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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Greek Pasta Salad

    Published: May 16, 2023 · Updated: May 16, 2023 · By: Krissy · 2 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you're looking for a tasty and healthy pasta salad, look no further than Greek Pasta Salad. 

    Homemade Greek pasta salad in pot.

    Why I love this recipe

    One of my favorite summer salads is my Greek salad full of colorful vegetables and a tasty dressing. That recipe inspired this pasta salad!

    Here's why this particular pasta salad recipe works so well and why you should give it a try:

    Fresh and Colorful Vegetables

    This recipe includes a variety of fresh vegetables like cherry tomatoes, English cucumbers, red onion, and red bell pepper. Not only do these vegetables add a ton of flavor to the salad, but they also add a pop of color, making it a beautiful dish to serve at summer cookouts, Memorial Day celebrations, or any other occasion.

    Flavorful Dressing

    The dressing for this particular pasta salad is what really sets it apart from other kinds of pasta salads. It's made with red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, a bit of sugar, and fresh oregano. The homemade dressing is tangy, slightly sweet, and packed with flavor. Plus, making your own dressing means you can control the ingredients and use good quality, healthy ingredients.

    Salty Feta Cheese and Briny Olives

    Greek Pasta Salad includes salty feta cheese and briny kalamata olives, which add a unique flavor and texture to the salad. The creamy feta cheese complements the juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers, while the tangy olives add a touch of brininess that balances out the sweetness of the vegetables.

    Versatile Pasta Options

    This recipe works with a variety of pasta types, from bowtie pasta to rotini pasta to brown rice pasta. Just cook the pasta according to the package directions and toss it with the flavorful dressing and fresh veggies. Be sure to reserve a cup of pasta water to add to the dressing for the best results.

    Perfect Side Dish or Complete Meal

    Greek Pasta Salad is a great side dish to serve alongside grilled chicken or fish, but it can also be a full meal on its own. Just add some chickpeas, kidney beans, cooked chicken, or artichoke hearts for extra protein and flavor.

    Easy to Make 

    This is a particularly easy pasta salad recipe that anyone can make. Simply cook the pasta, chop the vegetables, and mix everything together in a large bowl. 

    Ingredients needed

    Dressing ingredients

    The simple dressing consists of lemon juice, red wine vinegar, sugar, salt, fresh oregano, and extra virgin olive oil.

    Dressing ingredients for Greek pasta salad.

    Greek pasta salad ingredients

    See below for substitution ideas, but for this recipe you will need pasta, salt, red onion, kalamata olives, red bell pepper, cherry or grape tomatoes, cucumber, and feta cheese.

    Ingredients needed to make Greek pasta salad.

    How to make Greek pasta salad

    Make the dressing: Whisk together all of the ingredients except the olive oil.

    making dressing for Greek pasta salad recipe.
    Mixing ingredients for Greek pasta salad dressing.

    Pour the olive oil in a slow, steady stream while whisking constantly. Continue to whisk once all the olive oil has been added until the dressing has emulsified.

    Adding olive oil to vinaigrette for Greek pasta salad recipe.
    Vinaigrette for Greek pasta salad.

    ​Cook the pasta: Heat a large pot of water with kosher salt over high heat. Once it comes to a boil, add the pasta and cook al dente. You want it to be tender but still have a bit of a bite to it. 

    Heating salted water in pot to cook pasta.
    Cooking fusilli pasta.

    Prior to draining the pasta, reserve a cup of the salted pasta water. This can be added to the mixed salad just before serving if it seems too dry. 

    Drain the pasta and immediately return it to the pot.

    While it is still hot, add about half of the prepared dressing and toss to coat. This will allow the flavor of the dressing to absorb into the pasta, will leaving the remaining dressing for the finished pasta salad.

    Cooked fusilli pasta in pot.
    Cooked fusilli pasta in pot with ingredients to make Greek pasta salad.

    ​Combine salad ingredients: Once the pasta has completely cooled, add the remaining salad ingredients and toss to combine. Chill at least 2 hours, if possible.

    Mixing ingredients for Greek pasta salad.
    mixed Greek pasta salad with olives, cucumbers, and onions.

    ​Add remaining dressing: Just prior to serving, add the remaining salad dressing and toss to combine. The dressing is added at the end to prevent it from absorbing into the pasta. If the pasta salad seems dry, add small amounts of the reserved pasta water until it looks and tastes how you want it.

    greek pasta salad in pot.

    Ingredient substitution ideas

    While this Greek Pasta Salad recipe is already pretty flexible, there are a few ingredient substitutions or additions that can be made to cater to dietary restrictions or individual taste preferences. Here are a few ideas:

    • Pasta: This recipe calls for fusilli pasta, but you could easily swap it out for another type of pasta like rotini, penne, or even brown rice pasta to make it gluten-free.
    • Red onion: If you're not a fan of raw onion, you can omit it or swap it for sliced shallots or scallions.
    • Kalamata olives: If you don't like this variety of olives, you can leave them out or swap them for traditional black olives, capers, or sun-dried tomatoes.
    • Red bell pepper: You can swap this out for yellow, orange, or green bell peppers, or even roasted red peppers for a smoky flavor.
    • Cherry or grape tomatoes: If you can't find these types of tomatoes, you can use diced roma tomatoes instead.
    • Cucumber: English cucumbers work well in this recipe, but you can also use regular cucumbers, zucchini, or even jicama for some added crunch.
    • Feta cheese: If you're vegan or lactose intolerant, you can swap feta cheese for a vegan feta alternative, or omit it altogether and add some toasted pine nuts or sunflower seeds for some added texture.
    • Lemon juice: If you don't have a fresh lemon on hand, you can use bottled lemon juice.
    • Red wine vinegar: If you don't have red wine vinegar, you can substitute it with white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
    • Sugar: If you prefer not to use sugar, you can substitute it with honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar.
    • Oregano: If you don't have fresh oregano, you can use dried oregano instead, but use only half the amount.
    • Extra-virgin olive oil: Good quality olive oil is key in this recipe, but if you don't have it on hand, you can substitute it with any other neutral-tasting oil like avocado oil or grapeseed oil.

