Lemon Feta Protein Pasta Salad

If there is one thing I’m not doing, it’s making two completely separate lunches every day. 😂 This Lemon Feta Protein Pasta Salad is easy enough to pack in a toddler lunchbox but good enough that I want to eat it too!

It’s fresh, colorful, packed with veggies, feta, and a simple homemade lemon vinaigrette. And using Brami pasta gives it an easy protein boost without needing to add a separate protein source if you don’t want to.

It’s also one of those recipes that gets even better after sitting in the fridge, which makes it perfect for meal prep, packed lunches, picnics, or throwing into the cooler for a boat or lake day.

Lemon Feta Protein Pasta Salad

Servings: 5

Ingredients

For the pasta salad:

• 1 box Brami pasta

• 1 cup diced cucumber

• 1 1/2 cups diced bell peppers, any combination of red, yellow and orange

• 1 cup crumbled feta

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

• 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes

• ½ red onion sliced, optional

For the lemon vinaigrette:

• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 2 lemons, squeezed

• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 1 teaspoon honey

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• Black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Cook the Brami pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse briefly with cold water to stop the cooking process, then allow it to drain well.

2. While the pasta cools, dice the cucumber and bell peppers, slice onion and tomato, and chop the parsley.

3. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon, honey, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper.

4. Add the cooled pasta, cucumber, bell peppers, feta, parsley and tomatoes/onions to a large bowl.

5. Pour the lemon vinaigrette over the pasta salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.

6. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor. Toss again before serving or packing.

Perfect for Meal Prep and Lunchboxes

This is one of my favorite kinds of recipes because I can make one batch and use it for multiple lunches throughout the week. I’ll portion some into a smaller container for my toddler’s lunchbox and keep the rest in the fridge for my own lunches.

For younger kids, dice the vegetables into smaller pieces to make everything easier to eat. You can also customize individual portions based on what everyone likes without making an entirely separate meal.

Make It Your Own

One of the best things about a cold pasta salad is how easy it is to customize. Try adding grilled chicken for even more protein, swapping in different veggies, or throwing in extra lemon! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If the pasta absorbs some of the dressing as it sits, add a squeeze of fresh lemon or a small drizzle of olive oil before serving.

Easy, fresh, protein-packed, and one less separate lunch to make. That’s a win in my book!!