Greek Pasta Salad

May 12, 2026

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This Greek pasta salad recipe is a go-to for cookouts, picnics, and simple lunches all summer season lengthy. It’s loaded with feta, olives, recent herbs, and a zippy lemon-oregano dressing!

Right here’s my go-to in the case of pasta salad: Greek pasta salad! As a recipe developer over the previous decade, I’ve made nearly each pasta salad recipe possible. And that is one my favourite (seemingly as a result of Mediterranean weight-reduction plan recipes are my specialty!).

recipe stars Mediterranean-style flavors with chewy bowtie pasta: juicy cherry tomatoes, cool cucumber, salty olives, and savory feta, handfuls of recent parsley and dill, plus a Greek-style French dressing dressing. I like making this for picnics, cookouts, pitch-ins, barbecues, and even for wholesome lunches all through the week.

5 Star Reader Evaluation

“This can be a fantastic pasta salad. It’s excellent for summer season and I like bow tie pasta. Thanks!” -Odile

Elements in Greek Pasta Salad

The idea of pasta salad is an American invention, as you may guess! One of many first mentions in print is a macaroni salad recipe revealed in 1914, although the idea got here to full reputation within the 1980’s.

The commonest model of American pasta salad is Italian: the type with olives, mozzarella and an Italian-style dressing. Greek pasta salad is once more completely American, however options Greek-style flavors like tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta cheese and dill. Listed here are the elements you’ll want for a Greek pasta salad recipe:

Bowtie pasta (farfalle): My favourite form for this salad: the little ruffles catch the dressing and are enjoyable to eat.
Cherry tomatoes: Lower in half so each chew will get a juicy burst.
English cucumber: Use an English cucumber and there’s no have to peel or seed: I additionally suppose they style the most effective!
Crimson bell pepper: Diced small for shade and snap.
Shallot: Thinly sliced for a milder, sweeter chew than pink onion.
Recent parsley AND recent dill: Each, not either-or. The dill is what makes the Greek-inspired taste.
Kalamata olives: I feel they add simply the best pop to the flavour, however you’ll be able to omit for those who’re not an olive fan.
Feta cheese crumbles: This provides simply the best salty, hearty vibe.

For The Greek Dressing

The dressing for this Greek salad is fast and easy to combine up, utilizing lemon juice, pink wine vinegar, dried herbs and olive oil. It’s a smaller amount than for a lot of pasta salads, however the taste actually pops! You should utilize a store-bought dressing for those who’re working low on time, however we recommend the selfmade model if doable.

Use each dried oregano and dried dill. You may be tempted to omit dried dill since there may be additionally recent within the salad, nevertheless it’s important to the flavour right here!
Substitute ½ cup bought Greek French dressing dressing for those who’re in a rush. Search for the very best quality dressing you could find: the flavour varies drastically based mostly on model. Paying a couple of additional {dollars} is value it for taste.

The Finest Pasta Form

This Greek pasta salad is right with bowtie pasta or farfalle, however you should use different pasta shapes too! We like how farfalle combines with the elements and the way in which this form soaks up the dressing. Remember: the floor space of every pasta form is completely different. In our testing, we discovered that 1 pound of bowties looks like much less amount of pasta than 1 pound of spirals. That stated: listed here are a couple of pasta shapes that work nicely in a Greek pasta salad recipe:

Bowties (farfalle): our favourite!
Spirals (fusilli)
Penne
Shells (conchiglie)
Orecchiette
Gemelli
Gigli

Make-Forward and Storage Suggestions

This Greek pasta salad is right for making forward for a cookout or barbecue. The truth is, we’ve made it as much as 2 days upfront of a celebration and refrigerated till serving. Right here’s what to learn about this salad:

Greek pasta salad lasts for as much as 5 days within the fridge. It’s excellent for making forward or wholesome lunches all through the week.
After refrigeration, be certain that to refresh the flavors. Carry the salad to room temperature. Then stir in a drizzle of olive oil and a bit extra crumbled feta cheese. Chances are you’ll or might not want an additional pinch of salt.

Tip on Serving Measurement

This Greek pasta salad makes a giant batch: 10 to 12 aspect dish servings or about 8 lunch-sized servings. It lasts for five days refrigerated. In case you don’t suppose you’ll eat all of it in 5 days, it’s possible you’ll wish to take into account making a half batch. It’s straightforward to make half!

What to Serve with Greek Pasta Salad

This recipe goes with absolutely anything: particularly in the summertime! Listed here are a couple of concepts for what to serve with pasta salad:

Summer time dinner, alongside grilled salmon, burgers, grilled rooster, or veggie kabobs
Summer time salad dinner, with watermelon feta salad, corn salad and cucumber salad
Wholesome lunch thought
Picnic meals thought
Cookout or pitch-in recipe

Dietary Notes

This Greek pasta salad recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, omit the feta and add extra salt to style.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Can I take advantage of any sort of pasta for Greek pasta salad?

When you can technically use any sort of pasta, quick pasta shapes like rotini, farfalle, or penne work greatest for Greek pasta salad as they maintain the dressing nicely and are straightforward to eat.

What sort of dressing is utilized in Greek pasta salad?

A traditional Greek French dressing is often used for Greek pasta salad. It’s made with olive oil, pink wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. You possibly can regulate the quantity of every ingredient to your style.

Can I add different elements to my Greek pasta salad?

Completely! Whereas the traditional elements are scrumptious, you’ll be able to customise your Greek pasta salad with different additions like chickpeas, grilled rooster or shrimp, artichoke hearts, pepperoncini peppers, or recent herbs like parsley or dill.

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