This Greek Pasta Salad combines the beloved flavors of Mediterranean flavors of Greek Salad with the comforts of Macaroni Salad. You’ll love the zesty Greek salad dressing that coats every bite.
This can be served as a side or a meal in itself. It’s a refreshing and satisfying dish that is perfect for summer picnics, or anytime you crave something light yet flavorful. Watch the video tutorial to see how easy it is.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
We love pasta salads from the classic Italian Pasta Salad to the hearty BLT Pasta Salad. If you’re into pasta dishes that are light yet packed with flavor, then you have to give this Greek Pasta Salad a try!
Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
Greek pasta salad is the perfect dish for any occasion, whether it’s a summer barbecue, a family picnic, a church potluck, or a quick weeknight dinner. With its vibrant colors, fresh vegetables, and classic Mediterranean flavors, this salad is not only beautiful but also incredibly delicious.
The combination of tender pasta, crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, and tangy feta cheese creates a perfect blend of tastes and textures that everyone will love. Plus, it’s easy to customize and can be made ahead of time, making it an ideal addition to your recipe rotation.
Greek Pasta Salad Video
Watch Natasha create this mouthwatering Greek Pasta Salad. It’s so simple—just chop your ingredients, combine them, and pour the delicious homemade Greek Salad Dressing over the top. Follow along and you’ll have the tastiest pasta salad ready in no time.
Ingredients
The key to making the best Greek Pasta Salad lies in blending fresh, high-quality ingredients with a perfectly balanced dressing.
Bowtie pasta – or any small, shaped pasta, serves as the hearty base of the salad, perfectly capturing the tangy Greek dressing.
English cucumber – adds a refreshing crunch
Cherry tomatoes – (or grape tomatoes) halved, to add a burst of sweetness
Bell pepper – chopped, any color will do to add a touch of crunch
Red onion – chopped, provides a mild sharpness to the mix
Feta cheese – crumbled, lends a creamy, tangy element
Kalamata olives – pitted and halved/chopped, bring a rich briny flavor
Parsley – brightens the salad with its fresh, herbal touch
Variations
Pasta options: opt for smaller shapes like fusilli, bowtie, penne, farfalle, or orzo pasta as they are excellent at holding onto every drop of that delicious Greek pasta salad dressing.
For extra flavor: consider using fresh herbs such as basil, dill, or chives. You can also include veggies like artichoke hearts, capers, roasted red peppers, and green or black olives. You can also add lemon juice from one lemon to the dressing for a bright and tangy flavor.
Protein: grilled chicken, or shrimp, or even chickpeas to make this side dish a complete meal.
Vinegar: This will give you the most authentic flavor, but you could substitute it with white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. You could also substitute with the juice of the kalamata olives if it’s made with red wine vinegar and add it to taste.
The Best Greek Salad Dressing
This is the same dressing we used in our favorite Greek Salad recipe in Natasha’s Kitchen Cookbook. It’s so simple but perfectly balanced and adds plenty of juiciness and flavor to the salad. All you need is:
Extra virgin olive oil – get the best quality you can find for the best-tasting dressing
Red wine vinegar – adds acidity to the dressing
Garlic – use fresh and not pre-minced for a punch of fresh flavor
Simple Seasonings – we used dried oregano, salt, and pepper
How to Make Greek Salad Dressing
In a large measuring cup or mason jar, add the following ingredients in this order red wine vinegar, dried oregano, grated garlic, fine sea salt, ground black pepper, and extra virgin olive oil.
Whisk to combine, or if you’re using a mason jar with a lid, give it a good shake to mix everything together. You can make this ahead and let the flavors meld.
How to Make Greek Pasta Salad
Boil the pasta in salted water according to the package instructions until it’s al dente. Drain in a colander, then rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta. Drain well and set it aside. Make the Greek salad dressing.
Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl: pasta, cucumbers, tomato, bell pepper, red onion, feta cheese, kalamata olives and parsley. If the dressing has separated, give it a good shake before drizzling it over the salad. Toss the salad to combine.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours, for the flavors to meld. Since the pasta will absorb some of the dressing, taste the salad after refrigeration and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Pro Tip:
Cook the pasta al dente—firm but tender. Overcooked pasta can turn mushy when combined with dressing and other ingredients.
What to serve with Greek Pasta Salad
Greek Pasta Salad is perfect for summer months because it can be served cool, straight from the refrigerator. While this pasta salad is delicious and fulfilling on its own, we enjoy taking it to the next level by pairing it with some of our favorite proteins:
Make-Ahead
Not only can you make this pasta salad ahead of time, it actually tastes even better the next day as the pasta absorbs the dressing, enhancing the flavors.
Refrigerate covered for at least 30 minutes to allow the ingredients to blend together. For even more intense flavors, let it chill overnight and serve the next day.
Store leftovers for up to three days. Because the pasta may absorb some of the dressing, give it a good stir before serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed for the best flavor.
With just 20 minutes of prep time (plus a 30-minute chill in the refrigerator), this Greek Pasta Salad comes together quickly and easily. Boil pasta, chop the veggies, and toss it all together faster than you can say “OPA”! It doesn’t get much easier than this!
More Fresh Salad Recipes
Salads are a wonderful way to incorporate a variety of vegetables, fruits, and other healthy ingredients into your meals. If you love this Greek Pasta Salad recipe, here are a few other fresh salad recipes you might enjoy:
Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
Greek Pasta Salad is the perfect combination of tender pasta, crisp vegetables, briny olives, and tangy feta cheese. Drizzled with a zesty Greek salad dressing, it’s a refreshing and satisfying dish that brings a burst of Mediterranean flavor to any table.
Prep Time: 20 minutes minsCook Time: 10 minutes minsChill time: 30 minutes minsTotal Time: 1 hour hr
Servings: 8 (as a side dish)Greek Salad:8 oz bowtie pasta, or rotini or fusili pasta½ English cucumber, diced (2 cups)10 oz cherry tomatoes, halved (1 ½ cups)1 bell pepper, any color, seeded and chopped 1 small red onion, chopped (⅓ cup chopped)4 oz crumbled feta, 1 cup½ cup pitted Kalamata olives, or added to taste, halved or coarsely chopped, plus 1 Tbsp of juice from the jar¼ cup parsley, finely chopped
Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark
Cook the pasta in salted water according to the package instructions until it’s al dente. Drain in a colander, then rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta. Drain well, and set it aside.Make the dressing – Combine all dressing ingredients in the order they are listed in a large measuring cup and whisk to combine (or shake it up in a lidded mason jar).Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl: pasta, cucumbers, tomato, bell pepper, red onion, feta cheese, kalamata olives and parsley. If the dressing has separated, give it a good shake before drizzling it over the salad. Add a spoonful of juice from Kalamata olives if desired and toss the salad to combine.Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to meld, or up to 24 hours. Since the pasta will absorb some of the dressing, taste the salad after refrigeration and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Optional Add-ins: fresh herbs (basil, dill, chives), chickpeas, artichoke hearts, capers, black olives, protein (chicken or shrimp), pasta (fusilli, bowtie, farfalle or other smaller-shaped pasta that holds the dressing nicely).
1serving Serving298kcal Calories27g Carbs7g Protein18g Fat4g Saturated Fat2g Polyunsaturated Fat12g Monounsaturated Fat13mg Cholesterol593mg Sodium256mg Potassium2g Fiber3g Sugar915IU Vitamin A32mg Vitamin C101mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition FactsGreek Pasta Salad RecipeAmount per Serving% Daily Value** Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
