Green Goddess Pasta Salad
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Green Goddess Pasta Salad
This Green Goddess Pasta Salad is creamy, herby, and totally irresistible. It’s like a little bowl of sunshine—fresh, flavorful, and perfect for picnics, lunches, or sneaky fridge bites. Make-ahead, Gluten-free + Vegan Options.
I'm a big fan of salads, pasta, and anything tossed in a creamy green goddess dressing—so naturally, I had to bring them all together in this Green Goddess Chicken Pasta Salad. It’s the best of both worlds - hearty + fresh, with every bite coated in that dreamy, herby green goodness. Honestly, it’s so dang good, you’ll be sneaking back to the fridge for just one more forkful before you know it.
I’m a little (okay, a lot) obsessed with green goddess dressing. I’ve made everything from Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa to a Roasted Cauliflower Green Goddess Salad, a Green Goddess Crispy Chicken Sandwich—even a dreamy green goddess dip. And honestly? For good reason—it’s just so freakin’ good. This pasta salad is no exception, and the best part is you can easily make it gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan if needed!
Jump to:
- What Is A Green Goddess Pasta Salad?
- Green Goddess Pasta Salad Ingredients
- How To Make A Homemade All-Purpose Blend
- Why You Will LOVE This Green Goddess Pasta Salad
- Other Greens to Use
- What to Serve with Green Goddess Pasta Salad
- How To Make Green Goddess Pasta Salad Ahead Of Time?
- Green Goddess Pasta Salad Q + A's
- More Healthy Salad Recipes
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Green Goddess Pasta Salad
What Is A Green Goddess Pasta Salad?
Maybe you remember the Green Goddess Salad that made the rounds on TikTok—yep, that one with the vibrant green dressing everyone was obsessed with. This pasta salad is a fun twist on the viral favorite, blending all those herby, zesty flavors with the comfort of pasta. I
’ve added roasted broccoli, crispy chickpeas, and more to make it extra hearty and satisfying—aka perfect for lunch, dinner, or as a quick grab and go snack.
Green Goddess Pasta Salad Ingredients
The roasted broccoli adds amazing depth + heartiness, while the roasted chickpeas bring a crispy bite. Just be sure to prep them ahead or alongside the pasta—it’s so worth it!
ROASTED BROCCOLI:
- Head of broccoli. Cut into florets.
- Extra virgin olive oil. Feel free to use your favorite high-quality EVOO. My fave tried and trusted brand is California Olive Ranch.
- On Everything All-Purpose Blend. You can purchase my On Everything All-Purpose Blend for authentic flavor or make your own blend----See below)
- Smoked paprika. For an added smoky flavor.
PASTA SALAD:
- Your fave shortcut pasta. I love using pastas like Penne, Rotini, Rigatoni, etc.
- Romaine lettuce. You can sub with kale, arugula, or other mix of greens.
- Arugula. Optional.
- Roasted chickpeas. See my easy roasted chickpeas recipe!
- Cooked green peas. You can sub with other green veggies; see below for options.
- Haas avocado. Chopped into cubes.
- Green Goddess Dressing. Homemade or store-bought (Add more to your salad if desired)
- Shaved parmesan. You can sub with freshly-grated parmesan as well. For a vegan/dairy-free option, feel free to use dairy-free parmesan or skip it.
How To Make A Homemade All-Purpose Blend
Just toss all your ingredients into a bowl and give it a good mix until everything’s nicely combined. It’s that easy!
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR BAKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS SALAD!
Here, I’ve curated a list of baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods, especially with this Green Goddess Pasta Salad recipe. Everything from my fave sheet pans, wooden spoons, parchment paper, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
Why You Will LOVE This Green Goddess Pasta Salad
- Best of both worlds ---- Combines the flavors of green goddess salad with the heartiness of pasta!!
- Light yet filling ---- Great for lunch or dinner
- The perfect balance of tangy + savory notes
- Travel-friendly --- Ideal for bringing to BBQs, picnics, or potlucks.
- Totally customizable! Easily made to be gluten-free + vegan.
Other Greens to Use
Not into broccoli? Here are some tasty swaps that still pair perfectly with the green goddess dressing:
- Kale
- Mustard Greens
- Microgreens
- Roasted asparagus
- Grilled or roasted zucchini
- Spinach (fresh or lightly wilted)
- Roasted Brussels sprouts
- Roasted fennel
Feel free to mix and match—whatever greens you’ve got on hand!
What to Serve with Green Goddess Pasta Salad
This Green Goddess Pasta Salad not only makes a delightful spring + summer dinner option with its fresh flavors, but it also shines as a beautiful side dish at potlucks and BBQs. Here are some of my favorite accompaniments to serve alongside it:
- Serve warm slices of garlic bread for a comforting side dish or make your
- Parmesan Herb Crusted Roasted Potatoes ---- Trust me they go with EVERYTHING. Haha.
