Greek Pasta Salad

Greek pasta salad is packed with traditional Greek flavors and covered in a tasty dressing! It’s perfectly light and refreshing.

Refreshing salads are a must in the summertime. The flavors in this Greek pasta salad are so unique, similar to the Asian flavors in Asian Noodle Salad, or the Mexican flavors in Taco Pasta Salad!

Make it Greek!

I have always enjoyed pasta salad and salad recipes but find myself craving them more in the spring and summer months. We have the go-to salads we’ve made for years but I wanted to try a Greek pasta salad version.

Many of the ingredients that you can typically find in Greek food include:

• olives
• herbs
• feta (my favorite!!)
• tomatoes

I wanted to make sure all of these and more were in the recipe to give it all the Greek flavor I love so much! We added some cilantro, cucumbers, our favorite tri-color rotini, and a delicious Greek dressing.

The result was amazing and had so much flavor that we knew others would love it too.

How to Make Greek Pasta Salad

This Greek pasta salad recipe is quick, easy, and so tasty! It’s a perfect side dish.

PASTA. Cook rotini according to the package directions. Let cool.

TOSS + CHILL. Add pasta and remaining ingredients to a bowl and toss. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. ENJOY!

Storing Pasta Salad

Make ahead of time. One of the reasons I love this pasta salad with feta is you can make it ahead of time and store it covered in the fridge. I’d also recommend saving a portion of the dressing to add just before serving.

STORE. If you have any leftovers, store them in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

Dressing is key

Using the perfect dressing is key for the best Greek pasta salad.

Storebought. You can find loads of different options at the store, but my current favorite is this Light Greek Vinaigrette from Cardini’s. It’s not too heavy and has all the delicious flavor that comes in a Greek dressing.

Homemade. Make your own Greek salad dressing using a base of red wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil then season it with garlic, pepper, onion, mustard, salt, dried oregano, and basil.

Whether you prefer a creamier Greek dressing or a vinaigrette, it should enhance all of the flavors already found in this pasta dish, and we hope you like it as much as we did.

Recipe Tips

Use this pro tip for a perfect salad, or mix things up to make this easy Greek pasta salad your own!

Pro-tip. Drain the pasta, but do not rinse. In a large bowl, toss the plain pasta with half of the dressing so that it can fill in all the nooks and crannies. The warm pasta will absorb the dressing flavors as it cools.

Once you have allowed the pasta to cool, add the veggies and other mix-ins before tossing it with the remaining dressing. 

Additions and substitutions.

This recipe is my favorite version of Greek Pasta Salad, but you can easily add, subtract or substitute some of your favorite ingredients.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Protein. Add grilled chicken or shrimp to make it a heartier main dish.
• Veggies. Add red onion, sun-dried tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, chickpeas, kalamata olives, or pepperoncini.
• Lemon. Spritz on some lemon juice to brighten the flavor.
• Cheese. Substitutes include Graviera, Mizithra, Anthotiro, Manour, Ricotta, Halloumi, or Goat Cheese.
• Pasta. Substitute with other bite-sized pasta such as penne, elbow, shell, ziti, or bowtie pasta.

Recipe FAQ

For more pasta salad recipes, Try:

• Asian Pasta Salad
• Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad
• Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
• Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Adapted from Kraft Recipes.