Greek Pasta Salad
Light, fresh, and flavorful, a beautiful bowl of Greek Pasta Salad tastes like Mediterranean summertime in every bite!
Chilled Greek Pasta Salad hits the spot on hot, sultry days! This tempting, appetizing side salad comes together in just minutes (with virtually no cooking—simply boil the pasta!). This delicious dish is to die for featuring feta cheese, tangy purple onion, fresh grape tomatoes, English cucumber, and savory Kalamata olives topped with your favorite Greek dressing!
Greek Pasta Salad is Summer Perfection!
I adore everything about this salad—it’s practically a party in a bowl! It’s bright, bold, and beautiful! It’s quick and simple, and it’s a breeze to make ahead of time, which is BRILLIANT because it tastes even better on the second day!
Greek Pasta Salad is an outstanding option for picnics in the park or barbecues in the backyard. And even though it’s a “Greek” Salad, it’s a delicious accompaniment to burgers, brats, BBQ, grilled chicken, or a juicy, mouthwatering steak! The cold, creamy pasta loaded with all those incredible veggies and feta is nothing short of spectacular!
Other Recipes to Serve with Pasta Salad
- Grilled Ribeye Steaks with the absolute BEST marinade are sure to make an impression!
- There’s nothing like perfectly Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs to bring everybody together around the table!
Ingredients
Pasta: Bow-tie pasta is perfect for pasta salad, but any open, textured, bite-sized shape (fusilli, shell, etc.) will also work.
Veggies: This salad features all our Mediterranean favorites: grape tomatoes, cucumber, purple onion, and Kalamata olives.
Cheese: Nothing like crumbled feta cheese to deliver authentic Greek flavor!
Dressing: Greek salad dressing melds all the fabulous flavors – go for a light vinaigrette or your favorite creamy version.
Seasoning: A little salt and pepper pull this pasta together, and a touch of sugar-yes, sugar-counters the savory, salty flavors for salad perfection!
How to Make This Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
STEP ONE: Cook the pasta to al dente in a large pot of boiling salted water. Drain the water and run the pasta under cold water to cool it down.
STEO TWO: While the pasta cooks, cut the grape tomatoes in half, slice the English cucumber, and thinly dice the purple onion. Put the veggies in a large bowl and add the Kalamata olives. Once the pasta is ready, add it to the bowl as well.
STEP THREE: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the salt, pepper, sugar, and Greek dressing. Pour the dressing over the pasta salad, sprinkle on the feta cheese, and gently toss everything together.
STEP FOUR: Cover the salad bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat (I recommend chilling for at least 1 hour). Before serving, stir the pasta salad one more time. You can also add more salad dressing if needed. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
- If needed, you can substitute other open, bite-sized pasta shapes for the bow tie.
- Toss in some diced chicken breast or boiled shrimp to turn this salad into a hearty lunch!
- Greek vinaigrette dressing is ideal, but a creamy tzatziki or pesto dressing would be wonderful!
- Once al dente, rinse the pasta in cool water and mix it with a drizzle of olive oil to keep it from sticking together.
- As with most salads, this Greek beauty is even better on Day 2!
- The tablespoon of sugar counters the saltiness of the strong Greek flavors, giving this salad the perfect balance – don’t skip it!
- Make this a gluten-free Greek salad simply by substituting the bow tie pasta for a gluten-free option!
Can I Make This Greek Salad in Advance?
Greek Pasta Salad has got to be the ultimate “made ahead of time” recipe! Simply make the pasta, rinse it in cold water to wash off some of the starch, and drizzle it with a touch of olive oil to keep it from getting sticky. Prep the veggies, then toss them all together with a small amount of the salad dressing. Store it in the fridge. The next day, top with the feta, add a drizzle more of the salad dressing, and you’ve got a tasty, tempting, ready-to-eat pasta salad!
How to Make Perfect Pasta for Pasta Salad
The first step in making great pasta for a salad is choosing small, textured pasta shapes like bow ties, fusilli, or farfalle, as the ingredients cling to smooth or tube-shaped pasta. The second step is to salt the pasta water heavily and only cook the pasta to al dente. You don’t want a mushy salad that falls apart. Once al dente, the third step is to rinse the pasta with cold water to stop cooking. Finally, drizzle the pasta with just a splash of olive oil to keep it from getting sticky.
Other Great Greek Recipes!
- Greek Turkey Burgers
- Creamy Greek Shrimp Pasta
- Greek Corn Dip
- Greek Salad
- Greek Layered Dip
- Greek Chicken Mac ‘n Cheese Muffins
*This post originally posted on 06/18/16.
Greek Pasta Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces bow tie pasta (AKA farfalle pasta)
- 1 pint grape tomatoes cut in half
- ½ english cucumber cut into slices and then quartered
- ¼ red onion peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 cup kalamata olives pitted and sliced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 8 ounces Greek salad dressing
- 4 ounces feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and run under cold water to cool the pasta.
- Add the tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and olives to a large mixing bowl. Add the pasta to the same bowl.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk the salt, pepper, and sugar into the Greek salad dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad ingredients, sprinkle with feta cheese, and gently toss together until coated.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge until ready to serve, preferably at least 1 hour. Before serving, stir the pasta salad once more. If needed, you can add a little extra dressing, too.
What kind of greek dressing used…it just states greek dressing??
It was just store bought Greek dressing, one that you will be able to find at your local grocery store, condiment aisle. The brand you choose can be up to you.