Easy Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
I’m so excited to share this recipe! This is a combination of some of my favorite things. Greek salad and pasta? Sign me up! Whether you serve this to guests or to your family, one thing is for sure. You won’t have to worry much about leftovers! The hardest part about this recipe is just chopping up your veggies. Have the pasta boil while you chop away, then all you have to do is mix everything together! It’s so simple. I love pasta salads and I’m always looking for new ways to switch them up and try something new. This one is definitely a winner! I kept this salad nice and basic. Greek salad is very consistent across the board with the veggies typically used and they work so well together!
Penne – Make sure to rinse your pasta well with cold water after you strain it. This will cool it down to an appropriate temperature for the salad, and also prevent the noodles from sticking together. Cucumbers – I used mini cucumbers but english cucumbers will also work. Cherry tomatoes – I found these beautiful mini heirloom tomatoes which made the salad look colorful! You can use regular cherry or grape tomatoes instead. Bell pepper – I used a green bell pepper for this recipe but any type will work. Kalamata olives – I found a jar of pitted and halved olives which made prep much easier. French black, Gaeta, or California black olives will work as well. Red onion – You can use a more mild yellow or white onion if you prefer. If you don’t like raw onion, you can blanch them by placing the sliced onions in a strainer and pouring boiling water over them. Rinse with cold water and they will taste much more tame.
For The Greek Salad Dressing
Red wine vinegar – This ingredient is a must in your pantry if it’s not already there! It adds such a wonderful flavor to salads. I love to make simple vinaigrettes with it. Olive oil – You can also use mild flavored oils such as safflower, walnut, or grape-seed. Garlic powder – You can use some fresh minced garlic if you prefer. Oregano – I used fresh oregano because it complimented the veggies so well. If you have dried oregano at home that will also work. Salt and pepper – Season to taste. I like to top my salad with fresh cracked pepper as garnish. Lemon Juice – Just a couple tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
What Is A Greek Salad?
This crisp and refreshing salad is traditionally made with cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. It’s dressed with a red wine vinaigrette herbed with fresh oregano. If we get really true to Greek roots here, this salad would be served with a slice of feta on top rather than mixed in. For ease of serving this salad to a crowd, we typically see the cheese crumbled or cubed in North America.
What Type Of Pasta Can I Use?
Any small shape will work for this recipe. Try out rotini, rigatoni, shells, farfalle, orzo, or even your favorite flavor of tortellini. If you come across some fun shapes like scoobi doo (yes, that’s a real thing) or gimelli then feel free give those a try! You can also make this salad with quinoa or bulgur to add extra nutrition.
What Other Ingredients Can I Use In This Recipe?
Want to turn this recipe into a meal? Slice up some chicken, steak, or even cooked and crumbled ground meat of your choice. If you want to keep it vegetarian and add some protein, try out cubed firm tofu or you can add rinsed canned beans. Black beans, chickpeas, or kidney beans would all taste awesome!
Can You Make Greek Pasta Salad Ahead Of Time?
If you are making this salad a few hours or even a couple days ahead of time you can mix all the ingredients together, but leave the Greek salad dressing aside until you’re ready to serve. I like to keep in in a mason jar so I can give it a good shake right before pouring it over the salad.
How To Serve
I might be a bit biased, but I think this pasta salad goes with pretty much any meal. Try it alongside these recipes:
Greek Meatballs Cilantro Lime Chicken Beef Brisket Gyros Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork Roast Chicken Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days. If the pasta absorbs too much of the dressing, you can refresh it with a splash of each olive oil and red wine vinegar. I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe. As the veggies and pasta thaw, they will become very soggy and will fall apart. This is a recipe best enjoyed fresh!
Other Delicious Salads To Try
Greek Salad Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad Easy Coleslaw Recipe Fattoush Salad Italian Pasta Salad Macaroni Salad Mexican Street Corn Salad Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad Antipasto Salad Creamy Cucumber Salad BLT Pasta Salad Southwest Pasta Salad
title: “Greek Pasta Salad” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-30” author: “Monty Foster”
Be sure to try my Italian Pasta Salad recipe next!
Greek Pasta Salad
Nothing beats a refreshing pasta salad, I love the classic flavors in this recipe, and making it with homemade Greek Salad Dressing puts it over the top. Not only is this a perfect side dish for a party, potluck, or BBQ, but it’s a great make ahead recipe. (PS- Be sure to try my Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe next, or take a browse through all of my pasta salad recipes!)
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions. Boil the pasta to al dente and drain. Spread it out on a tray or parchment paper and drizzle with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil. Let it cool. Meanwhile, prepare your veggies, cheese, parsley, and homemade Greek dressing, (if using). Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl and toss with dressing. If possible, chill for 2 hours prior to serving. If preparing 8-12 hours ahead of time, toss with about 1/2 cup additional dressing prior to serving, as the pasta continues to absorb the dressing during storage.
Make Ahead Method
This pasta salad can be assembled 8-12 hours ahead of time. Note: The pasta will absorb a lot of the dressing during storage, so you’ll need to add about 1/2 cup additional dressing prior to serving.
Storage
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
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Tried This Recipe?
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Pasta Strainer– This is the one I use, it’s the perfect size. Cutting Boards My Favorite Chef Knife Glass Serving Bowl
