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Summertime is all about salads and this Greek Pasta Salad recipe is the perfect salad for not just the summertime but all year round. So flavorful, loaded with veggies, and made with a delicious homemade Greek dressing.
Make this Greek Pasta Salad recipe for the whole family to enjoy. It is easy to make and ready in just about 15 minutes. Flavorful, loaded with veggies, and made with a simple homemade Greek Salad dressing. Serve this as a side dish or as a meal. Want some added protein for a complete balanced meal? Top with some grilled chicken or shrimp.
If you’re looking for other delicious pasta salads, why not also try my Shrimp Pasta Salad and my Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad!
why you’ll love this greek pasta salad recipe
- Packed with Mediterranean flavors. Loaded with vibrant veggies, fresh herbs, olives and creamy crumbly feta.
- A delicious homemade Greek dressing. Made with extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, herbs and garlic – this silky golden dressing is divine.A zesty, garlic, lemon-herb vinaigrette that brings out all the flavors of this nutrient-packed salad!
- An easy Greek Pasta recipe! Just 15 mins from pantry to table.
- A healthy pasta salad. Made with whole wheat pasta and packed with veggies, this bright bowl of Mediterranean goodness is a hearty and healthy meal.
ingredients you’ll need
- Whole Wheat Pasta
- Veggies: Cucumber, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, red onions.
- Kalamata Olives
- Feta Cheese
- Fresh Dill
- Salt & Pepper
for the greek dressing
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- Lemon Juice
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Dried Oregano
- Garlic
- Salt & Pepper
how to make this easy greek salad recipe
- Cook the pasta – First, bring a large pot of salted water to boil, then add in the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl.
- Make the dressing – Next, in a small jar add all dressing ingredients and shake vigorously until combined.
- Make the salad – Then, to assemble the salad add in the remaining ingredients: tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, olives, onions, dill, and feta cheese. Toss with the dressing.
- Finally, serve and enjoy it!
recipe notes and tips
- Use extra virgin if possible. I prefer using olive oil over other types of oils for this recipe. There are so many health benefits of olive oil. They are rich in healthy Monounsaturated Fats and high in antioxidants.
- It would be best if you use fresh lemons for this Greek pasta salad dressing. Nothing beats the robust flavors of fresh lemons. If you happen to only have bottled lemon juice then use bottled lemon juice. I highly recommend using fresh lemon juice.
- You can use lime if you have that instead, it gives you more of a tang.
- If you don’t have red wine vinegar you have a few other options you can use. You may try to substitute with white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or balsamic vinegar. Vinegar is essential for traditional greek dressing.
- Use dried or fresh herbs. Traditional Greek salad dressing calls for oregano.
- Garlic will bring out the flavor of the dressing. If you don’t have any fresh garlic you can about 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Use salt and pepper sparingly. You can either add some to the dressing say about 1/2 a teaspoon each and then taste the salad later to see if it needs more salt and pepper and go ahead and adjust accordingly.
- Swap the pasta for something like spinach tortellini, to make it a Greek Tortellini Salad.
- Add a protein to make it even heartier, grilled chicken works great.
- Also, use whatever short pasta you like, the more nooks and crannies the better!
faq’s
How long is Greek Pasta Salad good for in the fridge?
If the Greek Pasta Salad is not creamy and doesn’t have any mayonnaise-like my Greek Salad, then it should last about 5-7 days when sealed in an air-tight container and stored in the fridge.
Is Pasta Salad better the next day?
Some people will vouch that any pasta salad will taste better the next day. Reason being that the salad will soak up the dressing more when left longer for the next day. The dressing on the salad may end up a bit dry the following day so you can add up some more dressing and toss for a delicious fresh tasting greek pasta salad.
Can I make pasta salad ahead?
You can definitely make this greek pasta salad or any other pasta salad ahead. Most people prefer their pasta salad to be more on the cold side. Making ahead will allow the ingredients to soak in with the veggies and the pasta. Also, use about two-thirds of the dressing, set aside the rest of the dressing until you are ready to serve the pasta salad.
other salad recipes that I am sure you will enjoy:
- Taco Pasta Salad
- Greek Meze Power Bowl
- Ahi Tuna Nicoise Salad Recipe
- Avocado Tomato Salad
- Spicy Shrimp Avocado Salad Recipe
- Parmesan Zucchini Corn Salad
- Ranch Chicken Salad
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15 Minute Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb Whole Wheat Short Pasta, Or Rotini
- 1 large Cucumber, chopped
- 1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes, halved
- 1 Yellow Bell Pepper, diced
- 1 Cup Kalamata Olives, pitted and chopped
- 1 small Red Onion, sliced
- 2 Tbsp Fresh Dill, finely chopped
- ½ Cup Crumbled Feta Cheese
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to your taste
For the Greek dressing:
- ¼ Cup Extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ Lemon, juiced
- 3 Tbsp Red wine vinegar
- ½ tsp Dried Oregano
- 2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to your taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil, then add in the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl.
- In a small jar add all dressing ingredients and shake vigorously until combined.
- To assemble the salad add in the remaining ingredients: tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, olives, onions, dill, and feta cheese.
- Pour in dressing and gently toss until evenly coated. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use extra virgin if possible. I prefer using olive oil over other types of oils for this recipe. There are so many health benefits of olive oil. They are rich in healthy Monounsaturated Fats and high in antioxidants.
- It would be best if you use fresh lemons for this Greek pasta salad dressing. Nothing beats the robust flavors of fresh lemons. If you happen to only have bottled lemon juice then use bottled lemon juice. I highly recommend using fresh lemon juice.
- You can use lime if you have that instead, it gives you more of a tang.
- If you don’t have red wine vinegar you have a few other options you can use. You may try to substitute with white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or balsamic vinegar. Vinegar is essential for traditional greek dressing.
- Use dried or fresh herbs. Traditional Greek salad dressing calls for oregano.
- Garlic will bring out the flavor of the dressing. If you don’t have any fresh garlic you can about 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Use salt and pepper sparingly. You can either add some to the dressing say about 1/2 a teaspoon each and then taste the salad later to see if it needs more salt and pepper and go ahead and adjust accordingly.
- Swap the pasta for something like spinach tortellini, to make it a Greek Tortellini Salad.
- Add a protein to make it even heartier, grilled chicken works great.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
