Spinach Artichoke Pasta Salad Recipe

Spinach Artichoke Pasta Salad is dressed with a light, lemony vinaigrette and topped with fat curls of shaved parmesan. Along with this orzo salad, it is one of our favorite summer meals.

This no mayo pasta salad comes together in record time. Ready in about 15 minutes, from start to finish, and then it’s off to the beach or hanging out in the backyard. 

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

Spinach artichoke pasta salad

It is (almost) officially summer and that means lighter meals. Most of us love cooking and ALL of us love eating (please tell me it isn’t just me), but let’s be honest for a minute… 

Wouldn’t you rather be outside instead of stuck in front of a stove on a blissfully perfect summer day?

No mayo pasta salad

There is no heavy sauce or mayo here, just a light “vinaigrette” that comes together from the oil of the sun dried tomatoes and artichokes, a squeeze of lemon juice and a splash of starchy pasta water.

This makes it perfect for packing up and taking to the beach or the park for a picnic.

A few big handfuls of spinach give it color and make a healthy addition to the pasta.  

Spinach is rich in iron and the nutrients are more easily broken down and absorbed by your body with the addition of fresh lemon juice (and it’s just good!)

How to make pasta salad

For this light, lemon artichoke pasta salad, gather all of your ingredients (mise en place) and measure them out.

Put the pasta on to boil, saving about a cup of water from the pot before you drain it.

Toss the hot pasta with a bit of butter and the fresh spinach. The point is to wilt the spinach a bit from the heat of the pasta.

While it’s still warm, toss the rest of the ingredients through and add the starchy pasta water little by little to get the “sauce” to the consistency you prefer.

I usually use about 1/3 to 1/2 cup, even though I save twice as much. You can always toss out what you don’t use, but you can’t get extra pasta water without cooking more pasta, so save more than you think you’ll need.

Using a vegetable peeler, shave curls of grana padano or parmesan cheese on top and sprinkle with lemon zest.

What can I serve with this pasta salad?

Here are a few suggestions to make a delicious and easy summer menu:

• Grilled lemon herb shrimp
• Grilled lamb loin chops
• Bacon goat cheese burger
• No bake blueberry cheesecake bars
• Strawberry Arnold Palmers

Please share

Your shares help this site to grow. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! Please consider rating and/or commenting. I love hearing from you!

Did you make this recipe? Tag me on instagram @pookspantry or share it in the Fabulous Foodie Friends Facebook group! I can’t wait to see your version!

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe without prior written permission. Thank you!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Originally published 6/3/12, most recent update 6/8/20