsamic vinegar
basil
olive oil
coconut sugar
crushed red pepper
sea salt
If you try this healthy pasta salad recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Your feedback is so helpful for the EBF team and other EBF readers.
Clean eating pasta salad made with cucumbers, tomatoes and a basil balsamic dressing. This delicious pasta salad is gluten-free, vegan and perfect for serving a crowd!
Ingredients
8 oz macaroni or penne pasta (I used gluten-free penne)
2 cups tomatoes, chopped
2 cups cucumbers, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup red onion, chopped
3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 Tablespoons basil, minced
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon coconut sugar
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and run cold water over cooked pasta to cool. Add drained pasta into a large bowl with tomatoes, cucumber, and onion.
Whisk together balsamic vinegar, basil, olive oil, coconut sugar, crushed red pepper and salt. Pour over salad ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate until cold. Serve.
I’m going to have to keep this in mind. I love salad and prefer the grape tomatoes rather than one large slice. I think I”ll make the exception for the cucumbers. It’ll taste good with the vinegar.
I love pasta salad and I was looking for healthy recipes so I thought I would give this recipe a shot. However, I did not like it at all, I think it was the balsamic vinegar that gave such a strong taste that I did not find appealing.
So sorry you didn’t enjoy this recipe, Lynsey. If you try it again, you can definitely use less balsamic vinegar and more olive oil if you’re not a fan of the balsamic taste.
I’m so excited the company has come out with a product that doesn’t use refined corn! This recipe looks delicious, and I would also like to try this with pesto. Perhaps with nice seasonal garlic scapes!
How cool! I haven’t seen these in stores yet. I’ve tried red lentil pasta and liked it. I actually don’t eat much pasta because I’ve never liked the texture much (though I could eat a bowl of tomato sauce!) I’d love to try these to make all those nostalgic dishes like mac and cheese to serve at my dinner parties 🙂
I love pasta and being gluten free means I have to be careful with the products I choose. I am always on the hunt for pasta that has good taste and texture, but is also packed with nutrients. I would probably make a pesto pasta salad with this! Can’t wait to try it!
I’d like to win for two reasons. One, I have recently changed my diet to help battle some of my health issues and am in need of more recipes. Two, I am hosting a girl’s night soon and I think this would be a colorful addition to our potluck. I am always excited to whip up something new for my friends & family 🙂
I would love to try the bean and quinoa pasta! I love pasta but try to vary the pastas I use, and this one looks like a great addition to the rotation.
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salad it’s really yummy I tried at home, I added extra mushroom taste is different.
I’m going to have to keep this in mind. I love salad and prefer the grape tomatoes rather than one large slice. I think I”ll make the exception for the cucumbers. It’ll taste good with the vinegar.
I love pasta salad and I was looking for healthy recipes so I thought I would give this recipe a shot. However, I did not like it at all, I think it was the balsamic vinegar that gave such a strong taste that I did not find appealing.
★★
So sorry you didn’t enjoy this recipe, Lynsey. If you try it again, you can definitely use less balsamic vinegar and more olive oil if you’re not a fan of the balsamic taste.
looks delicious, I will definitely try to cook
Could i substitute maple syrup for the coconut sugar in this recipe?
Totally!
I would love to win so I can try these before I buy them. I have been on the hunt for a healthier pasta.
I would like to win because I always to to incorporate ancient grains into the meals I make for my family. Maybe I would make a pasta salad. Thanks!
I’d like to win because I’ve just recently discovered Quinoa and am anxious to try as many products using it as possible. This sounds great!
I’d make lots of tomato pasta for my daughter. She loves pasta and I want to get a different variety of grains into her diet!
I would make shrimp scampi with pasta for the 4th of July.
I absolutely love pasta salads, so if I won I would try out this recipe along with a few other healthified pasta salads!
I’m so excited the company has come out with a product that doesn’t use refined corn! This recipe looks delicious, and I would also like to try this with pesto. Perhaps with nice seasonal garlic scapes!
Pasta salad for the win! I actually have a giant basil plant in my garden so I would love to try it with some fresh pesto and veggies!
How cool! I haven’t seen these in stores yet. I’ve tried red lentil pasta and liked it. I actually don’t eat much pasta because I’ve never liked the texture much (though I could eat a bowl of tomato sauce!) I’d love to try these to make all those nostalgic dishes like mac and cheese to serve at my dinner parties 🙂
I love pasta and being gluten free means I have to be careful with the products I choose. I am always on the hunt for pasta that has good taste and texture, but is also packed with nutrients. I would probably make a pesto pasta salad with this! Can’t wait to try it!
I’d love to make some pasta and quinoa dishes to bring to summer barbecues!
I’d like to win for two reasons. One, I have recently changed my diet to help battle some of my health issues and am in need of more recipes. Two, I am hosting a girl’s night soon and I think this would be a colorful addition to our potluck. I am always excited to whip up something new for my friends & family 🙂
I would love to make this recipe! It looks gorgeous!:)
I’d love to make a mac n cheese with these!
I bet it would be sooo good!
I’d love to make a pasta salad for a summer BBQ!
I’ve never had quinoa pasta but I love quinoa and would love to try this recipe!
I would love to try the black bean pasta to make your pasta salad for the 4th of July weekend!
I would love to try the bean and quinoa pasta! I love pasta but try to vary the pastas I use, and this one looks like a great addition to the rotation.
I would like to win, because I love trying new products.
I’ve tried quinoa past and black bean pasta and love them both – I can’t even imagine how good combining them into one pasta would be!