Low Sodium Pasta Salad Recipe (No Salt Added)
This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
Jump to Recipe Watch Video Print Recipe Share Pin For Later EmailThis Low Sodium Pasta Salad recipe is a great make ahead side dish, with crunchy vegetables, noodles, & a bright fresh no-salt dressing. My family recipe for Balsamic Dressing is below for a flavorful and herby dressing made without salt.
This hearty pasta salad is packed with vegetables and great for an appetizer, a light lunch, or a side dish with anything off the grill. This is one crowd pleaser pasta salad that everyone will want seconds of!
There’s nothing better than a big batch of pasta salad for a cookout and BBQ! Whether I’m hosting or heading over to a friend’s place, I always try to make something that I can cook ahead of time. That way I get myself ready day-of, and grab the dish on my way out the door.
This simple no salt pasta salad takes about 20 minutes to make, and is so much more impressive than a store-bought salad. You can make your own no-salt dressing which takes only minutes. Either way, this is a simple fresh salad everyone will want to dig into.
This Low Sodium Pasta Salad Recipe Is
- Bright
- Crunchy
- Salt-Free
- Tangy
- Vibrant
- Loaded with Flavor
- Colorful
A Great Make-Ahead Italian Pasta Salad for Entertaining
This low sodium Italian pasta salad recipe is fantastic to make ahead of time for a party, potluck, or gathering. Making this recipe in advance allows you to skip any cooking or prep on the day-of. This is a great recipe to entertain with, or bring to an event.
If I make this ahead of time, I toss the pasta salad with a little extra dressing before serving for extra flavor. A crowd-pleaser that everyone is sure to love! Check out my other make ahead meals too.
What’s In This Low Sodium Italian Pasta Salad Recipe?
I stock up on pantry staples with Thrive Market – they have a fantastic selection of healthy & organic pantry items, natural home products, and great food finds for a fraction of grocery store prices. You can save 30% off your first order, and get a $60 free gift by signing up!
- Pasta – I used rotini, but you can use any medium or small-shaped pasta.
- Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Basil
- Spinach
- Aged Balsamic Vinegar: I use this aged balsamic vinegar because it has a really great flavor, perfect for tossing with this recipe!
- Italian Seasoning Blend: usually has thyme, basil, rosemary, parsley, etc. I love this bright and flavorful Italian season mix which brings this amazing dish to life.
- Oregano: a spice I always put in my pasta salads! This dried oregano has a bright and earthy flavor, and goes so well with the fresh crunchy vegetables.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I like to use this fruity Zoe olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s really inexpensive online here, so I keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry. For the quality of oil you get, it’s an excellent value, I would highly recommend!
- Tellicherry Peppercorns: Like the salt, it’s amazing the flavor difference you can get with really good tellicherry black pepper. Amazon has a generic brand tellicherry peppercorn which is the same price is buying pre-ground, and has a million times more flavor… so I use these really great tellicherry peppercorns, which I would definitely recommend.
How Do I Make this Salt Free Pasta Salad?
- Boil a large pot of water, and cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse noodles under cold water to stop them cooking. Place drained cooled noodles into a large mixing bowl.
- Prep and chop the vegetables. Add the veggies to the bowl with the pasta.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a mason jar, and shake well to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta and veggies, and toss well to coat. Add fresh parsley.
- For leftovers – I like to take a quart sized mason jar, fill half with pasta salad, and half with fresh spinach and enjoy for a quick and easy lunch!
Eat Seasonal with This Year-Round Vegetable Pasta Salad Recipe
This low salt vegetable pasta salad is a great way to get in some seasonal fresh produce – no matter what the season! It’s versatile enough to enjoy year-round. Summer time means loads of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, but this is great with avocado, vegetables, and even apples in the winter. Combine all these amazing fresh ingredients into this healthy and delicious pasta salad. And add in some fresh chopped garlic for a little extra flavor!
More Low Sodium Side Dishes For Your Next Cookout or BBQ!
Share This Low Sodium Pasta Side Dish without Salt
If you make this low sodium pasta salad recipe be sure to rate this recipe below, leave a comment, and tag us on Instagram or Facebook.
Let’s keep in touch – don’t forget to follow over on Instagram, Facebook, & my Youtube channel for more amazing low sodium recipes – I’d love to connect with you there.
And please feel free to share with your Facebook groups or friends!
Low Sodium Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the Pasta Salad
- 1 12 ounce box penne pasta
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved or quartered
- 1 large avocado diced
- 2 cups baby spinach chopped
- ½ cup fresh basil chopped
For the No Salt Italian Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup sunflower oil
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning spice blend of thyme rosemary, parsley, oregano, garlic
- 2 cloves garlic pressed or finely minced
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of water, and cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse noodles under cold water to stop them cooking. Place drained cooled noodles into a large mixing bowl.
- Dice the avocado, tomatoes, and chop the basil and spinach. Add the veggies to the bowl with the pasta.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a mason jar, and shake well to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta and veggies, and toss well to coat. Add fresh parsley.
- For leftovers - I like to take a quart sized mason jar, fill half with pasta salad, and half with fresh spinach and enjoy for a quick and easy lunch!
Video
Notes
Save Money on Fresh Groceries & Pantry Staples!
I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market – they sell organic produce at a discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from farmers to reduce food waste. We get Misfit boxes every other week and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery. You can save up to 40% off grocery store prices. If you think produce delivery is too expensive… think again, and give Misfits Market a try!Nutrition
*Please note, all nutrition content is estimated based on the ingredients we used, it may vary based on your ingredients. Always check your nutrition labels to verify sodium amounts.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
This is fantastic
I omitted the avocado and added yellow bell pepper. I forgot the garlic but will add next time. LOL
Very tasty
I omitted the avocado and added yellow bell pepper. I forgot the garlic but will add next time. LOL
Very tasty
Hi Kim, I’m so glad you enjoyed it – love that you added bell pepper, that sounds great!
– Kelly
A scrumptious combination