This cilantro lime pasta salad is fresh, zesty, and packed with flavor — tossed with a creamy avocado dressing and loaded with colorful veggies for the perfect satisfying balance of texture and taste.
It’s quick to throw together, ideal for meal prep, and just as good days later. Serve it as a side or light lunch, and get ready to be bombarded with requests to make it for every summer BBQ and gathering.
Need more healthy summer salads? Try my Greek bean salad, lemon basil pasta salad, pesto orzo salad, and Italian grinder bean salad.
Why you’ll love this dietitian-made recipe
- Creamy, zesty flavor: The cilantro lime dressing is bright, bold, and perfectly creamy—everything you want in a summer pasta salad.
- Loaded with fresh, crunchy veggies: This salad brings serious texture and color to the table with every bite.
- Easy to make and great for meal prep: Quick to throw together and just as good the next day, it’s the kind of recipe you’ll come back to all season.
As a Registered Dietitian, I love that this cilantro lime pasta salad features high-fiber foods to support your health and help you feel full. Download this list of the highest fiber foods to learn more.
Key ingredients
- Bowtie pasta: Regular, whole grain, lentil, or gluten-free pasta all work, so choose one that fits your needs. I like whole grain or lentil pasta to boost the fiber and make it more filling — but they are a little more delicate, so be careful when mixing these. Any pasta shape works, but I especially love bowtie, fusilli, or orecchiette.
- Corn: Use fresh, canned, or frozen corn (just make sure to defrost first).
- Feta cheese: Crumbled goat cheese or dairy-free feta alternatives also work, or skip entirely if needed.
- Avocado: Makes the dressing ultra creamy and adds healthy fats, fiber, and potassium.
- Mayonnaise and Greek yogurt: I like a mix for a nice balance of tang and richness. Use any variety or fat percentage you want for either ingredient, and feel free to use all mayo or all yogurt instead.
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and detailed recipe.
Swaps and dietary adjustments
- Gluten-free — use gluten-free, chickpea, or lentil pasta
- Extra fiber — use chickpea, lentil, or whole wheat pasta
- Dairy-free — omit the feta, and swap Greek yogurt for dairy-free mayo
- Vegan — skip the cheese, and use plant-based mayo instead of yogurt
- Extra protein — top your pasta salad with an easy protein source like cubed tofu, air fried shrimp, or diced rotisserie chicken (download this high-protein foods list for more ideas)
Need a 30-minute summer dinner? Try my lemon-feta Greek salmon bowls. Or try my street corn chicken rice bowls if you love these Mexican-inspired flavors.
How to make cilantro lime pasta salad
Step 1: Blend cilantro lime dressing.
Step 2: Combine dressing with pasta salad ingredients and toss.
Top tips for success
- Thin your dressing. You want to make sure your dressing is creamy, but still pourable. Add an extra 1-2 Tbsp of water as needed to get the right consistency.
- Let it rest. Pasta salad is always best when it has time to marinate in the dressing. After tossing everything together, let it chill for 1-2 hours so those flavors melt together.
Want salad ideas without pasta? Try my chickpea cucumber feta salad, chopped antipasto salad, or quinoa edamame salad.
Cilantro lime pasta salad FAQ
Bowtie is classic here, but any short pasta like rotini, fusilli, or penne works well. Whole grain, lentil, or chickpea pasta are good swaps for extra nutrition, but they don’t hold their shape quite as well.
Yes! This pasta salad holds up well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make sure it’s covered before storing, and toss before serving.
Cilantro lime pasta salad is meant to be served room temperature or cold. I recommend chilling for 1-2 hours before serving if possible.
Top your pasta salad with any protein you love. Easy options include cubed tofu (right from the package), chopped rotisserie chicken, black beans, or even lentils. If you have extra time, feel free to grill your own chicken breast, salmon, or shrimp to serve on the side.
More healthy salad recipes
High Protein Pasta Salad
Italian Grinder Bean Salad
Healthy Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
Chopped Antipasto Salad
Greek Bean Salad
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Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb bowtie pasta
- 1 341-ml can corn, drained and rinsed
- 1 red bell pepper, diced small
- ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes
- ½ red onion, diced small
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup loosely packed cilantro, finely chopped
Cilantro Lime Dressing
- ½ cup loosely packed cilantro
- ¼ cup lime juice, about 3-4 limes
- zest of 1 lime
- 1 ripe avocado
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 3 Tbsp Greek yogurt
- 2-3 Tbsp water
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions in salted water. Drain and cool, and set aside.
- Meanwhile, add all ingredients for cilantro lime dressing to your blender. Blend until smooth, adding more water as needed to make your dressing thin enough to pour.
- Add pasta to a large bowl with all remaining salad ingredients. Pour dressing over top, and toss to combine. For best results, cover and chill your pasta salad for a few hours before serving.
Notes
- One serving is about 2 cups of pasta salad.
- Feel free to use any pasta shape you enjoy. I love bowtie, fusilli, or orecchiette best for pasta salad. Use gluten-free pasta if needed.
- Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This looks right up my alley. I would love it if you could include calories in your recipes.
Thanks Susan! So sorry about that — calorie and nutrient information is always at the bottom of my recipe cards, but it was mistakenly left out on this one. Correcting now!
I just made this and it’s delicious! Such fresh flavours together, yum! I used Catellie protein + penne to up the protein a bit.
I see this recipe didn’t have the nutritional information. Was that intentional or just missed?
Thank you again for another great recipe. You are seriously my go-to for so many recipes.
Soooo creamy and flavorful. Hope you love this recipe as much as I do!