• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • All Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact

Whole Food Bellies logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » All Recipes

    Author: Donna | Published: Mar 26, 2019 | Modified: Jan 30, 2021

    Lightened Up Creamy Pasta Salad

    544 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Lightened Up Creamy Pasta Salad

    This lightened-up, healthier version of the popular summer creamy pasta salad is perfect for the upcoming grilling season, Easter lunches, and potlucks. It packs well for picnics and lunches and can be made ahead of time and brought out for the big event.

    Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Please note that I’ve linked to these products purely because I recommend them and they are from companies I trust and use myself.

    Lightened Up Summer Creamy Pasta Salad

    Lightened Up Creamy Pasta Salad

    In a strange twist, we ended up enjoying this creamy pasta salad as our main dish on Easter Sunday this year.

    We had friends over for what was supposed to be a super casual dinner on Saturday night...but ended up becoming a bit of a party.

    We all slept late on Sunday (turns out that dancing until 10pm will actually make my kids sleep past 5.30 in the morning...about the only thing!), and when we woke on Sunday, everyone was super relaxed.

    Subsequently, the thought of spending the day in the kitchen cooking up a big ham was not enticing at all, and we decided on a picnic instead.

    It was actually really lovely, and we enjoyed it so much that I think we will definitely be incorporating more of these little jaunts into our spring and summer weekends.

    Lightened Up Summer Creamy Pasta Salad

    Get Rid Of The Pre-Packaged Stuff. Homemade Creamy Pasta Salad Is The Way To Go

    Every time I ask my husband what he wants to bring for a picnic, his first response is always creamy pasta salad.

    You know the type, the rich and creamy pasta glug/goodness that comes prepackaged in huge containers at the deli or Costco.

    It is the ULTIMATE picnic food, and I used to be quite partial to it as well.

    I stopped buying it years ago though, so poor hubby always makes a bee-line for the big bowls of creamy pasta salad that you know will be at pretty much every BBQ over the spring and summer season.

    Lightened Up Summer Creamy Pasta Salad

    What To Pair Creamy Pasta Salad With

    I finally decided to have a go at making him a homemade version.

    I wanted to make it taste as close to the store-bought version as possible, because otherwise what's the point, right?

    It worked out way better than I could have expected, and this will definitely be my go-to creamy pasta salad recipe for the entertaining months to come.

    Whether you are planning a little picnic, a family BBQ or a fun Easter brunch this creamy pasta salad should be your new go-to take-along salad.

    In these situations I like to whip up some of these great recipes as well:

    • Homemade Rotisserie Style Chicken;
    • Easy Quinoa Salad;
    • Ham, Ricotta and Asparagus Pastries;
    • and of course some Homemade Watermelon Lemonade.
    Homemade Rotisserie Style Chicken in the Oven

    Happy Eating

    xx

    Lightened Up Summer Creamy Pasta Salad

    Lightened Up Creamy Pasta Salad

    Whole Food Bellies
    This lightened up, healthier version on the popular summer creamy pasta salad is perfect for the upcoming grilling season and summer potlucks.
    4.89 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Pasta
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 serves
    Calories 80 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups dry whole wheat rotini pasta the swirly pasta
    • 1 ½ cups greek yoghurt full fat
    • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
    • 1 ½ teaspoon coconut sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ⅓ cup milk (less or more if needed)
    • 3 tablespoon pickle juice from sweet/spicy pickles to taste
    • 1 red bell pepper finely chopped
    • ⅓ cup spanish black olives finely chopped.
    • 5 baby dill pickles diced
    • 3 whole green onions sliced finely

    Instructions
     

    • Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse well under cold water, set aside and allow to cool completely
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the yoghurt, red wine vinegar, coconut, sugar, salt, and pepper until well combined. Add in the milk and pickle juice, until the mixture is pourable
    • To the yoghurt mixture, add in the chopped red peppers, olives, pickles and green onions. Taste and adjust according to your own likes (i.e. I always add more pickles)
    • Once the pasta has cooled completely, add it into the bowl with the other ingredients and stir well. Pop the salad into the fridge and allow to cool for about 2 hours before serving. The longer you leave it, the thicker and creamier the dressing will become

    Notes

    Make sure you allow to cool before serving, or it won't be creamy enough.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 80kcalCarbohydrates: 12.1gProtein: 2.6gFat: 2.4gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 320mgFiber: 0.9gSugar: 3.2g
    Keyword creamy pasta salad
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you tried this recipe please comment and rate it.

    I love hearing your feedback and answering your questions! And if you make this please tag me on Instagram with @wholefoodbellies so I can share it <3

    Try some other salads great for potlucks, BBQ's and picnics:

    • Radish Pea and Quinoa Shaved Asparagus Salad;
    • Summer Stone Fruit and Spinach Salad;
    • Garlicky Orange Spinach Salad.

    You can find a full index of my recipes here.

    Don’t forget to follow Whole Food Bellies on Pinterest for more recipe inspiration!

    Or if Pinterest isn’t your style, bookmark this post!

    Let’s keep the conversation going- join my Facebook group! 

    « One Pan Lemon Parmesan Chicken with Garlic Butter Veggies
    Protein Rich Carrot Cake Muffins Stuffed With Cream Cheese »
    544 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Email

    Whole Food Bellies is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    Check out my Amazon store here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Levi Long says

      April 10, 2019 at 8:14 pm

      Great way to get some yummy, crunchy veggies in everyone!