    These ingredient substitutions or additions should give you plenty of options to customize this Greek Pasta Salad recipe to your liking, or to accommodate any dietary restrictions you may have.

    Storage

    You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days, making it a great make-ahead option for busy weeknights or meal prep.

    Spoonful of Greek pasta salad.

    FAQs

    What kind of pasta is best for Greek Pasta Salad?

    Fusilli is recommended for this recipe, but you can use any kind of pasta you like.

    Can I make the dressing ahead of time?

    Yes, you can make the dressing up to a week in advance and store it in the refrigerator.

    Can I add meat to the salad?

    Yes, you can add chunks of salami, grilled chicken, or shrimp to make it a full meal.

    How long will the pasta salad keep in the refrigerator?

    The pasta salad will keep for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container.

    Can I make the salad ahead of time?

    Yes, you can make the salad up to a day in advance, but keep the ingredients separate and wait to add the dressing until just before serving to prevent the pasta from becoming soggy.

    Can I use a different type of cheese instead of feta?

    Yes, you can use any crumbled or grated cheese you like, but I recommend sticking to varieties from the Mediterranean region like Graviera or Mizithra.

    Can I make the salad vegan?

    Yes, you can omit the feta cheese or replace it with crumbled tofu. All remaining ingredients are already vegan.

    Fork with homemade Greek pasta salad.

    Greek Pasta Salad is one of my favorite pasta salads and for good reason! It's a delicious, healthy, and versatile dish that can be customized to your taste preferences.

    I hope you give this particular pasta salad recipe a try and let me know what you think with a star rating on the recipe card. Enjoy!

    Full Recipe Instructions

    Greek pasta salad in white bowl.

    Greek Pasta Salad with the BEST Vinaigrette Dressing

    This delicious recipe is made with feta, olives, and a tangy homemade dressing. Perfect for summer cookouts and quick weeknight dinners!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved! Add to Collection Go to Collections
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Scale: 16 servings
    Recipe Created By: Krissy Allori

    Kitchen Tools

    • stock pot

    Ingredients

    Dressing:

    • 1 lemon (juiced)
    • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano (minced (if using dried, cut amount in half))
    • ⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil

    Pasta Salad:

    • 16 ounces pasta (fusilli recommended)
    • 1 tablespoon kosher salt (for cooking the pasta)
    • 1 medium red onion (thinly sliced)
    • 6 ounce can kalamata olives (drained, olives cut in half or quartered)
    • 1 red bell pepper (thinly sliced into matchstick sized pieces, seeds and stem removed)
    • 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes (halved)
    • 1 cucumber (English cucumber recommended, quartered lengthwise, seeds removed, sliced)
    • 1 cup feta cheese (crumbled)

    Instructions

    • Make the dressing: Whisk together all of the ingredients except the olive oil. Pour the olive oil in a slow, steady stream while whisking constantly. Continue to whisk once all the olive oil has been added until the dressing has emulsified.
      Adding olive oil to vinaigrette for Greek pasta salad recipe.
    • Cook the pasta: Heat a large pot of water with kosher salt over high heat. Once it comes to a boil, add the pasta and cook al dente. You want it to be tender but still have a bit of a bite to it. Prior to draining the pasta, reserve a cup of the salted pasta water. This can be added to the mixed salad just before serving if it seems too dry. Drain the pasta and immediately return it to the pot. While it is still hot, add about half of the prepared dressing and toss to coat. This will allow the flavor of the dressing to absorb into the pasta, will leaving the remaining dressing for the finished pasta salad.
      Cooked fusilli pasta in pot with ingredients to make Greek pasta salad.
    • Combine salad ingredients: Once the pasta has completely cooled, add the remaining salad ingredients and toss to combine. Chill at least 2 hours, if possible.
      Mixing ingredients for Greek pasta salad.
    • Add remaining dressing: Just prior to serving, add the remaining salad dressing and toss to combine. The dressing is added at the end to prevent it from absorbing into the pasta. If the pasta salad seems dry, add small amounts of the reserved pasta water until it looks and tastes how you want it.

    Notes

    serving size based on an estimated ½ cup of cooked pasta per person, or about ¾ cup pasta salad, per person.

    NUTRITION INFORMATION

    Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 859mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 426IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Roz K.

      May 25, 2023 at 9:51 am

      This is a great refreshing pasta salad and so easy to put together. Will keep on using the exactly the same. Everyone loved it. Thanks for posting such a good combination. Roz K.

      Reply
    2. Linda

      May 23, 2023 at 3:15 pm

      Thank you for the delicious recipe. Made for dinner this evening and my husband raved about how good it was. I followed your recipe as written and would not change a thing. Cannot wait to try more of your recipes. Linda

      Reply

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