This Greek Pasta Salad Recipe is basically a classic Greek salad with the addition of pasta. It’s simple and delicious and great for a healthy lunch or side dish.
Definition of Greek Salad
An authentic Greek Salad, or horiatiki salad is made with tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, olives, onion, and dressed simply with oregano, lemon juice and olive oil. It’s usually topped with feta cheese and doesn’t contain any lettuce.
This pasta salad is a delicious way to enjoy the classic summer favourite.
Can I Make this Pasta Salad Ahead?
Greek Pasta Salad works well for making ahead. However, the salad is really at its best when freshly made. If you do want to make the salad ahead, it’s best to keep the tomatoes separate until serving time. Juicy tomatoes can cause the salad to be a bit waterlogged if it sits for too long.
Here’s an even better way to make the salad ahead: toss the pasta with the dressing, cut up all the vegetables and keep everything separate in the fridge until serving time. With all the prep work done, it just takes a few minutes to toss everything together.
Greek Salad Ingredients
Because it’s so uncomplicated, the ingredients for this Greek pasta salad recipe should be as fresh as possible.
Cucumber
Long English cucumbers have tender skins and don’t need to be peeled. They are also sweeter and have tiny seeds, as compared to a regular cucumber. Be sure your cucumber is fresh and crisp, and preferably, chilled
Tomato
Tomatoes should be red and ripe. Grape or cherry tomatoes are convenient size-wise, but any ripe tomato will work. This is a salad that is best when tomatoes are in season.
Bell Pepper
Any colour peppers are good, but red, yellow or orange peppers are sweeter, and more flavourful than green.
Olives
This recipe has pitted kalamata olives, but it’s also delicious with green olives. Canned olives can be used in a pinch, but the best ones are whole fresh olives that you find in the deli department. They don’t need to be pitted, but it makes for a nicer dining experience if they are.
Onion
Definitely, red onion should be used. Red onion has a milder, sweeter flavour than yellow or white varieties, making them the best choice for eating raw in salads.
Dressing
Because the dressing is so simple, a good quality extra virgin olive oil is a must. A splash of lemon juice is ideal, but you can also use white or red wine vinegar instead.
Pasta
Either wheat or gluten-free pasta works great. The smaller shapes, such as rotini, penne, or bow ties are ideal.
Cheese
For this recipe, only feta cheese will do. Did you know there are a few different types of feta cheese?/ Learn more here: The Types of Feta Cheese and What They’re Good For (and in case you haven’t noticed, yes, I neglected to add the cheese before I took photos)
What to Serve with Greek Pasta Salad
Greek Pasta Salad is a delicious meal on its own. It also goes well as a side for anything grilled, like these Lemon Herb Grilled Chicken Thighs, or Lemon Garlic Grilled Shrimp. Along with Classic Potato Salad this pasta salad is a perfect take-along for picnics and potlucks, too.
Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups rotini pasta wheat or gluten-free
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 long English cucumber cut in one-inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper seeded, cored, cut into one-inch pieces
- 1/2 red onion chopped
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives pitted
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 3 tbsp fresh oregano chopped
- 1/4 tsp each, salt & pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions, until just au dent
- Drain pasta and rinse with cold water
- Combine tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onion and olives with pasta in a large bowl
- In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper
- Pour the dressing over the pasta & vegetables and gently toss to combine
- Sprinkle feta cheese over top and serve immediately
Notes
Nutrition
greek salad and pasta is always a great idea!
I agree Nancy!
This is my fave way to make Greek Pasta salad – so fresh and delicious!
Hi Terri, It’s a favourite at my house too. So glad you like it!
Yum! I love the tip on making ahead. The addition of pasta in Greek salad is genius. It would encourage my kids to try it.
Hi Cynthia! I hope you can get your kids to try it. I know how picky kids can be! 😊
I absolutely love Greek salad and pasta salad, so this must be amazing. And beautiful looking as well!
Thank you so much, Julia. I hope you give this recipe a try!
Yum, so fresh and perfect for summer! Love the idea of having this on the side of some grilled chicken. Pinned to make later!
Thanks, Kelly, enjoy!
Well, you had me at the first line. Greek salad… plus pasta. So simple, and so wonderful! It’s a great idea, and I’m glad you shared it here. All of your serving accompaniment ideas sound amazing too, but I think I’m leaning towards the shrimp. All in all, it sounds like a fantastic summer meal!
Hi Sean. Thank you! We love keeping things fresh & simple for summer meals.😀
The tip for dressing the pasta and keeping the prepped veggies separated was the BEST! Thanks so much for making life easier ( and tastier!). We added a nice grilled chicken breast and some feta cheese.
Hi Sharon. I love the addition of the grilled chicken breast. And haha, I forgot to add the feta before the photos, but, yes, it’s so good. Thank you so much for coming back to comment.
I love Greek salad and I love pasta so this is the perfect marriage of the two! Great summer salad!
Thanks, Vanessa! So glad you liked it!
Any dish with pasta addition is very interesting with my family. So this one is also going to be healthier and perfect for Dinner. So colorful and yum.
Hi Veena, this is definitely healthy and also delicious. I hope your family loves it!
I just love pasta salad! I made an Italian inspired pasta salad last week, and this week this greek version. Everyone in my house can get around pasta!
Everyone in my house, too, Alison! I must try an Italian version next. Thanks for the inspiration.
This is a must for summer and always a hit with my family at BBQ’s.
Hi Caitlyn! I agree, and I’m so glad its a hit with your family!
I pinned this! We love Greek salads all summer long. I am not a lettuce person. This Greek Pasta salad is the perfect summer salad – great for a side dish at a party – or all by itself when I am feeding my kids dinner. I have been trying to use more oregano – I seem to forget about it – but I really love the flavor it adds to salads.
Hi Erin. If you love Greek salads, you will love this pasta salad. Enjoy!
I love Greek salad, and what a great idea to turn it into a pasta salad! Will definitely be making this soon.
Hi Biana, you will love this salad. Enjoy!
Delicious 😋 I made this without the olives but it was still top notch!
So glad you liked it, Shae!