It can be a terrific meal on its own or make a great side dish with any meal you serve.
A mixture of fresh spinach leaves and chopped tomato adds color to a festive holiday table meal.
This easy to make year round salad, can be mixed and matched with other salad greens and vegetables with our suggestions below.
You can even add some grilled chicken to turn leftovers into a quick new meal.
It’s full of healthy vegetables and chewy penne pasta tossed in a flavorful garlic-infused homemade dressing and is bursting with fresh flavors.
This versatile basic pasta salad can also be made with the addition of crumbled bacon and served hot or cold.
We even changed the pasta for rice or quinoa for another side dish using grains.
Scroll down to the bottom to print off this super yummy recipe.
Pasta, Spinach and Salad Substitution Ideas
- rice
- quinoa
- broccoli slaw
- lentils
- zucchini noodles
- low carb pasta
- chickpeas or black or white beans
- carrot slaw
- cabbage slaw
- cauliflower slaw
- kelp noodles
- black bean pasta
- any kind of salad greens
- eliminate tomatoes and add diced cooked beets, butternut squash or cubed other squash you prefer
Shopping List of Ingredients You Will Need (measurements in the recipe card below)
- pasta any kind you prefer regular or low carb cooked and shape or brand
- homemade salad dressing whisked together (see recipe in the recipe card below)
- Plum tomatoes cubed or grape tomatoes
- Feta cheese or shredded mozzarella
- Salt, pepper
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Lemon Juice
- Garlic Cloves finely minced
- Salt and black pepper
- Parsley, Basil, Oregano (dried or fresh)
- see mix-ins, and substitutions in the listings
Change Out the Vegetables or Mix-ins
- add another salad green you prefer
- any kinds of beans
- chickpeas
- artichokes heart sliced
- hearts of palm sliced
- diced yellow or red julienned beets
- sliced radishes
- chopped celery
- white cooked beans
- green cut beans
- sliced mushrooms
- arugula, or spinach leaves
- chopped cauliflower
- any kind of olives whole or sliced
- add crumbled cooked bacon or any cooked deli meat, cooked chicken, or another cooked meat you prefer)
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Pasta Suggestions
Vegetable-made pasta like spinach or other colors made a great-looking pasta salad for this dish.
For a lower-calorie, try low-carb pasta and healthier store-bought styles.
If you want to eliminate carbs, substitute zucchini zoodles for the pasta.
Yield: 8
Spinach Tomato Pasta Salad
This colorful pasta vinaigrette dressing adds a zesty kick to this spinach-tomato pasta salad
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinInactive time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 25 M
Ingredients
- 12 ounces of cooked penne pasta
- 2 cups finely chopped fresh spinach
- 2 cups fresh diced grape tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons freshly minced garlic
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese or shredded mozzarella
- Optional: black olive slices, 1 small red onion finely chopped
- Salad Dressing:
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 3 leaves of fresh chopped basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: add crumbled cooked bacon or any cooked deli meat, cooked chicken or another cooked meat your prefer)
Instructions
- Cook and drain pasta according to package instructions.
- Chop the spinach diced tomatoes, and garlic and set that aside.
- In a bowl whisk together all the dressing ingredients separately except the feta cheese, chopped spinach, and diced tomatoes.
- Place the pasta in a large bowl and pour the dressing over the pasta.
- Add the chopped spinach, tomatoes, and feta cheese (black olives if using) and toss together gently.
- Chill for at least an hour for the dressing to meld together.
- Optional: add crumbled bacon before serving if using
- Note: if you prefer to serve this warm, keep the pasta warm, toss it with room-temperature vegetables, and pour the dressing on while the pasta is still hot.
Notes
Change Out the Vegetables or Mix-ins
- add another salad green you prefer
- any kinds of beans
- chickpeas
- artichokes heart sliced
- hearts of palm sliced
- diced yellow or red julienned beets
- sliced radishes
- chopped celery
- white cooked beans
- green cut beans
- sliced mushrooms
- arugula, or spinach leaves
- chopped cauliflower
- any kind of olives whole or sliced
Pasta, Spinach and Salad Substitution Ideas
- rice
- quinoa
- broccoli slaw
- lentils
- zucchini noodles
- low carb pasta
- chickpeas or black or white beans
- carrot slaw
- cabbage slaw
- cauliflower slaw
- kelp noodles
- black bean pasta
- any kind of salad greens
- eliminate tomatoes and add diced cooked beets, butternut squash or cubed other squash you prefer
Nutrition Facts
Calories
165Fat (grams)
9 gSat. Fat (grams)
2 gCarbs (grams)
17 gFiber (grams)
2 gNet carbs
15 gSugar (grams)
2 gProtein (grams)
5 gSodium (milligrams)
80 mgCholesterol (grams)
6 mgThe default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.
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More Salad Recipes To Try
Watermelon Salad
Beet Salad
Butternut Squash Salad
Caprese Portabello
Italian Potato Salad
Insalata Caprese Salad
Tuscan Panzanella Salad