Pasta salad can be hit or miss-but Trader Joe's Lemon Basil Pasta Salad hits that sweet spot between refreshing, flavorful, and easy to serve right from the container. It's a summer-ready option that doesn't feel like a mayo bomb and tastes far more vibrant than your average deli counter offering.
At $4.99 for an 11.5-oz container, this chilled salad comes packed with farfalle pasta, vegetables, a zippy vinaigrette, and shredded Asiago cheese. It sounds like a lot, and somehow it all works if you are willing to adapt this.
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Review
I've tried my share of store-bought pasta salads, and most end up tasting one-dimensional or soggy. So I wasn't expecting to love this one, but I was genuinely surprised.
This pasta salad is bright, herbaceous, and perfectly suited for warmer weather. The lemon basil vinaigrette is what gives it character. It's zesty but not overpowering, and just lightly sweet thanks to the honey and fruit juices in the dressing. You taste citrus, a touch of garlic and shallot, and a background of Dijon and white balsamic vinegar that adds a little tang and depth. It's a well-rounded dressing that keeps each bite interesting.
The mix of farfalle pasta, green peas, zucchini, spinach, and bits of shredded Asiago cheese feels well-balanced, not too heavy, not too bland. The cheese doesn't overwhelm the dish but gives it a nice savory edge, and the spinach and peas add color and texture. You can tell they actually thought about how to build flavor and contrast.
That said, this won't fill you up if you're looking for a full lunch-it's better as a side dish or part of a light meal. I served mine alongside grilled chicken, and it felt like a complete dinner without turning on the stove.
But I would recommend keeping an extra lemon on hand for this. The dressing was very light, and it desperately needed that acidic kick to brighten it up.
Ingredients
The following are the major ingredients in this pasta salad:
- Cooked farfalle pasta, oil blend
- Blanched green peas
- Zucchini
- Basil lemon vinaigrette,
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
Additional components:
- Spinach
- Shredded Asiago cheese (Asiago cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, microbial enzymes], powdered cellulose [anti-caking])
- Lemon
Contains: milk, wheat
How to Serve
- Serve cold straight from the container
- Pair with grilled proteins like chicken, shrimp, or salmon
- Plate alongside a summer veggie platter or grain bowl
- Add white beans or chickpeas for a more filling vegetarian lunch
- Toss in a handful of arugula for extra greens and peppery contrast
FAQs about Trader Joe's Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
The following are commonly asked questions about this product:
Yes, it contains no meat but does include dairy.
Yes, it contains traditional farfalle pasta made from wheat.
It's not recommended. The vinaigrette and vegetables will lose texture when thawed.
Best enjoyed within 2-3 days when kept refrigerated.
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe's Lemon Basil Pasta Salad turned out to be a refreshing surprise. With its thoughtfully balanced vinaigrette, satisfying textures, and just enough lemon to wake up your palate, it earns a spot on the summer shopping list. It's ideal as a side dish or picnic addition and works well with just a few easy upgrades. If you're tired of heavy, mayo-based pasta salads, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
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Trader Joe's Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
Product Name: Trader Joe's Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
Product Description: Trader Joe's Lemon Basil Pasta salad is a returning favorite in the refrigerated aisle but is only around during the summer months.
Price: $4.99
Summary
Trader Joe's Lemon Basil Pasta Salad is a perennial summer favorite in the refrigerated section.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Fresh and bright flavor: Lemon and basil vinaigrette is well-balanced
- Great variety of textures: Pasta, veggies, and cheese all shine
- Convenient: Ready to eat with no prep
- Perfect for warm weather: Light and zesty instead of heavy or creamy
- Affordable: Good portion for $4.99
Cons
- Not a full meal: Better suited as a side or small lunch
- Not gluten-free: Contains wheat-based pasta
- Seasonal: May not be available year-round
- Slight sweetness: May not appeal to everyone’s taste
Alek says
Where is the dressing?! I think they could had added more lemon; maybe lemon zest on top.
becomebetty says
Hey Alek! It was light on the dressing (you can see some of it by the nutrition label, but I had to turn the bowl upside down to get that picture). Dressing is a catch 22. If you add it in prepackaged the final result could get soggy. If they had a container or packet it becomes more trash. I added more lemon to mine. Thanks as always for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Dagmar says
Well it's good to see that they're attempting to put out some reasonably good refrigerated items. So many of the non salad entree items have been such a miss. I can only think of maybe 5 things that I have truly liked. This pasta salad sounds like it might be good if you threw in some rotisserie chicken ,garlic, ground white pepper and some balsamic.
becomebetty says
Hey Dagmar! I couldn't agree more. The refrigerated section has been such a field of duds. I've tried just about all the wraps and only few I have repurchased. It's such a missed opportunity. I love grab and go stuff. I agree, this is a good starting point, but absolutely needs some finishing touches. Thanks as always for stopping by!
Dagmar says
Might be good with some rotisserie chicken, garlic, ground white pepper & balsamic added.
becomebetty says
Hey Dagmar! I would agree. It just needed some extra touch. The components seemed fine, just it needed something more to bring it all together. Thanks as always for stopping by!
aja Washington-Jones says
I just had mine today. I was supposed to take it with me to work, but I ended up not going in, so I had it for dinner. I’m glad because I made some adjustments and had to use a larger bowl to mix it just like you said. I added capers and a balsamic glaze as well as some black pepper. I was super disappointed in the lack of basil flavor! They really fooled me with that spinach chiffonade- I thought there was some fresh basil chopped up in there. Nothing. I did enjoy it after my adjustments (I was starving), and the firmness of the pasta was perfect to me. Thanks for your review! I will try the Bahn mi next, I skipped over it this trip.
becomebetty says
Hey Aja! I was fooled by the spinach too! I thought the exact same thing. Let me know when you try the Banh Mi. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and share your experience.
Ttrockwood says
The only prepared salad i buy regularly is the “super spinach” salad which they have had since forever, it’s easy to eat from the box and not a calorie bomb.
The new salad i was really surprised by and LOVE is the legume and spinach “salad palette “, I didn’t see a review here for it. It’s not easy to mix in the container and it’s really filling for about 400 cal since it’s also high in fiber and protein.
I’ll pass on the pasta salad here due to your review- and $4.50 seems high for basically pasta and a few leaves
becomebetty says
Hey Ttrockwood! I haven't tried the spinach salad palette. I guess that is just another thing I'll have to look for. And yes, for the price it was expensive for some pasta and spinach. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by (and for the suggestion).
Rosemarie Valdez says
No, while it wasn't too bad, for lunch, it was too many calories! 500
becomebetty says
Hey Rosemarie! I agree totally. I was going to bring it for lunch too until I saw how many calories were in it. Thanks for taking the time and sharing your thoughts.
Dawn LuGrain says
I had to add additional lemon and salt. I felt it needed that salt boost and I added left over cook shrimp as well. Was very good
becomebetty says
Hey Dawn! I'm not surprised you had to add things to this. It's got a decent base to it but absolutely needs a personal touch to it. Some shrimp with it sounds pretty good and makes it a whole meal. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and share what you think and how you made yours better!
Ellie says
I put the true lemon crystallized lemon powder on mine and it gave it some life! Lol, they need something else to make it better.
becomebetty says
Hey Ellie! Thanks for stopping by and sharing.