Lemon Basil Pasta Salad

This fresh and healthy pasta salad is filled with lemon flavor and the perfect side dish for the summer bbq party, potluck’s or as a packed lunch. Just like this Lemon orzo salad with feta or this Caprese pesto pasta salad.

This lemon parmesan pasta salad a healthy summer dish, but I also make this recipe in the winter time for meal-prep. It can be served with some freshly baked bread like this No knead olive bread and a bowl of homemade Lentil Quinoa Soup.

Ingredients

The ingredients needed to make this pasta salad with lemon are listed below.

For the full recipe with the quantities, see the recipe card at the bottom or:

Salad

Instructions

Making this pasta salad with lemon and basil is fast and easy. Just follow the step by step photos below and watch the recipe video. 

For the full instructions see the recipe card at the bottom.

Step 5: Toss the salad together and add more salt and pepper to taste. Top with some extra parmesan cheese and chopped basil if desired.

Hint: This is a citrus pasta salad has a light and zesty vinaigrette style dressing. If you like a lot of dressing, double the recipe for the dressing.

Substitutions and Variations

• Gluten free – To make a gluten-free pasta salad, use a certified gluten-free pasta. 
• Greens – Instead of arugula, other small greens like baby spinach or a mix of greens can also be used.
• Spicy – For a spicy pasta salad, add red chill flakes to taste. Tabasco, hot sauce or chili oil are other good options to kick top the heat. 
• Vegan – To make this a vegan pasta salad, use maple syrup in the vinaigrette and a vegan parmesan cheese alternative. 
• Herbs – Instead of chopped fresh basil, other herbs like parsley, oregano, chives or cilantro also works well. 
• Cheese, add grated or shaved parmesan cheese. Another option is feta cheese, mozzarella cheese or goat cheese.
• Protein – Some canned lentils, chickpeas or beans are great plant-based options to add extra protein to this pasta salad with lemon dressing.

Another great salad to try is this Curried couscous salad or this Pesto Orzo Salad.

Variations

This is a fresh and easy to make pasta salad that is easy to customise to your liking with one or a few of the suggested ad ins below.

• Cherry tomatoes, cut in half.
• Chopped cucumber, preferably a seedless cucumber.
• Bell pepper – use any color of choice. Another great option is to use some canned roasted red peppers. 
• Sliced avocado, so creamy and rich and goes great with the lemon and bail flavors in this pasta salad.
• Red onion, ads a wonderful crunch and bite to this pasta salad. Spring onions or shallots are another great option.
• Artichoke hearts, canned or marinated and roughly chopped.
• Olives use your favorit pitted olives. Add them whole or sliced.
• Sun dried tomatoes, drained and sliced
• Beans – For some extra protein, add some canned beens of choice like chickpeas, kidney beens or some canned lentils. Also check out this Chickpea Orzo Salad.

Storage

This healthy lemon pasta salad makes a great side. It can be made ahead of time, the perfect, fresh side dish to bring to all summer parties or picnics. It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. After bering stored, toss the salad before serving. Add a little fresh arugula is desired. 

This pasta salad does not freeze well.

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