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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.
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, some onion along with a few fresh veggies and some 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.
Not only is this Mediterranean Pasta Salad delicious, but it’s also super easy to make. It’s great served alongside just about any main dish like grilled chicken, pork, or beef. It’s so hearty that it can be enjoyed as the star of any meal.
Ingredients For This Salad:
- Cooked Pasta – a short pasta with ridges works best
- Tomatoes – I use grape tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Black Pitted Olives
- Green Pitted Olives
- Red Onion
- Baby Spinach
- Feta Cheese
- Homemade Greek Dressing
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.
One of the things that makes Mediterranean Pasta Salad so special is the dressing. Homemade Greek Salad Dressing has a combination of garlic, oregano, and thyme mixed with red wine vinegar and olive oil making it the perfect match for the salad ingredients.
Can You Make This Mediterranean Pasta Salad Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you sure can. It’s actually better made a bit ahead of when you want to serve it allowing the pasta to soak up all the yummy flavors of the dressing. This pasta salad will keep in the fridge, covered for 3-4 days. Just give it a toss before serving.
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, just 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.
More Amazing Salads You Will Love!
- Tomato Cucumber Salad
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Spaghetti Salad
- Creamy Tomato Cucumber Pasta Salad
- Green Bean 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.
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Very tasty !! Will use this recipe again.
Thanks for the outstanding rating!
Made this last night and served with leftover chicken. It was delicious – didn’t change a thing. Will definitely make again.
Very good recipe!
Hey there Chasity!
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thank you so much for your kind words of support! Since you enjoyed this dish, you should check out my Strawberry Caprese Pasta Salad recipe, the flavors are fresh and bright, and it’s super simple to make, I hope you’ll give it a try. Let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’m always happy to help!
~Donya
Is it possible to post the Sodium content in the salad?
Hey there Angela!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe and for your terrific rating, I think you’re really going to love this salad! I do not personally include the nutritional information for my recipes, but if you click the link in this comment and paste the recipe into that site, it will give you all of the nutritional facts you’re looking for. Thanks again for your support, I hope you enjoy the recipe!
https://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator
~Donya