by HollyGreek Pasta Salad is an easy side, perfect to prep ahead and a hit at every party or potluck! Tender pasta, ripe juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, feta cheese and olives are tossed in a Greek dressing for the perfect make ahead side dish.
We often add grilled chicken to make it a complete meal marinated in our favorite Greek Dresssing for a full meal!
I’m a huge fan of Greek Salad, it’s easy and fresh and it’s one of those recipes where I always seem to have the ingredients on hand.
The very first time I had a Greek Salad, it was made by my friend Lisa way back in 1997 when she brought it to a barbecue at my house.
Once I’d had it that first time, we started having Greek salad every week or more! As much as I love a good Greek salad, I’m also kind of crazy for pasta salad (Dill Pickle Pasta Salad or Hawaiian Pasta Salad anyone?).
I started playing around with the my original Greek Salad recipe and made it into a pasta salad. The combination of ripe juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, red onions, feta cheese, olives and pasta tossed with a delicious greek dressing is crazy good and makes the perfect meal or side dish!
How to Make Greek Pasta Salad
- Cook your pasta al dente and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
- While the pasta is cooking, wash and chop your fresh veggies
- Combine everything in a large bowl and toss with dressing, chill before serving! So easy right?
What Veggies go into a Greek Pasta Salad?
- cucumbers
- tomatoes
- red onions
- bell peppers
- olives
Of course you can prepare a homemade dressing for this recipe but using a store bought Greek dressing makes it really quick to make and tastes delicious! This recipe is loaded with veggies and we often use a whole wheat pasta and a light Greek dressing to make a this a healthy Greek pasta salad.
More Pasta Salad Recipes You’ll Love
- Italian Pasta Salad (easy!)
- Caesar Pasta Salad – Full meal in one dish
- Avocado Pasta Salad
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad – Popular for potlucks!
- Summer Pasta Salad – Garden fresh
More Greek Inspired Recipes
If your family finds the red onion has a little bit too much bite you can soak it in ice water with a pinch of salt as you’re preparing the rest of the ingredients. Shake for 10 seconds, drain and repeat if needed.
This salad will hold up in the fridge for about 5 days so it’s the perfect school or work lunch and is a great make ahead dish for a barbecue or potluc!
Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 16 oz short pasta (rotini, bow ties, penne)
- 3/4 long english cucumber , diced
- 1 pint grape tomatoes , halved
- 1 bell pepper (red or orange), diced
- 1/2 cup sliced pitted olives
- 1/2 cup feta cheese , cubed
- 1/3 cup red onion , diced
Dressing
- 1 cup bottled greek vinaigrette dressing
OR
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- salt & pepper to taste
Follow Spend with Pennies on Pinterest
Instructions
- Whisk together dressing ingredients.
- Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Rinse under cold water.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss.
- Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
More Recipes You’ll Love
Thank you so much, I loved this recipe. Will be making it again FOR SURE. I did tweak it slightly to my taste, but a solid recipe overall. I’ve been searching for a Greek Pasta Salad recipe for a long time so I’m so happy I found one I love! Things I did a little different were:
1. Cut the pasta quantity in half.
2. Used Ken’s Greek dressing and added 1/4 cup Balsalmic Vinegarette and 2 tablespoons Lemon juice.
3. Added 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
4. Added 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning.
5. Used 14 oz. Feta (2 packages). Thinking about going back to the store for 1 more :-)
6. Used the whole English cucumber.
7. Sadly had to leave the olives, onions, and peppers on the side (kids).
Thanks again YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!!!
That sounds delicious Stephanie! So glad everyone enjoyed it (even with some of the veggies on the side)!
honestly this is the worst recipe i’ve ever came across for any kind of salad – seems lazy
I’m not sure how a pasta salad with fresh veggies and an option for a homemade dressing seems lazy to you but it seems easy and delicious to me!
Easy and delish !
great recipe; also use green bell peppers (a must), & fresh parsley chopped, or dried. can u tell us what brand greek dressing u use ? thanks
Sounds great Phyllis! I just buy whichever brand of dressing is on sale that day! Enjoy this salad!
