Simple Veggie Salad with Bowtie Pasta & Balsamic Vinaigrette

This Simple Veggie Salad with Bowtie Pasta is so delicious that you’ll crave more, and so light that you can eat it on a hot day! I made the pasta salad with my kids in mind, so it’s chock full of the veggies/fruit they like and it’s not nuanced with unfamiliar ingredients. Plus, our homemade balsamic vinaigrette is mild, yet flavorful. We already brought this to a picnic, and it was gobbled up. Please enjoy!

Serve alongside Crescent Roll Hot Dogs, Turkey Burger Sliders, or any of these adorable Sliders for Kids as a crowd-pleasing summer salad! And if you love pasta and summer salads, be sure to also check out our Summer Asparagus Pasta and One Pot Lemony Garlic Pasta recipes!

🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions

Notes on key ingredients are provided below. Please see the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and quantities.

Ingredient Notes

• Pasta – almost any medium-size pasta will do. We use farfalle (Italian for “butterflies”) but pinwheels or rotini are fun too.
• Salt – we use coarse Kosher salt in this recipe. If you have table salt, decrease the amount. 1 1/4 teaspoons Kosher salt = 1 teaspoon table salt
• Produce – super flexible! Any fruit or veggie you can imagine that would work in a salad will work in this pasta salad. FYI – garbanzo beans & chickpeas are the same thing!
• The Crunch – we love pumpkin seeds! They’re often called pepitas, even though the two are slightly different. Raw, roasted, salted or unsalted…whatever! Other crunchy options: any seed or nut, croutons, onion crisps or parmesan crisps.
• Dressing – you can use any dressing you like. If using ours, we just recommend you use extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and don’t skip the lemon juice.
• Optional – fresh herbs (basil, cilantro or parsley) & shredded parmesan

Substitutions

There are loads of swaps for the ingredients in this salad with bowtie pasta. And don’t be afraid to adjust ingredient amounts. Taste test to see if you need more or less salt. And, if you can, use what you already have at home. Here are some substitutions:

• Farfalle (aka bowtie pasta) – sub 🔁 rigatoni, rotini, rotelle (aka pinwheels), cavatappi (aka corkscrew), macaroni, or penne
• Pumpkin seeds / pepitas – sub 🔁 sunflower seeds, pistachios, walnuts, pecans, croutons, onion crisps, almond slivers, or parmesan crisps
• Veggies / fruit – sub 🔁 cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, celery, blueberries, green grapes, red onion, green onion, avocado, peas, almost any beans, or any sliced olives
• Balsamic vinaigrette – sub 🔁 green goddess dressing, avocado vinaigrette, pesto, or Italian dressing. You could even go creamy with a ranch dressing.
• Add-ons: meats (salami, chicken, bacon), chopped hard-boiled eggs, cheese (chunks of jack cheese, mozzarella balls, shredded parmesan), greens (spinach, arugula), or fresh herbs (basil, cilantro or parsley).

📖 Recipe Variations

• Add cheese 🧀 For an extra pop of flavor, consider adding shredded parmesan, feta or crumbled goat cheese to this simple veggie salad recipe.
• Mix in protein. Add some grilled chicken, shrimp, chopped hard-boiled eggs, crispy bacon, baked tofu, salami, or pepperoni.
• Add fresh herbs 🌿 for an even fresher flavor.
• Add spice 🌶️ For an added kick, add some crushed red pepper flakes.
• Make gluten-free by using your favorite medium-sized gluten-free pasta.

📝 How to Make this Veggie Salad with Bowtie Pasta

✔️ Expert Tips & Tricks

• Save time. Bring pasta water to a boil faster by placing a lid on your pot.
• Don’t overcook. Prepare pasta al dente, which will prevent it from getting mushy.
• Cool pasta. Be sure to rinse the hot pasta in cold water before combining with other ingredients.
• Taste test. Put the balsamic vinaigrette on the salad in increments, taste-testing along the way to get your perfect balance of flavor. You DO NOT have to use all the vinaigrette.
• Make ahead. You can prepare this dish ahead of time and store in fridge until ready to serve. Allowing this pasta salad dish to marinate will only make it more flavorful!
• My favorite! – Sprinkle some parmesan cheese and fresh herbs atop the salad. It takes it to next level!

🌭 What to Serve with this Pasta Salad

A simple veggie salad like this goes well with a million things. We recommend: crescent roll hot dogs, turkey burger sliders, our vegetarian sweet potato wraps, or any of these adorable sliders for kids. We had ours with salmon filets, baked with just some seasoning and lemon juice. Easy!

Love summer side dishes? Don’t miss our crowd-pleasing Watermelon Chicken Salad and Three Bean Salad!

❓FAQ