Juicy tomatoes and cucumbers, along with salty olives, red onion, tender pasta, and spinach, are tossed together with creamy feta cheese in a homemade dressing for a crave-able salad that’s so easy to make! Mediterranean Pasta Salad is a perfect side dish to serve any time of the year, and it makes a terrific main meal.
Mediterranean Pasta Salad: Big Flavor, Easy To Make
A couple of weeks ago, I made a homemade Greek Dressing that I’ve become quite obsessed with. Not only have I used it drizzled on greens and veggies, but I’ve also used it as a great marinade for chicken.
My obsession continued when I decided to make THIS salad. I grabbed some of my favorite ingredients – pasta, olives, onion, fresh veggies, and feta cheese. After a bit of chopping and tossing, I’d created a pasta salad masterpiece. Yep, I’m calling it that because it’s that good.
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Mediterranean Salad Ingredients
- Cooked Pasta – a short-cut pasta like bowtie pasta, rotini, or frfalle
- Tomatoes – I use grape tomatoes.
- Cucumbers
- Black Pitted Olives
- Green Pitted Olives
- Red Onion
- Baby Spinach
- Feta Cheese
- Homemade Greek Dressing
Not only is this Mediterranean Pasta Salad delicious as a side dish, but it’s also super easy to make. Its great served alongside just about any main dish, and it’s so hearty that it can be enjoyed as the star of any meal.
Pro Tip:
To tone down the intensity of red onion, just slice and soak in cold water for 10 minutes. Drain and pat dry before using.
How To Make This Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe
- Add the pasta to a pot of salted boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Add pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, spinach, and olives to a large bowl. Drizzle on about ½ cup of Greek Salad Dressing and toss all ingredients. Add feta cheese and more dressing, plus salt and pepper if desired, and toss until just combined. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Greek Salad Dressing
- Add all ingredients to a bowl or a jar with a lid and whisk/shake until blended.
What Makes This Salad Special
One of the things that makes Mediterranean Pasta Salad so special is the dressing. Homemade Greek Salad Dressing has a combination of fresh herbs like basil, garlic, oregano, and thyme mixed with red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, making it the perfect match for the salad ingredients.
Helpful Tips For Making This Recipe:
- Cook the pasta until al dente. You don’t want soggy, overcooked pasta in your salad.
- I like to cut the veggies into bite-size pieces. I do the same with the olives, but you could leave them whole if you are in a hurry.
- Feel free to substitute some of your favorite ingredients. If you are not a fan of something, leave it out. You could change out the spinach for arugula or romaine lettuce. Toss in some salami or pepperoni for an added Mediterranean vibe. Add in red bell pepper or chopped zucchini for crunch.
Commonly Asked Questions
While both salads share some similarities in ingredients and are inspired by Mediterranean flavors, a Greek pasta salad typically includes ingredients found in a Greek salad, like feta cheese, cucumber, and red onions. A Mediterranean pasta salad, on the other hand, may have a broader range of ingredients like cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, and other regional ingredients.
Store any pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. For the best flavor, let the salad come to room temperature and toss before serving.
More Amazing East Pasta Salad Recipes You Will Love!
- Best Caprese Pasta Salad
- Pesto Pasta Salad
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
- Spaghetti Salad
- Creamy Tomato Cucumber Pasta Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
- 12 ounces pasta
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
- 1 cup sliced and quartered cucumbers
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 cup baby spinach
- ½ cup sliced pitted green olives
- ½ cup sliced pitted black olives
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ to ¾ cup Homemade Greek Salad Dressing
Greek Salad Dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 large clove minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
Instructions
- To a pot of salted boiling water, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Add pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, spinach, and olives to a large bowl. Drizzle on about ½ cup of Greek Salad Dressing and toss all ingredients. Add feta cheese and more dressing plus salt and pepper if desired and toss until just combined. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Greek Salad Dressing
- Add all ingredients to a bowl or a jar with a lid and whisk/shake until blended.
Notes
Nutrition
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~Donya