Greek Pasta Salad
This quick and easy pasta salad is loaded with all the good stuff – cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, black olives and feta cheese. Finished with a delicious and easy vinaigrette, this Greek Pasta Salad is going to be a staple for your summer meals!
Last weekend, we went to my parent’s house to celebrate my Mom’s birthday. We had such a fun time celebrating her and just being together. This past year has really made me thankful for the things we couldn’t do – like celebrating with each other. It’s so nice to return to a little sense of normalcy!
More Pasta Salads You’ll Love
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- Healthy Cherry Chicken Pasta Salad
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- The Best Bean Salad
While we were at my parents, my Mom and Dad told Matt and me that they would watch the boys for the weekend if we wanted a break. Ummm, yes please. Another thing that we haven’t been able to do during the pandemic this past year – have some time without the kids. So, it took us about 0.5 seconds to accept that offer.
As we left St. Cloud the next morning, Matt missed our turn to head back to the cities. When I mentioned this to him, he looked at me with a big smile on his face and said “Want to take a drive??” I responded with “to where?!?”.
Well, turns out, my extremely amazing husband planned an entire weekend getaway without me even knowing it! He rented a little cabin on Lake Superior, packed my bag and lined up my parents to watch the boys. Oh, AND he booked me a massage. I can’t even begin to describe how thankful I was in that very moment. A whole weekend. Away from our house. Without kids. Yes, please!
We had an absolute blast! We hiked all over the North Shore. While we hit up our usual spots like Gooseberry and Tettegouche, we also went on a few lesser known hikes to explore some areas new to us.
Our cabin had a little wood burning fireplace that made it so cozy. It was so close to Lake Superior that you could practically dip your toes in the water from the deck. The deck was the perfect spot for us to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and a beer at night. It was the perfect weekend. And, I think I might officially have the perfect husband!
I love salads. But, I just might love pasta salad even more – it’s kind of like a “comforting salad” (if you know what I mean)! This recipe combines al dente pasta with Greek flavors, and the combination is delicious.
Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, red onions and black olives are combined with cavatappi noodles. They are all dressed in a delicious red wine vinaigrette and topped with smooth and creamy feta cheese. Like, I said before, the flavor combination in this Greek Pasta Salad is absolutely delicious!!
How to Make Greek Pasta Salad
- Cook your pasta al dente and then rinse it under cold water. This makes the pasta stop cooking.
- While the pasta is cooking, wash and dice up your fresh vegetables.
- Mix all of your dressing ingredients in a container. I like to use these – they are the perfect size to store dressing (and very easy to shake)!
- Combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and toss with the dressing. If time allows, chill the Greek Pasta Salad before serving.
What Veggies go into a Greek Pasta Salad?
- cucumbers
- tomatoes
- red onions
- black olives
How long does Greek Pasta Salad stay good?
The Greek Pasta Salad will stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you want the veggies to stay extra crispy, I recommend just adding them in the day you will eat them. Sometimes, I combine the noodles and the vinaigrette and then keep the vegetables separate. Then, as I eat it throughout the week, I take a scoop of the dressed noodles and a scoop of the veggie mixture and enjoy them together!
Greek Pasta Salad Additions
If you want to make this Greek Pasta Salad a complete meal, add some protein! A great addition would be shredded chicken. My Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is really easy to make and would be perfect in this pasta salad!
Another great addition (especially if you are a vegetarian) is chickpeas! You could either add canned chickpeas (that have been drained), or use Banza Cavatappi noodles. Banza noodles are made entirely out of chickpeas and are loaded with protein. Chickpeas have a mild taste and smooth texture, so these noodles cook and look just like a traditional noodle. The taste is slightly different (you can taste a hint of chickpeas), but it is a great flavor addition in this recipe!
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Whenever I ask my readers what types of recipes they would like to see more of, the resounding answer is always “quick and easy dinners”. I always like hearing that answer because those are the kind of recipes that I want to make! So, whenever you come to Land of 10,000 Recipes, you will always be able to find recipes that are healthy, quick and easy!
Tips for Involving Kids
- Have your kids help you dice up all the ingredients for the pasta salad with their very own knives.
- Let your kids help you measure out all of the ingredients for the vinaigrette. Have them shake the vinaigrette to their heart’s content.
- There is always going to be a mess when you cook with your kids but, like my little guy Will says, “It’s okay Mom, chefs make messes and then they clean it up.” Have fun cooking with your kids!!
Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Pasta
- 16 oz cavatappi noodles
- 1 large cucumber diced
- 1 large tomato diced
- ¼ cup red onion diced
- 2¼ oz can black olives drained
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Rinse with cold water.16 oz cavatappi noodles
- Combine all of the ingredients for the vinaigrette. Shake (or whisk) well to mix.¼ cup olive oil, 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 clove garlic, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp salt
- In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the pasta. Add the vinaigrette and toss.1 large cucumber, 1 large tomato, ¼ cup red onion, 2¼ oz can black olives, ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- Refrigerate prior to serving.
