Our easy Greek pasta salad is simple to prepare but still comes loaded with homemade flavors. The red wine vinaigrette highlights all those great Mediterranean ingredients. We can’t wait for you to try it!
Before you say it, I know, it’s not authentic Greek pasta salad. With that being said, it’s still delicious and isn’t that what really matters? One thing I’ve learned about blogging is that once you put yourself out there in the public eye, everyone has an opinion that they think matters.
Sometimes, that’s a good thing, other times, not so much. However, social media and proper upbringing have armed most of us with tools to either ignore or address these comments with tact and taste. Speaking of taste, why don’t we move on to why you’re really here, the food. Let’s get started!
How to Make Greek Pasta Salad:
- First, cook your pasta per the box instructions and slice your olives, onions, and tomatoes. Make sure to run cold water over your pasta noodles and drain them before setting them aside.
- Next, make your vinaigrette by combining the olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, sea salt, black pepper, oregano, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix everything well to create the vinaigrette. I use a mason jar with a lid to create my dressings. Toss everything into the jar, seal it up, and shake vigorously for 20 seconds, done and done.
- Then, in a large mixing bowl, combine the noodles, feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, and red onion.
- Last, toss the pasta salad ingredients with the dressing and serve.
Tips for Your Greek Pasta Salad:
- Once the noodles have finished cooking, drain them, then run cold water over them for 60-90 seconds to cool them off. This will stop the cooking process and keep the pasta from becoming gummy and overcooked.
- Due to the salty nature of feta cheese and brined olives, this dish can get “over-salted,” real quick. I recommend starting with the teaspoon of salt in the dressing. Then after everything is tossed together, taste testing the dish, then adding salt if needed.
- I see a lot of recipes that call for cucumber and other veggies. Don’t be afraid to experiment with other ingredients. Not everything has to be authentic, all that matters is that you and your guests enjoy the meal.
Need a great side dish for this recipe? Then check out or Feta Mozzarella Topped Cheesy Bread or our Garlic Knots.
If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe card. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram searching for Berly’s Kitchen!
Easy Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Red Wine Vinaigrette
- 1/3 Cup Red Wine Vinegar
- 1/3 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 Tsp. Sea Salt (or less if you salt your pasta water)
- 1/4 Tsp. Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Tsp. Dried Oregano
- 1 Tblsp. Lemon Zest
- 1 Tblsp. Fresh Lemon Juice
Pasta Salad
- 12 Ounces Dry Rigatoni (or other tube pasta)
- 6 Ounces Feta (crumbled)
- 8 Ounces Cherry or Grape Tomatoes (halved)
- 8 Ounces Kalamata Olives (halved, pitted)
- 2 Ounces Red Onion (thinly sliced)
Instructions
- First, cook your pasta per the box instructions and slice your olives, onions, and tomatoes.
- Next, make your vinaigrette by mixing together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, sea salt, black pepper, oregano, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
- Then, in a large mixing bowl, combine the noodles, feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, and red onion.
- Last, toss the pasta salad ingredients with the dressing and serve.
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
When I make this delicious Greek pasta salad for hubby, he is going to do cartwheels in happiness and I’ll be cartwheeling right beside him too! It looks so delicious and full of flavor!!
John
Thank you, Elaine! It’s one of my favorite recipes to make for Kim and the family. I hope you and your husband enjoy the pasta salad 🙂
Sharon
I would eat this delicious Greek pasta salad all by itself as a meal. It’s so loaded with vegetables and feta goodness I wouldn’t need anything else with it.
John
Thank you, Sharon! It’s one of my favorite recipes. I hope you decide to make it some time. 🙂
Sam Monaco
Wow!! I just love this one Kimberly. This will be a must try for us. Love the homemade dressing.
John
Thank you, Sam! Kim and I are glad you liked the recipe and hope you give it a try 🙂
Analida @ ethnicspoon.com
I love any type of Greek salad! In my home town of Panama City we have a Greek restaurant that a very similar salad and I tried to make it. I can’t wait to try yours!
John
Thank you, Analida! Us too, we always enjoy great Greek food. I would love to give homemade gyros a try, but I haven’t gotten around to making them yet. 🙂
Dominique | Perchance to Cook
Greek salad was totally meant to be turned into a pasta salad! I can’t believe I have never tried this because it just sounds and looks so good! YUUUM
John
Thank you, Dominique! Kim and I really enjoyed this recipe. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Kate
What a beautiful pasta salad! And just in time for all those summer picnics! Can’t wait to try it!
John
Thank you, Kate1 Kim and I hope you decide to make it for a Summer get-together. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Kelli Kerkman
I love olives – the more recipes that use them, the better! This looks so great for summer picnics.
John
Thank you, Kelli! Us too, we really enjoyed this recipe. Have a lovely week 🙂
Veena Azmanov
I think Pasta Salad is always a winner in summer. Everyone loves a light refreshing and still fulfilling dish like a salad with pasta. I always choose to take pasta salad when I have to bring something for a BBQ Party.
John
Thank you, Venna! We also enjoy a great pasta salad and usually bring one to get-togethers. Thank you again for commenting, have a great weekend 🙂
Amanda Mason
I love greek anything!! And it’s spring going into summer and pasta salad is PERFECT for this time of year! Love the encouragement of using different vegetables!
John
Thank you, Amanda! One of the great things about cooking is that you can make substitutions that appeal to your tastes. So, in my opinion, go crazy lol!
Michelle Blackwood
With the addition of extra protein this would be a great one pot meal, loving all the flavors in this pasta sald
John
Thank you, Michelle! Sounds great, a little chicken or steak would be a great addition to the recipe. 🙂
Heather
This Greek Pasta Salad looks so yummy! Perfect for summer barbecues and great for parties. Simple and perfectly seasoned!
John
Thank you, Heather! Simple is what I like, start using huge ingredient lists when trying to show someone a new recipe and see how quickly they lose interest lol! Have a great day 🙂
Christine
Love easy pasta salads like this, especially during the summer! So yummy. Can’t wait to try this one out!
John
Thank you, Christine! Kim and I hope you enjoy the pasta salad 🙂