Bowtie pasta salad with chickpeas & artichokes

Published: May 22, 2021 · Modified: Apr 7, 2022 by Cadry Nelson
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Bowtie pasta salad is packed with briny olives, artichoke hearts, and roasted chickpeas. It’s tossed in an oil and vinegar dressing.

Great for picnics, potlucks, and lunches.

When you’re looking for a light lunch or easy side dish for a potluck, bowtie pasta salad is always welcome. It’s simple and familiar, as well as flavorful.

(Bowtie pasta is also known as farfalle. Farfalle means butterflies in Italian.)

Olives, artichoke hearts, and balsamic vinegar add a punch of salty tang. Basil gives it summery freshness. Finally, roasted chickpeas add protein and staying power to make this a meal-worthy salad.

Bowtie pasta salad is a great dish for meal planning, because it keeps well in the refrigerator. Pull out what you need for a quick snack, side, or even a full lunch on its own.

You can make the roasted chickpeas for this salad in the oven or air fryer. Or if you’re short on time, just drain & use them straight out of the can without roasting.

For the artichokes, I adore the grilled variety of jarred artichoke hearts. (They’re one of my favorite Trader Joe’s vegan products.) But any marinated, canned, or jarred artichoke heart will do.

How to make bowtie pasta salad

Here’s what you’ll need.

Boil pasta according to package directions. Drain & rinse with cold water. Set aside.

While the pasta boils, make a batch of roasted chickpeas in the oven or air fryer.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the following:

Cooked & drained pasta
Roasted or air fried chickpeas
Sliced olives
Quartered artichoke hearts
Sliced cherry or grape tomatoes
Garlic, minced or zested
Chopped fresh basil
Extra virgin olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Salt
Pepper

Serve right away. Or refrigerate for later & serve cold.

If you’re serving it later, remember that the pasta will soak up some of the oil & vinegar. Taste before serving and refresh with more oil, vinegar, salt, and/or pepper if necessary.

Can it be made gluten-free?

Yes! The only ingredient with gluten in this dish is the pasta itself. Replace it with a gluten-free noodle, and you’re good to go.

I’ve never seen gluten-free farfalle in stores. But any short gluten-free pasta like fusilli will work.

Make it your own

Make this pasta salad your own by varying the ingredients or amounts.

Instead of farfalle, use any short pasta. Penne, rotini, fusilli, or shells work well here. Small pasta is ideal for easy scooping at a potluck, picnic, or camping trip.
Instead of roasted or air fried chickpeas, just use drained chickpeas right out of the can to save time.
Can’t find Castelvetrano olives? Any black or green olive will work here, including dry cured olives.
Instead of artichoke hearts, use hearts of palm.
In place of cherry tomatoes, use a smaller amount of drained & chopped sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers.
Instead of balsamic vinegar, use red wine vinegar.
Add a handful of crumbled vegan feta cheese for extra oomph and flavor.

What to serve with it

Thanks to the addition of protein-packed chickpeas, this pasta salad can be a full meal all on its own. Or it works beautifully as a side dish for a warm weather lunch or dinner.

Serve bowtie pasta salad with:

How to store leftovers

Keep any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator. It will last for 3 to 4 days.

If it seems dry, add another splash of oil and vinegar. Taste for salt & pepper, and add more if necessary.

I do not recommend freezing it.

Content, recipe, and photos updated May 22, 2021. Originally posted October 26, 2012.

This salad was originally a Doctor Who-themed recipe, based on Matt Smith’s penchant for bowties. If you’re a fellow Whovian, you may be interested in this Adipose tofu version.