- For a complete feast, serve it with a meat main like steak, lamb or chicken!
- And definitely have some Southern Peach Iced Tea or Lemonade on hand to wash it all down!
How To Make Green Goddess Pasta Salad Ahead Of Time?
The roasted veggies and pasta can be made up to 2 days beforehand and stored in an airtight container (separately) and refrigerated. While the greens can be chopped and stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator a day or so before as well. The dressing can be made and refrigerated in a separate airtight container. The salad can be chopped and assembled up to 30 minutes before serving.
Green Goddess Pasta Salad Q + A's
Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, depending on the ingredients. Always determine the ingredients in your salad and keep it no longer than the shelf life of your fastest-spoiling ingredient.
To make this salad GF-friendly, just ensure that the pasta is GF-friendly as well as any ingredients in the dressing that may be needed.
Totally! My homemade green goddess dressing is already vegan—it’s made with creamy vegan mayo, so you're good to go. Just skip the cheese or use a plant-based version, and the whole dish stays perfectly dairy-free and delicious.
Totally. Grilled chicken, roasted tofu, hard-boiled eggs, or even canned tuna work great here if you want to make it extra filling.
More Healthy Salad Recipes
Now that you've fallen in love with this Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa recipe, put to good use your remaining produce with these great salad recipes:
- Best Lemon Pepper Chicken Chopped Salad
- Ultimate Summer BBQ Chopped Kale Salad
- Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad
- Healthy Loaded Kale Salad with Spicy Chickpeas
- Quick + Easy Blood Orange Kale Salad
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this Green Goddess Pasta Salad recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!
Green Goddess Pasta Salad
Ingredients
ROASTED BROCCOLI:
- 1 head organic broccoli, cut into florets
- 2 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsps On Everything All-Purpose Blend (You can purchase my On Everything All-Purpose Blend for authentic flavor or make your own blend----See Notes)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
PASTA SALAD:
- 1 (16 oz.) package Your fave shortcut pasta (I love using pastas like Penne, Rotini, Rigatoni, etc.)
- 1 bunch organic romaine lettuce (You can sub with kale, arugula, or other mix of greens)
- handful of organic Arugula, optional
- 2 cups roasted chickpeas
- 1 cup cooked organic green peas (You can sub with other green veggies; See Post for options)
- 1 medium Haas avocado, chopped into cubes
- 1 cup Green Goddess Dressing, homemade or store-bought (Add more to your salad if desired)
- 1 cup shaved parmesan (You can sub with freshly-grated parmesan as well)
Instructions
TO ROAST THE BROCCOLI:
- Begin by preheating the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet by lining them with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, add the broccoli florets, olive oil, On Everything Blend, and smoked paprika, mixing everything together until broccoli is coated.
- Add coated broccoli unto the prepared baking sheet and let it roast for 20-25 minutes or until broccoli is charred and almost crispy. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
BOIL THE PASTA:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil with a pinch of salt and add your fave shortcut pasta and cook according to packaging, about 8-10 minutes in most cases. Once cooked, drain, and lightly toss in olive oil (to prevent sticking together), cool and set aside.
TO MAKE THE GREEN GODDESS DRESSING:
- Add the ingredients together using my Green Goddess Dressing recipe!
CHOP + MASSAGE THE GREENS:
- Strip the leaves from the bunch of lettuce and discard the stems if you haven't already. Roughly chop the leaves (and arugula if using) and add them to a large bowl. Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil atop chopped greens and using clean hands, rub together the greens gently for about 2-3 minutes to soften the leaves and help to infuse the 'flavors' of the greens.
TO ASSEMBLE THE SALAD:
- To the bowl with the chopped lettuce + arugula, add the roasted broccoli, roasted chickpeas, cooled pasta, cubed avocado, cooked peas, shaved or grated parmesan, and the Green Goddess Dressing, tossing everything together. NOTE: You can add the dressing to the salad when tossing OR set aside until serving.
- To serve, add the salad to your bowl(s) and add additional parmesan, if desired.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, depending on the ingredients. Always determine the ingredients in your salad and keep it no longer than the shelf life of your fastest-spoiling ingredient.
- MAKE AHEAD: The roasted veggies and pasta can be made up to 2 days beforehand and stored in an airtight container (separately) and refrigerated. While the greens can be chopped and stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator a day or so before as well. The dressing can be made and refrigerated in a separate airtight container. The salad can be chopped and assembled up to 30 minutes before serving.
- GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: To make this salad GF-friendly, just ensure that the pasta is GF-friendly as well as any ingredients in the dressing that may be needed.
- GREENS: If preferred, you can always add greens like Kale, Mustard Greens, Microgreens, Spinach or Collard Greens to this salad for added flavor + texture.
- HOMEMADE ALL-PURPOSE BLEND: 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, + 1 teaspoon dried parsley.
Nutrition
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