I don’t know how to cook but I did creamy cucumber salad from the menu it was so easy to make and my family did enjoy the salad thanks
Yay!! Thats great to hear Sebongile! We are glad you and your family enjoyed it!
Looks great
Thanks Lyn!
I make this all year round for my grandchildren. Not exactly Greek but a mix of Greek Italian and English. I omit the red onion and use finely chopped celery instead. I omit the olives (the kids don’t like them). I use chopped red,yellow and orange bell peppers, gives a nice flavour and looks pretty. I also add either cooked chick peas,or pine nuts(rather expensive though). Interesting texture. Feta and parmasen cheeses .
My dressing is Lemon juice(fresh), italian and orageno (dried or fresh if available). Olive oil, lots of freshly squeezed garlic cloves. Freshly finely chopped parsley, time consuming to make but my grandchildren love helping to prepare.
I use the (small) spiral pasta (sorry I don’t know the name.
Lasts about 5 days in the fridge. I have to ration it because my three grandchildren would eat all of it, all of the time and I’m sure it’s high in calories.
Your version sounds delicious Betty and I bet it’s beautiful with all of the colors of veggies!
I don’t know what I did wrong. Followed the recipe exactly. Mine turned out very bland. Kept adding salt & pepper. Made up some Good Season’s Herb & Garlic dressing & added that. Cut up some Basil from the garden & added. I seemed to have more pasta than other ingredients. Don’t think I’ll make again.
Yes, this is a pasta salad so it is intended to have more pasta than other ingredients. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the flavor of this recipe.
Has anyone tried substituting the cucumber with zucchini? How was it? I have a ton of zooks from my garden and don’t know what to do with them, so was wondering if this recipe works with zucchini too.
I think that would work perfectly, let us know how it goes!
This is one of my all-time fave recipes. Similar, anyway. I came across something very similar in a hard-cover cookbook I had years ago (lost in a move years ago now, sadly). but instead of a salad it was the main dish and HOT. So you’d cook the pasta and serve it hot with melty feta cheese and an olive oil based sauce, very, very simple yet oh, so yummy!
OMGosh… that sounds delicious!! I need to try that!
I was shocked how fast it was to make this delicious pasta salad I’m not one to comment on these types of things but amazing thanks
So glad you enjoyed it Cody, thank you for coming back and leaving a review!! :)
This was so easy and delicious! We ate it for lunches 3 days in a row and finished every last bite.
As my wife is allergic to cuecumbers I had to leave them out but added avocado it was and is one of the best pasta salads I have ever had I also added chopped pepperoni it was awesome Thank you for another grate recipe
You’re so welcome Thomas. Great adjustments to this versatile recipe!
I made this for a retirement lunch was a huge success. Very easy, very tasty, enjoy.
Thank you,… my son is a salad lover… he said mama it looks like salad
:) Enjoy Tara!
My husband gave me 24 hour notice he needed a side dish for work party. This was super easy to make! .. even with a bad head cold I made this simple dish. Thank you!
You’re welcome Nicole!
So so good!! I added banana peppers and doubled the homemade dressing.
That sounds like a delicious addition to this recipe! I love banana peppers!
Very good. 2nd day had for dinner (enough leftovers) but at last minute added albacore tuna. Side of garlic bread. Tuna last minute so didn’t ruin flavor.
Great addition Katherine!
YUM. Best Greek Pasta Salad recipe I have every tried. Great for lunches with crusty bread, New to your recipe collection can’t wait to try more.
Super delicious! I replaced the regular pasta with red lentil pasta.
This recipe is great, and even better the next day.
If it lasts that long Brandy!
Made this for my family reunion Sunday. HUGE HIT for everyone. By the end of the night almost no leftovers:) Used a three cheese dressing from Aldi´s. Great light taste ..Now I need to make a batch for my own household
Love these recipes! Right up my alley.
Simple, beautiful, and healthy..
Looks awesome going to try it for our B B Q thanks
Thank you! I Will try this recipe tomorrow.
Let us know how it turns out! :)
Made this last night! Delicious! Only thing I changed was I used tri-color rotini. Thank you for a great recipe!
Thank you! It looks really good, I hope I can do it justice for my family Spring Party!
your salads look so great and yummy
Thank you!