I love some good side dishes at a BBQ and am always looking for pasta or potato salads that are not loaded down with mayo. When it is hot out, I want something relatively light and refreshing and this Greek Pasta Salad is one of my new favorite things! Seriously, you can find me at the refrigerator with a fork.
I took all of the main components in a Greek salad and combined it with the idea of a pasta salad. I absolutely love this thing! When I was in Greece, the Greek salad truly is everywhere and it is not just something that another country made up like fettuccine alfredo. The Greek salads do not have any lettuce, but are rather a bowl of chopped tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta, and onion with a light dressing. So amazingly good! This Greek Pasta Salad is also light and refreshing, full of the same familiar and complex flavors of the salads I had in Greece. YUM!
This pasta salad is a crowd pleaser and kid friendly side dish that can easily be made ahead. If it gets a little dried out while chilling, just add a little more olive oil and toss before serving.
I absolutely love the crunch of the veggies and the absence of heavy cream or mayo sauce. This Greek Pasta Salad can easily be made vegan by skipping the cheese. You can very easily double or even triple the veggies to make it extremely low-carb and veggie heavy. But I am a pasta freak and need my noodles!
My traditional Simple Macaroni Salad has always been a house favorite, but I have been on a new pasta salad kick lately, combining new flavor ideas into pasta salad form. Do you have any requests for a pasta salad that you want to see?
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound pasta any shape, dried
- 1/2 cup cucumber chopped
- 1/3 cup red onion chopped
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved or chopped (or grape tomatoes)
- 1/3 cup kalamata olives (or black olives)
- 1/2 cup feta cheese chopped (approx 2 ounces)
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt
Instructions
- Cook the pasta as per package directions until al dente. Drain and place in a large bowl.
- While the pasta is cooking, dice the mix ins and make the dressing. Cut the cucumber, onion, tomatoes, olives, and feta.
- To make the dressing, in a small bowl combine the oil, vinegar, mustard, oregano, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Whisk to combine.
- In the large pasta bowl, combine the pasta, vegetables, cheese, and dressing. Toss to coat.
- Chill pasta until ready to serve.
Anything with feta gets my vote! We eat something very similar often and I can never get bored of it.
Greek salad is my favourite ever! Love the addition of pasta to turn it into a full meal – this looks so yummy!
I love all potato salads! Thanks for a new version to try. Just want to let you know that I know Holly Mais. Saw her recently and we talked about your blog. Didn’t realize you lived in HR like me. 🙂
I agree that salads without mayo are the best. Especially pasta salad! This looks so colorful and delicious.
I love, love, love this!!!! I love Greek salad flavours and pasta salad can’t be beat; so this is my idea of heaven!!
Perfect picnic food! I love anything with all these ingredients. Never been to Greece, but it’s definitely on the bucket list!
I love me some Greek salad, so this looks absolutely delicious!
I agree with you, a greek salad is super light and refreshing and it’s darn delicious!!! This one looks good just like all your other recipes Kim ;P
Greek salad is something we always take with us to family reunions. Everyone loves it
I love traditional pasta salad. This Greek variation is a winner! Pinning!
Looks scrumptious! I am adding it to my cooking board now 🙂
I love Greek salads, but never had a greek pasta salad! Saving for sure!
This looks delicious! My Greek husband would love it.
This is definitely a keeper!YUM
Oh, this looks delicious! I love the fresh flavors of Greek salads – especially red onions!
This dish looks great!
Perfectly! All the ingredients are perfectly harmonize, taste, sure, fine 🙂
What a great summer recipe! Thanks!
Yum!!! Feta and cucumbers – so good!
This seriously looks amazing!!!! Perfect for the summer!