This vibrant Greek pasta salad brings Mediterranean flavors right to your table in just 15 minutes. Loaded with wholesome ingredients and offering 11.2g of protein per serving, it’s the perfect make-ahead dish for busy weeknights or summer gatherings.
Each forkful delivers a delightful balance of tender pasta, fresh vegetables, and tangy dressing that captures the essence of Greek cuisine.
Whether you’re planning a potluck or seeking a nutritious lunch option, this recipe serves 8 generous portions at 347 calories each.
Ingredients for Greek Pasta Salad
- Pasta: 350g fusilli pasta, perfect for holding the dressing
- Fresh Vegetables: 2 tomatoes (wedges), 1 red onion (sliced), 1 red bell pepper (sliced), 1 cucumber (half moons)
- Cheese & Olives: 250g crumbled feta cheese, 16 Kalamata olives
- Herbs: 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
- Dressing:
- 4½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1½ tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil fusilli according to package directions, drain, and let cool
- Prep Vegetables: Wash and cut tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, and onion into specified shapes
- Combine: In a large bowl, mix cooled pasta, prepared vegetables, olives, and crumbled feta
- Make Dressing: Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl
- Final Touch: Pour dressing over salad, toss well, and garnish with parsley
- Rest & Serve: Let sit for a few hours before serving cold to enhance flavors
Serving Suggestions
This bright and fresh pasta salad makes a perfect match for grilled chicken or fish! I love serving it at summer BBQs or picnics, where it can sit out and stay tasty.
For a complete Mediterranean spread, add some warm pita bread and hummus on the side. The salad is filling enough to be a light meal on its own, especially on hot days when you want something cool and satisfying.
Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
You can make this pasta salad up to 24 hours ahead – in fact, it gets even better as the flavors mix together! Just keep it covered in the fridge. If you’re making it ahead, hold back a little of the dressing and give it a quick toss right before serving to brighten it up.
The salad stays fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Just remember that the cucumbers might release some water over time, so you may want to drain any excess liquid before serving leftover portions.
Easy Substitutions
Don’t have fusilli? Any short pasta like penne, rotini, or bow ties works great! For the veggies, feel free to swap in what you have – try adding artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, or roasted red peppers.
If you can’t find Kalamata olives, any black olives will do. Want to make it vegan? Skip the feta or use a plant-based alternative. The salad is super flexible and forgiving, so have fun making it your own!
Greek Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Large salad bowl
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 350 g fusilli pasta (13 oz.)
- 2 tomatoes cut into wedges
- 1 red onion sliced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 1 cucumber sliced into half moons
- 16 Kalamata olives
- 250 g feta cheese crumbled (8.5 oz.)
- 2 tbsps parsley chopped
For the dressing
- 4 1/2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 tbsps lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- To prepare this super easy Greek pasta salad recipe, start by cooking the pasta. Boil the pasta according to package instructions and drain. Set aside to cool down for a while.
- In the meantime prepare your vegetables for the Greek pasta salad. Wash thoroughly and strain the vegetables. Cut the tomatoes into wedges, the cucumber into half moons, slice the pepper and the red onion. Place all the vegetables in a large salad bowl and add the pasta, the olives and feta cheese. Garnish with chopped parsley and mix everything together so that all the wonderful flavours mix.
- To prepare the dressing for the Greek pasta salad add all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the Greek pasta salad and toss to coat. Taste and adjust the seasoning according to preference.
- Prepare this Greek pasta salad recipe a few hours before serving to allow the flavours to mingle and develop and it will certainly reward you.
- Divide the Greek pasta salad among individual serving plates and serve cold. Enjoy!