Spring Pasta Salad
This spring veggie pasta salad is fresh, bright, and loaded with crunchy vegetables, herbs, and a lemon vinaigrette. Perfect for Easter, spring gatherings, or meal prep lunches—light, refreshing, and totally addictive.
Creator: Leslie Stokes
The Pasta Salad I Make Every Spring
This is hands down my favorite pasta salad to make this time of year.
The second the weather starts warming up, I start craving lighter, fresher meals—and this one just hits every single time.
It’s crisp, colorful, loaded with texture, and tossed in the most simple lemon dressing that somehow makes everything taste SO good.
And I’m not kidding when I say… it’s a little addictive. Like the kind of recipe where you go back for “just one more bite” and suddenly your bowl is empty.
Why I Love This Past Salad So Much
This is one of those recipes I make on repeat for so many reasons:
It’s perfect for spring gatherings and Easter
It doubles as meal prep for lunches
It’s light but still filling
It’s easy to customize
It uses simple, fresh ingredients
And it just looks so pretty on the table—which I feel like always matters when you’re hosting or bringing something to share.
Perfect for Spring + Easter
This is one of those recipes that just feels like spring.
It’s light, colorful, and fresh—and it pairs with literally everything.
I always make this for:
Easter brunch
BBQs
Spring dinners on the patio
Meal prep for busy weeks
Ways to Make this pasta salad a Full Meal
I do this all the time for meal prep:
Add grilled chicken
Add shrimp or salmon
Toss in chickpeas for a vegetarian protein option
This is the kind of recipe I make when I’m trying to reset a little—clean kitchen, fresh groceries, windows open…
…and something simple and homemade on hand that just makes everything feel put together again.
And if you’re hosting anything this spring—this is one of those dishes that everyone will ask you for.
Tips + storage for the best pasta salad
Don’t skip rinsing the pasta—it keeps it from getting sticky
Slightly undercook pasta so it holds up better
Add dressing while pasta is slightly warm so it absorbs more flavor
Taste and adjust salt at the end
Store in the fridge for up to 3–4 days
Add a splash of olive oil or lemon juice before serving leftovers
Keeps really well for meal prep
I hope this meal prep helps you! Don’t forget to follow along on social media for more Meal Prep + healthy recipes!
Spring Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Pasta Salad
- 8 oz pasta bowtie, rotini, or orecchiette work great
- 1 cup asparagus chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup sugar snap peas or green peas
- 1/2 cup cucumber diced
- 1/4 cup radishes thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion finely diced (optional)
- 1/3 cup feta cheese or mozzarella pearls
- 1/4 cup fresh herbs basil, parsley, or dill
Lemon Vinaigrette
- I like a little extra dressing so everything stays really coated—especially if you’re meal prepping.
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- Juice of 1–2 lemons depending on size
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp honey
- 1-2 garlic cloves grated
- Salt and pepper to taste
Let's Make It
Cook the Pasta
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool it down.
Blanch the Asparagus
- Bring a pot of water to a boil.
- Add asparagus and cook for 1–2 minutes until bright green.
- Transfer immediately to ice water (or rinse under cold water).
Make the Dressing
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Taste and adjust—this is where all the flavor comes from.
Assemble
- In a large bowl, combine: pasta, asparagus, peas, cucumber, radishes, onion (if using), cheese, and herbs
- Pour dressing over the top and toss until everything is evenly coated.
Chill + Serve
- You can serve right away, but it’s even better after sitting for 30–60 minutes in the fridge.
Nutrition Facts
(Approximate per serving)
Calories: ~320
Protein: ~10–12g
Carbs: ~35g
Fat: ~15g
Meal Prep in 1 Hour
You can use any two of the meals in this series to get your meal prep done in just about and hour, give or take!
Having your breakfast and lunch ready for the week helps you stay on track with your nutriton, saves you time and money! I truly beleive that meal prep does not need to be over complicated, take too much time or be boring!
I always get asked- “do you ever get tired of eating the same thing all week?” and the answer is, no! Not when the food taste good! I give plenty of variety in these preps and keep it simple!
As always, thanks for being here and remember, don’t over complicate the process! Take a deep breath, you got this!
