The perfect summer pasta salad that everyone loves!! It’s simple, Greek inspired and ideal for summer get-togethers because it can be served warm, room temp, or cold. And it is best served alongside your favorite grilled protein for an easy, stress free, summer weeknight dinner!
Pin this recipe for later!
Summer meals are my absolute favorite… a grilled protein, veggies of some kind and simple sides. I love the light and ease that comes along with summer cooking. There’s no need to turn on the oven and no desire for big heavy meals.
Simple pasta salads were a staple in our house growing up. It was guaranteed that once a week we would have grilled chicken with pesto pasta. Simple. Perfection.
And of course, there was always the ‘fancy’ pasta salads that we would bring to outdoor parties, neighborhood gatherings, or picnics in the park.
THIS is that fancy pasta salad…
SIMPLE GREEK SUMMER PASTA SALAD
One of my absolute favorite things about this Greek pasta salad is its versatility.
This dish makes a phenomenal plant-based main dish. It is hearty enough to be served at the center of your dinner table but light enough that it can be served alongside your favorite protein – like my grilled Greek salmon kebabs!
And it can be served warm, at room temperature, or cold. That means you can make it in advance for some meal prep, toss it in your cooler, or let it sit out at a summer barbecue without fear.
Here is what you need to make this Greek pasta salad:
(Note: full Ingredient List is provided in the Recipe Card, at the end of this post.)
- PASTA. Obviously key here. I, of course, opted for a gluten free version but any will do. I love using rotini in this recipe because the dressing sits in all the nooks and crannies so well.
- Lots of veggies. Bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and spinach.
- Feta cheese and kalamata olives. This is a Greek pasta salad, remember?!
- Olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The fanciest of dressings!
How to make this summer pasta salad recipe:
(Note: full Recipe Directions are provided in the Recipe Card, at the end of this post.)
- Boil your pasta! Make sure that you cook the pasta in salted water – this is the best chance for the pasta to be seasoned. And cook until just al dente so your pasta salad isn’t mushy (especially keep an eye out for this with GF pastas!)
- Chop up all of your veggies. While the pasta cooks, chop your bell peppers, tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olive, and crumble your feta.
- Drizzle the dressing on top! Add your pasta, veggies, and seasoning to a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
And that’s it! So dang easy and full of flavor. I know you are going to LOVE this recipe!
Pin this recipe for later!
More summer salad recipes you will LOVE:
Fresh Summer Quinoa Salad with Mangoes
Chicken Avocado Salad with Tomatillo Dressing
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad with Green Goddess Vinaigrette
Kale Cranberry and Almond Quinoa Salad
Be sure to follow along with me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for simple recipes and lots of fun!
But for now, let’s stick with this Simple Greek Summer Pasta Salad!
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Simple Greek Summer Pasta Salad
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 sevings 1x
- Category: Main, Side
- Method: Stovetop
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
The perfect summer pasta salad that everyone loves!! It’s simple, Greek inspired and ideal for summer get-togethers because it can be served warm, room temp, or cold. And it is best served alongside your favorite grilled protein for an easy, stress free, summer weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
For the pasta salad:
12 oz pasta
1 yellow bell pepper
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes
1 red onion
2 cups baby spinach
1/2 cup kalamata olives
2 cups crumbled feta
For the dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boil your pasta! Make sure that you cook the pasta in salted water – this is the best chance for the pasta to be seasoned. And cook until just al dente so your pasta salad isn’t mushy (especially keep an eye out for this with GF pastas!)
- Chop up all of your veggies. While the pasta cooks, chop your bell pepper, tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, and spinach and crumble your feta cheese.
- Drizzle the dressing on top! Add your pasta, veggies, and seasoning to a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Keywords: pasta salad, side dish, summer recipe
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