This Healthy Halloween Pasta Salad is a lightened up party recipe is so easy to make and is the perfect dish to serve at or bring to a party!
Stop! Put down that candy bar. I know we’re approaching Halloween and you need to get your fill of candy corn before the season’s end.
But what if I told you I have a recipe that’s just as special and festive as candy, but is also way better for you.
Enter: this Healthy Halloween Pasta Salad.
What’s so great about this recipe is that you can pretty much adapt it any way you want to fit your taste. Don’t like cucumber? Use zucchini instead. Not a fan of penne in your pasta salad? Swap it out for any other pasta.
Then, throw in any veggies you like and toss with any salad dressing of your choosing (or homemade)! The possibilities are endless.
When I saw this idea over at My Little Boob Cancer, I knew I had to make it immediately. So easy, so festive, and healthy enough to still be able to have a few fun-sized candy bars!
I lightened things up by using a healthier pasta option and plenty of vegetables. If you’d like to take it a step further, make your own dressing!
The most difficult part of this whole recipe is cutting out the cucumber “eyes”.
I’ll be honest, I never really got into Halloween. I always had high hopes for a great costume idea, a cuddle with a crush during a scary movie, or at the very least a large abundance of candy.
But even all those great things don’t make it one of my favorite holidays. But, of course I’m always up for a celebration, so celebrate I will. With pasta salad in hand.
If you’re totally freaked out by food coloring, use squid ink or black bean pasta! It’s already a blackish-purpleish color. I’ve made it both ways and it turned out great both times.
Natural food colorings can be found at most health food stores (King Arthur Flour makes some).
What was your best ever Halloween costume? Tell me in the comments below!
Healthy Halloween Pasta Salad
This Healthy Halloween Pasta Salad is a lightened up party recipe is so easy to make and is the perfect dish to serve at or bring to a party!
Ingredients
- 1 box whole wheat penne pasta (or other pasta)
- Natural purple food coloring (or red + blue)
- *If you don't want to die the pasta, use black bean pasta
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- 1/2 head of broccoli, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup shredded cheese (I have used parmesan or cheddar)
- Your favorite Italian salad dressing, to taste
Instructions
- Boil the pasta as directed on the box until al dente. Drain and run cold water over the noodles.
- Meanwhile, use a knife to cut out jack-o-lantern faces in the cucumber slices. You don't have to cut all the slices if you're in a time crunch, just a few to go on top.
- Add about 1/4 cup water to a large Ziploc bag and squeeze in about 10 drops of purple food coloring. Add pasta to the bag and toss to coat.
- Let sit a couple minutes, drain, and rinse with cold water.
- Transfer pasta to a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Toss to coat and refrigerate a couple hours or overnight. Add a bit more dressing before serving.
Here’s the recipe using the food coloring method:
Annie Potter
Tuesday 12th of October 2021
how many servings does this make? I am looking at doing a Halloween party for about 60 people.
Fun and Healthy Halloween Party Recipes by Red Sun Farms | Red Sun Farms
Monday 9th of October 2017
[…] Healthy Halloween Pasta Salad: Easy to make, fun to eat, and full of healthy veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, and broccoli. Carve jack-o-lantern faces in the cucumbers and toss in whole wheat penne pasta for a nutritious, entertaining party dish! […]
Healthy Halloween Dishes & Treats | Food Done Light
Friday 21st of October 2016
[…] Smile Sandwich – Halloween Pasta Salad […]
Jessica Stenseth
Friday 23rd of October 2015
Thanks for the idea! I am trying it tonight! My husband has a 3D printer so he made me a cut out for the cucumbers so I don't need to slice all those little lines. Thanks again!!
jordansward@gmail.com
Sunday 25th of October 2015
Yay - that's a great idea! Hope you love it. :)
Brittany
Wednesday 30th of September 2015
This is a great recipe idea! I am wondering if I could include it in a round-up of healthy Halloween ideas I'll be doing for my blog? I'd be using a photo and linking back to this blog post. Thanks in advance!
jordansward@gmail.com
Wednesday 30th of September 2015
Hi Brittany - thanks for stopping by! Yes, I'd love to be included in your round-up. Thanks :)