      Reply
      • Donna says

        April 11, 2019 at 8:38 am

        Definitely!! Even picky eaters tend to eat this one up 🙂

        Reply
    2. molly says

      March 29, 2019 at 5:20 pm

      Wooow, I can't wait to try it, Thanks for sharing....

      Reply
    3. Eleonora says

      May 06, 2017 at 5:25 am

      Looks so creamy... 🙂

      Reply
    4. Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says

      May 02, 2017 at 5:40 pm

      I love a good pasta salad! The addition of dill pickles here is so fun!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        May 03, 2017 at 1:39 pm

        Thanks Ashley! We love adding dill pickles to everything - so yummy 🙂

        Reply
    5. Uma Srinivas says

      April 20, 2016 at 3:54 pm

      I like pasta salad . This looks creamy and delicious:)

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        April 21, 2016 at 8:16 pm

        Thanks Uma 🙂

        Reply
    6. Linda @ Veganosity says

      April 20, 2016 at 7:24 am

      Dancing at a casual dinner party at home, yay! I love it when that happens. 🙂 Creamy pasta salad with veggies sounds like a wonderful Easter meal. This looks delicious.

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        April 21, 2016 at 8:17 pm

        Me too 🙂 It's definitely not a traditional Easter meal, but it worked for us!

        Reply
    7. Patricia @ Grab a Plate says

      April 19, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      Homemade is the way to go, and looks like you've proved it! This salad looks really creamy and delicious! Isn't it fun, too, to come up with new holiday traditions (whether by accident or not)!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        April 19, 2016 at 4:53 pm

        Homemade is definitely the way to go 🙂 Yes I am loving coming up (accidentally or otherwise) with new traditions for our little family!!

        Reply
    8. Jenn says

      April 19, 2016 at 7:43 pm

      Creamy pasta salad is totally the best! I am LOVING all the pickles/pickle juice in here. YUM!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        April 21, 2016 at 8:17 pm

        Oh I am totally obsessed with pickles!!

        Reply
    9. Kelly @ TastingPage says

      April 18, 2016 at 3:08 pm

      Homemade is always better than store bought. Love this salad for summer!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        April 19, 2016 at 4:53 pm

        I agree Kelly 🙂

        Reply
    10. Aimee / Wallflower Kitchen says

      April 18, 2016 at 9:05 am

      This looks SO creamy and delicious! I never would have thought of using yoghurt, I might have to try this with soy yoghurt.

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        April 19, 2016 at 4:54 pm

        I am sure it would be great! I toyed with making a vegan version - but I only had coconut yoghurt on hand, and I was pretty sure that flavour would not be wonderful with the pickle juice 🙂

        Reply
    11. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      April 18, 2016 at 8:33 am

      Love a great easy (and creamy) pasta dish!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        April 19, 2016 at 4:54 pm

        Me too 🙂

        Reply
    12. Deb|EastofEdenCooking says

      April 17, 2016 at 3:05 pm

      Love the idea of a lighter version of this classic pasta salad! i prefer to make my own salad too. So mush fresher and we can use the ingredients we know and enjoy!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        April 19, 2016 at 4:55 pm

        Thanks Deb! Definitely on board the homemade train, especially when it comes to freshness - who knows how long that store bought stuff has been sitting there?

        Reply
        • Hannah Grinnell says

          July 17, 2020 at 4:44 am

          Is it possible to use low fat or no fat greek yogurt for this recipe, or will it change the texture too much?

          Reply
          • Donna says

            July 20, 2020 at 10:16 am

            It should be just fine! It may make it a little less creamy but the taste will still be there.

            Reply

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hello and welcome, I'm Donna!

    I am so glad you are here!

    Since I have a part-time job, 3 little kids, and a love of good food (as do you I assume), I have learned how to get the most out of the kitchen in the smallest amount of time.

    Forget about hunting down weird ingredients and making trips to specialty shops.

    We are going to make the most of what is available at the store and farmer's markets all whilst enjoying some delicious meals the whole family (hopefully...if you have fussy eaters I guarantee nothing) will enjoy.

    Pop on that apron and let's get creative in the kitchen!

    More about me →

    Summer Salads

    • Zesty Heirloom Tomato and Nectarine Salad
    • Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe with Passion Fruit Vinaigrette
    • Lightened Up Creamy Pasta Salad
    • Summer Stone Fruit and Spinach Strawberry Pecan Salad

    New Recipes

    • Creamy Pesto Potato Salad
    • Simple Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken Breasts
    • Spicy Chipotle Chicken and Butter Bean Stew
    • One Pot Indian Pumpkin Curry With Chickpeas

    Hello and welcome, I'm Donna!

    I am so glad you are here!

    Since I have a part-time job, 3 little kids, and a love of good food (as do you I assume), I have learned how to get the most out of the kitchen in the smallest amount of time.

    Forget about hunting down weird ingredients and making trips to specialty shops.

    We are going to make the most of what is available at the store and farmer's markets all whilst enjoying some delicious meals the whole family (hopefully...if you have fussy eaters I guarantee nothing) will enjoy.

    Pop on that apron and let's get creative in the kitchen!

    More about me →

    Summer Salads

    • Zesty Heirloom Tomato and Nectarine Salad
    • Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe with Passion Fruit Vinaigrette
    • Lightened Up Creamy Pasta Salad
    • Summer Stone Fruit and Spinach Strawberry Pecan Salad

    New Recipes

    • Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Pasta
    • Sheet Pan Greek Chicken and Vegetables
    • Almond Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars
    • Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Media Kit

    Copyright © 2022 Whole Food Bellies