This Greek Pasta Salad recipe is easy to make, is loaded with plenty of flavor. The recipe includes directions to make a simple homemade dressing.
I love pasta salads! They’re just great, easy sides, and you can make almost any flavor combo into a yummy pasta salad.
A favorite classic pasta salad, though, is this Greek Pasta Salad. The flavors are really light and refreshing, which is nice during the summer heat.
The dressing portion of the salad makes enough for a lightly dressed pasta salad. If you like a more heavily dressed salad, I would suggest doubling that portion of the recipe.
This easy recipe is also really easy to customize, so feel free to add or subtract ingredients according to your taste.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Pasta: I use rotini pasta. However, other pasta shapes, like bowtie pasta or penne pasta, will also work well.
- Oregano: If you would prefer to use fresh oregano, use 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano in place of the dried oregano.
- Kalamata olives: Kalamata olives are Greek olives, but black olives could be used instead.
- Cherry tomatoes: Grape tomatoes make a great substitute.
- Cucumber: English cucumbers or garden cucumbers work well.
- Bell pepper: Green bell pepper could be used in place of the red bell peppers.
- Red onion: Shallots would also work well.
- Feta cheese: Creamy feta cheese has a lovely bit of saltiness that is perfect in this salad.
How to make Greek pasta salad
Here you’ll find step-by-step photos showing how to make the recipe. For the full recipe, scroll to the recipe card below.
Step 1: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
Tip >> If you’d like the pasta to be a bit firmer, cook the pasta according to the al dente directions.
Step 2: While the pasta is cooking, chop the vegetables.
Step 3: When the pasta is finished cooking, drain and rinse with cold water.
Step 4: In a medium bowl, whisk dressing ingredients together.
Step 5: Add the cooked pasta and chopped vegetables to a large bowl, and toss together.
Step 6: Pour the dressing over the pasta salad, and toss to coat.
Step 7: Sprinkle with plenty of feta cheese, and serve at room temperature or chilled.
Recipe Tips!
- Red onions can be pretty strong. If you’d like to tone down the flavor a bit, you can briefly soak the red onion in ice water before using.
- Feel free to substitute a store-bought Greek salad dresing like Greek vinaigrette or red wine vinaigrette for the homemade dressing.
- You can take this pasta salad from side dish to main dish and make this a complete meal by adding leftover grilled chicken or garbanzo beans.
Storage
Store any leftover Greek pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The pasta salad will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored in the fridge.
More side salad recipes!
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Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounce box dried shaped pasta
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice about 1 large lemon
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives sliced
- 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved or quartered
- 2 cups diced cucumber
- 1 cup diced and seeded red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- When the pasta is finished cooking, drain and rinse with cold water.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and oregano.
- In a large bowl, toss together the pasta and veggies.
- Pour dressing over salad, and toss to combine.
- Sprinkle with feta cheese and parsley, and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- This salad can be served at room temperature, or it can be served chilled.
Notes
- Pasta: I use rotini pasta. However, other pasta shapes, like bowtie pasta or penne pasta, will also work well.
- Oregano: If you would prefer to use fresh oregano, use 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano in place of the dried oregano.
- Kalamata olives: Kalamata olives are Greek olives, but black olives could be used instead.
- Cherry tomatoes: Grape tomatoes make a great substitute.
- Cucumber: English cucumbers or garden cucumbers work well.
- Bell pepper: Green bell pepper could be used in place of the red bell peppers.
- Red onion: Shallots would also work well.
- This is a lightly dressed salad. If you like more dressing on your pasta salad, double the dressing portion.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Published 7/5/13.
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Comments & Reviews
Jan says
Tried it and it’s really good. I made more of the dressing because we like alot. LOL
Kate says
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting!
Erin @ Making Memories says
I love pasta salads too and this one looks wonderful!!!
kateheartseating says
Aren’t they great?! Thanks so much!! =)
Gloria @ Simply Gloria says
My husband would love this pasta salad with all the greek olives in it! Pinning!
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! I hope you all enjoy it! =)
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
LOVE Greek Pasta Salad Kate! Yours looks absolutely scrumptious!
kateheartseating says
It’s hard to go wrong with Greek anything. Thanks so much, Trish!! =)